Matthew 22: 1-14
The Wedding Banquet, the Glory of Paradise, or Heaven
There are two ways of reading Luke 23:42
because there are no commas in Koine Greek:
‘I tell you the truth - comma – TODAY you will be with me in paradise’,
or ‘I tell you the truth today –comma – you will be with me in paradise’
i.e. after the Day of Judgement.
It might worry theologians, but most people are not concerned with the WHEN,
or even the WHAT – what is Heaven like,
but WHO will be allowed to enter it.
This leads to verse 14: ‘Many are called but few are chosen’ and questions about election and predestination.
Does God give everyone the possibility of salvation, or only the elect?
Did Jesus die for everyone, or only for the elect?
For the most part, Heaven is an abstract concept, a realm foreign to us.
Christians accept by faith the reality of this spiritual realm,
but it’s difficult to imagine what Heaven must be like.
The Bible only gives us hints about it
and the descriptions we have appear in the form of poetry and metaphor.
The glories of Heaven far surpass our perception.
Heaven is a real place, and the reality will exceed all images and symbols.
Galileo is on record as saying, “The intention of the Holy Spirit
is not to teach us how Heaven goes,
but how one goes to Heaven.”
Heaven is a reality unreachable to any of our senses.
It’s like explaining how to drive to a baby (like Sophie).
Sin resulted in our expulsion from a garden, the Garden of Eden,
but Jesus’ death and burial in the Garden of Gethsemane
assures believers of salvation in Paradise.
While we don’t know what Heaven or Paradise will be like,
we know what it will NOT be like.
There will be no death, no pain, no sin, no curse, no tears, no war, no disease.
God declares through the prophet Jeremiah:
“I will turn their mourning into gladness, their weeping into laughter” in Jeremiah 31:13.
Heaven is a place, the only place, where the Lord’s Prayer is fulfilled;
where God’s Name is hallowed, His Kingdom is come, and His will is done, 100%.
Heaven’ has been called “a prepared place for prepared people”
because Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for His people in His Father’s house (John 14:1-4).
Only those who have embraced Jesus will be happy living with Him for eternity.
Think for a moment about the purity and sin-LESS-ness of Heaven;
an unconverted sinner would not be able to stand the place!
For people who haven’t been saved and transformed by God,
Heaven would not be inviting or attractive,
it would be totally unsuitable for those who are comfortable with sin.
C.S. Lewis wrote a book called The Great Divorce,
in which a group of people in Hell get a free bus ride to heaven, and a guided tour.
In fact, they’re given an offer: if they want, they can stay.
They look around at heaven’s goodness and cleanliness and feel very uncomfortable.
They can’t wait to get back on the bus and return to Hell.
Lewis wasn’t claiming that people will be given a “second chance” after death;
he was saying that heaven would NOT be an enjoyable place for everyone.
And just as sinners wouldn’t feel comfortable in heaven,
Christian believers don’t feel at ease on earth,
especially when they hear people MIS-use the name of Christ.
C.S. Lewis also wrote, “If nothing in this world satisfies me,
perhaps it is because I was made for another world.”
If Christians are uncomfortable here, it’s because they are not at home here.
Although not physical or material, Christians believe heaven is a real place.
We picture it as clouds in the sky, less solid than terra firma,
but heaven is more substantive, more solid, more real than life on earth.
The author of Hebrews describes Heaven as a
“city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (11:10).
I had a good home with my parents,
and after getting married in April 1974, my first wife, Maureen, and I
bought a home of our own.
When she died, I coped,
and since marrying Anne she has made me a lovely home,
but, along with all other Christians, I would say
that no matter how nice, clean and comfortable our home is,
our best home is yet to come.
Heaven has been described as a place of fellowship and reunion,
because believers will be re-united with loved ones,
and meet all saints who have ever died since the beginning of history.
A lady called Linda Demaz wrote a comforting book for women who had miscarried
or who had lost children, entitled ‘Mommy, Please Don’t Cry’.
I would like to share a few passages with you: (quote)
“When it’s time to rest, angels tuck us in.
I never get scared, Mommy; there is no darkness here.
I met Jesus today, Mommy! He cradled me in His big, strong arms.
He made me feel so happy inside.
Someday, Mommy, you will cradle me in your arms, and stroke my hair,
and once again our hearts will beat together.
I’m fine here, I’m waiting for you.” (unquote).
The best thing about Paradise or Heaven is that believers will be with God.
We will see God face-to-face,
because Heaven is God’s home,
which He out of His grace allows repentant sinners to share.
Our eternal reward is often described in Scripture as “rest” (e.g. Hebrews 4),
but this doesn’t mean that heaven is a long nap.
We live restless lives, often filled with guilt about the past,
and worry about the present and the future,
but St. Augustine wrote, “Our heart cannot rest until it rests in God.”
Heaven is one long, peaceful, loving embrace by God.
For those who have been “born again”,
transformed through God’s grace and their faith in Christ,
Heaven is truly a wonderful place.
In a book entitled ‘When Christians Die’, Warren Wiersbe said, “Heaven isn't just our destination, it's our motivation.”
A few people do picture heaven as a place of clouds, harps and gold-paved streets,
but I think that most Christians realise that such physical things
are not what Paradise or Heaven is really about.
They are figures of speech, suggesting peace, beauty, glory and other good things.
They are an attempt to use limited physical terms to describe spiritual realities.
When most Christians talk about heaven, they are simply using the term
as a synonym for salvation.
For example, some Christian evangelists ask,
"Do you believe that you will go to heaven if you die tonight?"
Their real point is not about where the dead go,
but if the living are sure of our salvation.
I must share a story with you:
A wealthy Christian was preoccupied with the idea
of bringing some of his riches to Heaven.
He knew the Bible clearly teaches that you can’t take it with you when you go,
but nevertheless, he prayed and prayed that God would grant him permission.
Finally, his persistence paid off.
God spoke to him and said, "Okay, okay, stop nagging!
You can take one suitcase with you into Heaven."
The man thought, "Wow, what should I take?
What are the most valuable assets that I can put into one suitcase?"
He finally made his decision and packed his bag.
When he eventually died, and approached the Pearly Gates
dragging his heavy suitcase behind him.
St. Peter met him at the gate and said,
"Hey, wait a minute. What do you think you’re doing?
You’re not allowed to bring anything into heaven."
The rich man answered, "You don’t understand;
I have special permission from God Himself to take this suitcase into Heaven."
Peter rubbed his beard and said, "Well, that’s highly unusual.
I can’t imagine God letting you do that.
Let me look inside your suitcase and see what’s there."
The man opened his suitcase, which was filled with gold bars.
Peter said, "Well, if God said so, I suppose you can take that in if you want,
but I don’t know what you’re going to with more paving stones!”
The point is that Heaven is spiritual, not physical.
It is the "place" where God IS rather than ‘lives’.
Science fiction fans will relate to this:
God lives in a different "dimension."
He is actually present everywhere, in all dimensions,
yet "heaven" is the realm in which He especially dwells.
Theologians may have more precise words for these concepts,
but I hope I can get the general idea across with simple words.
The point is that to be ‘in Paradise, or in Heaven’
is to be in the presence of God in an immediate and special way.
What God has in store for Christians is beyond our ability to imagine.
Even in this life, the love of God is beyond our ability to understand.
The peace of God is beyond our comprehension,
and His presence in our hearts is beyond our ability to put into words.
It is impossible to describe how good it will be to live with God forever?
The biblical writers don't give us many details,
but one thing we know for certain,
it is going to be the most wonderful experience that anyone can ever have.
It will be better than the most beautiful painting we have ever seen,
better than the most delicious food we have ever tasted,
better than the most exciting sport we have ever played or watched,
and better than the best feelings and experiences we could ever have.
Heaven is better than anything on earth,
and certainly much better than the alternative,
which is what we as sinners deserve
and would face if it was not for the grace of God,
which we receive by believing in Jesus Christ
as His Son and our Saviour.
I pray that no one will leave this place today
without the assurance
that you are not only one of the MANY
but that you are one of the FEW
and that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life
and you have the rock solid assurance
that Jesus has gone ahead to prepare a place in Heaven for you;
a place at the Wedding Banquet.
Amen, and the peace ........................................................................
