Coming Home
Preached during “Reintegration” after a 15 mo. deployment of troops to Iraq from our military community.
Chuck Sligh
June 2008
The “Top Ten Reasons Heaven Will Be A Blast”’ under point I. are adapted from Steve Malones sermon by that title at http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/top-ten-reasons-why-heaven-is-going-to-be-a-blast-steve-malone-sermon-on-heaven-36334.asp?page=0). One or two other sources contributed to this message, but I somehow failed to record them. My apologies if you see an idea of yours in this message. I’d appreciate your contacting me so I can properly attribute.
TEXT: Please turn in your Bibles to John 14 (TO BE READ LATER)
INTRODUCTION
What a wonderful thing coming home is! Many of you were away for fifteen months from home (except for your R&R time)—away from your spouse, from your children, from your church, from your belongings—from everything that has meaning to you and gives your life purpose. What did you do?—You longed for your loved ones, your home, and your things.
And what a thrill coming home was! What a blessing that you were able to come home safe and sound. What a joy to have your loved ones meet you and run to you and for you to be able to hold them in your arms and kiss and hug them in real life—not through videocam!
Homecoming is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. But folks, as joyful and thrilling as it is to come home on this earth, that’s NOTHING compared to the thrill believers will experience when they finally come to their REAL home. I want to talk to you about that today about coming home to the place God is preparing you for—the place God saved you for and is preparing for you if you have been saved—that place we usually call heaven.
In John 14 Jesus tells us about His Home, our Hope and How we can get there.
Let’s read our text, John 14:1-6 – “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
I. IN THESE VERSES JESUS SPEAKS THE HOME HE HAS PREPARED A NEW HOME FOR US
Jesus begins with calming words, words of comfort: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” He had just spoken of His own death and His disciples’ hearts were troubled. He was telling them, “Settle your hearts; still your anxious thoughts. You believe in God. Believe in Me too. Trust in God, and trust in Me.”
Then He says, “In my Father’s house are many mansions” The Greek word translated “mansions” here doesn’t mean mansions as we think of them today. It literally means a “dwelling place” or an “abode.” In fact, the identical word is translated “abode” down in verse 23 where Jesus says, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” The key point Jesus was making was not how big a place you’re going to get, but that there’s plenty of room in His house. Overcrowding heaven is not a problem.
We don’t need to fear that we will arrive at the gates of the new Jerusalem to find “No Vacancy” signs posted on the walls of jasper. Jesus says there is room for everyone who receives God’s offer of salvation. He says, “If it were not so, I would have told you.” He has gone ahead to prepare a place for each of us. Jesus is there making our home ready for each of us right now.
What is this place called heaven like? Well, it’s not nothing like what most of us picture heaven as being. I remember witnessing to a friend in England and he said, “I don’t want to go to heaven. The thought of endless tedium, floating on clouds, with nothing to do but strum a harp sounds boring. Hell would be much more interesting to.” John Eldridge, in The Journey of Desire says, “Nearly every Christian I have spoken with has some idea that eternity is an unending church service….We have settled on an image of the never-ending sing-along in the sky, one great hymn after another, forever and ever, amen. And our heart sinks. Forever and ever? That’s it? That’s the good news? And then we sigh and feel guilty that we are not more ‘spiritual.’ We lose heart, and we turn once more to the present to find what life we can.”
Well, I’ve got good news for you. That’s not at all what heaven will be like. First of all, there’s NOTHING in the Bible about heaven being a place of clouds, nor that anyone will have a hart And yes, worship in heaven in the immediate presence of God the Son, Jesus Christ will be something we will do many times, but there’s every reason to believe that our lives will be filled with many other wonderful things.
To start with, get the idea about heaven being “up there” out of your mind. Listen to the Apostle John’s opening words of his detailed description in Revelation 21 and 22 of what we often inaccurately call “heaven”: He says, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Verses 1-2)
John teaches that God will destroy this sin-cursed world and create a new heaven and earth, and we will live on this new earth in a place he calls the “new Jerusalem.” Rather than being a place of tedium and boredom, it will be a place of wondrous delight; a place where we will DO exciting and fun things. Without going into too much detail or supporting Scriptures for time’s sake, let me just list for you the top ten reasons our eternal abode will be a blast. My thanks to Steve Malone, by the way, for the creative way of sharing these wonderful truths. So here they are…the Ten Top Reasons Heaven Is Going to Be a Blast:
1. Number one, we get a new body.
There’s a lot of speculation that since the Bible tells us that our bodies will be like Christ’s, we’ll be able to go through walls and so on like Jesus did in the upper room. Well, that’s pure speculation, but what I do know is that our bodies in heaven will be better; eternal—bodies that won’t get tired, feel pain, get sick, sag or fall apart.
2. Number two, as Jesus promised, we’ll get a custom built dwelling place.
I’m not sure if it will be we know what that means, but I can assure you that whatever you call “home” down here will be NOTHING compared to our abodes that Jesus says he is preparing for us right now. Living in a perfect house built by JESUS is one reason why heaven is going to be a blast! Think about that for a moment—It only took Him 6 days to create the universe; and He’s been working on our home for 2,000 years!
3. The third reason heaven will be a blast is because we’ll get to eat great food.
When the Bible describes our bodies as “heavenly bodies,” for some reason some have concluded that means we’ll become formless spirits. No, we will have PHYSICAL bodies which are “heavenly” in the sense that they will be eternal and sinless. So we will still enjoy one of the great pleasures on this earth—eating. The Bible is full of references to great feasts in heaven. Now I’ve eaten some great food in my lifetime, but NOTHING will compare to the feasts we’ll have in heaven.
4. The fourth reason heaven will be a blast is we get to talk with Bible characters.
Won’t it be great to ask David what it was like to fight Goliath, to ask Noah what it was like living in the ark with all those animals for 40 days or to ask Peter what it was like to heal the lame man? Who are you looking forward to talking with?
5. Number five, you’ll see and speak with our saved loved ones.
Just because there will be no marriage or sex in heaven, doesn’t mean that those dearest to you won’t know you and love you just as much in heaven. Oh, won’t it be great to know your saved spouse and kids and parent when they’re PERFECT?—When he’s always thoughtful, and she’s always joyful and the kids are always good, and dad and mom aren’t nagging?
6. Number six, we’ll get to live in a perfect world.
If you’ve never done it, go home today and read Revelation 21 and 22. MAN what a great place the new earth and the new Jerusalem will be. John says there’ll be no need for a temple, for God and His Son will be there. Nor will there be a need for the sun, for God’s glory will provide all the illumination necessary. And there’ll no more night or darkness. And through the city will flow the river of life as clear as crystal, it’s source coming from the very throne of God. It will be a PERFECT place to live. Creation, which has suffered because of the fall will be restored. Paradise will be regained!
7. Another reason heaven is going to be a blast is because of the “no-mores”
Illus. – When you soldiers were downrange, it was “no-mores” that kept you going. You knew that eventually there would be no more sand; no more patrols; no more 130 degree temperatures; no more IEDs; no more constantly looking over your shoulder for danger in every Iraqi you saw.
When you and I get to heaven, there are going to be some awesome “no-mores,” and these “no-mores” should really inspires us! There’ll be no more hunger, thirst, scorching heat, tears, death, crying pain, bad guys, impure things.
8. Another reason heaven will be a blast is that we won’t fall again.
I know I’ll never be perfect, but I’m going to be honest with you, every time I fall; every time I sin; every time I let God down, it really gets to me. Yes, I know I’m saved by grace, and yes I know that His blood can washes away every stain, but I still get tired of failing, of falling. Don’t you? No longer having this struggle is one more reason heaven is going to be a blast to me because the Bible says that in heaven we’ll never sin again.
9. Number 9, in heaven we’ll take part in an awesome worship.
Now I love great worship; I love enthusiastic worship; I love worship full of joy and excitement and smiling faces. So I LOOK FORWARD TO WORSHIPING IN HEAVEN BECAUSE IT’S GOING TO BE OUT of this world!—AMEN?
10. Finally, heaven will be a blast because we’ll get to see Jesus.
That’ll be the best part of all, won’t it. 1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” Oh, man, what a joy to see my JESUS face to face. To fall down on my knees and worship Him IN PERSON. I love that old song we used to sing when I was coming up:
What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
II. THE SECOND THING THE LORD TALKS ABOUT IN JOHN 14 IS THE HOPE OF MAKING HIS HOME OURS.
Jesus said, John 14:3 – “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
One day Jesus will return for all who are truly His. It doesn’t matter whether we are in the grave or still living when He comes.
Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians that Jesus will come in the clouds and those of us who are saved will meet Him in the air. The rapture of believers to be with the Lord is the hope of all who believe in Him.
Later in the New Testament, the promise of Christ’s return for all who believe in Him is called “the blessed hope.” (Tit. 2:13) The rapture for believers IS the blessed hope if you are truly one of God’s kids. But if you are not, it should strike terror in your heart because it’s the rapture of believers to heaven that will usher in the Antichrist and the seven year Tribulation. But if you belong to Christ, you have the promise that Christ will come for you.
III. FINALLY, JESUS ALSO TELLS US HOW WE CAN KNOW THE WAY TO HIS HOME IN HEAVEN.
The Lord Himself tells us how to get to heaven. Jesus says in verse 6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Heaven is not automatically the home of everyone when their life on earth is over. Jesus says it is possible to get on the wrong path and miss Heaven all together. Jesus said there is only one Door into heaven and Jesus is that door. In John 10:7, He said, “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.”(Jn. 10:7, 9) Two verses later He said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” (John 10:9)
Only by faith in Jesus Christ can you gain an entrance into His heavenly home. Being a good person is not enough to open the door of heaven. The best and greatest person in this room needs Jesus to get into heaven. There are no exceptions. Jesus said, “NO man comes to the Father but by me.”
Illus. – Graham Scroggie, a famous pastor in Edinburough, Scotland years ago, was fond of telling the story of a small boy in London who wanted to meet the Queen. The boy often passed by Buckingham Palace hoping to see the Queen, but he never caught sight of her.
One day he went to the gate and tried to go in, but the guard stopped him. He watched as the guard marched back and forth. When he was at the far end of the gate the little boy ran to the gate and tried to squeeze between the bars. In a flash the guard was on him and grabbed him.
The small fellow pleaded, “But I just want to meet the Queen.” The guard told him to go away; that she didn’t have time for little boys. Dejected the lad turned and left.
Just around the corner he sat on the curb and cried. Before long a young man came by and asked him what was wrong. He looked up at the young man and told his story, “All I wanted to do was meet the Queen, but that mean man at the gate won’t let me in.”
The man took the little boy by the hand and said, “Come with me.” Together they walked around the corner, and up to the gate. This time the guard opened the gate, and they walked right past the guard, and into the palace.
The young man told the little boy to wait for a moment and soon the Queen appeared. She sat and chatted with him over tea and cookies. When time for him to leave, the Queen offered him a cookie to go.
Oh, how that little boy felt so big when he walked through the gate and passed that guard. It turns out that the young man who took the boy by the hand was the Queen’s son! Graham Scroggie would say, “I know that story is true, because I was that little boy.
I repeat this story today because Jesus tells us not everyone is permitted inside gates of heaven. But as God’s Son, if you will let Him, Jesus will take you by the hand and lead you through the gates right into the presence of the King! I believe He wants every person in this room to make heaven their home. But it’s not automatic. You have to choose the right way. Jesus is the Way—the only way to heaven. Let Him take you into the presence of the King.
If you want to make certain today that your place in heaven is reserved for all eternity, you have to stop trusting in anything else to get you into heaven and to have a relationship with God and simply trust in Jesus to save you. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The word “believe” today means something slightly different than what it did when Jesus said this verse. It’s real meaning is to trust in, or to rely on. So if you’re relying on your good works to save you, you cannot be saved. If you’re trusting in your church or your baptism or your religious deeds or acts of benevolence, you cannot be saved. You have to just simply trust in or rely on Jesus to save you, and you have the promise of Jesus Himself that “whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Would you do that today. Maybe a prayer would help you to verbalize your faith in Jesus Christ. No one was ever saved by prayer, but we are saved by faith, but faith is most powerful when verbalized. If you are not sure you are saved, pray this prayer in faith:
Dear Father, I confess that I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness. I believe you love me and sent Jesus to die for my sins. I believe He rose on the third day. And I believe that there is NOTHING I can do to earn my salvation or to make myself acceptable to you. I believe that only your Son, Jesus Christ can save me. Please forgive all my sins. Give me the grace to live every day from now on in a way that pleases You. Thank you for a brand new start, a new life in Christ Jesus, my Savior and Lord. Amen.
If you prayed that prayer with me, please let me know once we are dismissed. Or if you would like to know more about knowing God or getting your sins forgiven once and for all, please contact me afterwards.
Shall we pray.
(If interested in the PowerPoint used in this sermon, contact me at chucksligh@hotmail.com)
