Heaven Isn’t To Far Away
However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV
A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:1-4 NIV
Heaven According to Huck Finn In Mark Twain's famous story, Miss Watson, a rather stodgy old fuddy-duddy, is telling Huck about heaven. "She said … she was going to live so as to go to the good place. I made up my mind I shouldn't try for it. But I never said so, because it would only make trouble and wouldn't do no good. Now she had got a start, and she went on and told me all about the good place. She said all a body would have to do there was to go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever. So I didn't think much of it. But I never said so. I asked her if she reckoned Tom Sawyer would go there, and, she said, not by a considerable sight. I was glad about that, because I wanted him and me to be together." Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Time Magazine Article (3/24/97) people were asked questions about heaven, here are their responses:
Do you believe in the existence of heaven, where people live forever with God after they die? 81% said Yes, 13% said No
Where do you believe you will go when you die? 68% Heaven, 3% Hell
Which of the following do you believe are in heaven? 93% Angels, 79% St. Peter, 43% Harps, 36% Halos
The word heaven occurs over 500 times in the Bible: describes 3 different types of heavens:
First heaven - the atmospheric heaven (the sky)
Second heaven – stellar or celestial heaven (outer space)
Third Heaven – the divine heaven (the abode of God)
Why we should spend time thinking and talking about Heaven
•It has been said some Christians are so heavenly minded they’re no earthly good. But perhaps more believers are so earthly minded they’re no heavenly good.
•Colossians 3:2 –“Set you mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
•Apostle John recognized this and exhorted believers to be mindful that this world is fatally flawed and incapable of providing ultimate satisfaction to the believer
•I John 2:15-17 NIV - 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
•C.S. LEWIS said, “Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave with regret? There are better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
•C.S. Lewis also said, “ If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world”
What About Heaven?
•Heaven is a real place.
(John 14:2-3) “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were
not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place
for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”
(Revelation 21:14) “The city was laid out like a square, as long as it
was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be
12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.”
What will Heaven Be Like?
The Splendor of Heaven - Heaven will be a glorious place both because of what is there and what is not there. There are 11 things that won’t be there: sea, sin, death, mourning, crying, pain, night, temple, curse, sun, or moon. The main thing that will be there will be the glory of God. (Rev. 21:11, 23)
The Sights of Heaven: A city called the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-22:5) No shag carpet, no cinder blocks
The Walls – is 216 ft thick and 1,500 miles high (seven million ft) Security. 12 foundation stones on which are written the names of the 12 apostles of the lamb (21:14) The walls are made of jasper (21:18), and the foundation stones of the wall are inlaid with 12 different types of precious gems (21:19,20)
The gates - 12 gates, 3 on each side, and an angel guards each gate. The names of the 12 tribes of Israel are written on the gates (21:12-13). Each of the 12 gates is made from a single pearl (21:21). The gates never close at the end of the day, because there is no night (21:21) and nothing evil will be allowed to enter (21:27)
21:18,21, “says the city was pure gold, as clear as glass….the main street was pure gold as clear as glass.”
21:23, “the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the lamb is the light.”
The Size of Heaven – 1500 miles on each side. To give you an understanding: the moon is 2160 miles in diameter. It is a perfect cube it contains 2.25 million square miles or 3,375,000,000 cubic miles of space - it has enough room to accommodate 100,000 billion people.
•Heaven is a right place.
(Revelation 21:4) “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There
will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old
order of things has passed away.”
The Splendor of Heaven - Heaven will be a glorious place both because of what is there and what is not there. There are 11 things that won’t be there: sea, sin, death, mourning, crying, pain, night, temple, curse, sun, or moon. The main thing that will be there will be the glory of God. (Rev. 21:11, 23)
•Heaven is a relational place.
(1 Thessalonians 4:17-18) “After that, we who are still alive and
are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet
the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Therefore encourage each other with these words.”
(Revelation 21:3) “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.
They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be
their God.”
(Revelation 22:2) “On each side of the river stood the tree of life,
bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the
leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
Perfect Reunion – We will be reunited with loved ones, friends, and other believers who have gone before us.
I Thess. 4:13-17
•Heaven is a rewarding place.
(Revelation 22:12) “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with
me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”
Matthew 16:27 … Son of Man…will reward each person according to what he has done.
What will we experience in Heaven?
Perfect Transformation – I John 3:2
Perfect Comfort – “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal” Thomas More. Revelation 7:15-17
Perfect rejoicing, Gladness, and Joy – It won’t be quiet. Rev, 19:6,7
Perfect fellowship and feasting – Matthew 8:11/Rev. 19:9
Perfect Rest – Rev. 14:13
Perfect Satisfaction – Rev. 21:6, 22:17
Perfect Victory – Rev. 3:21, 22:5
The absence of All things Undesirable – nothing of evil or nothing of sorrow in heaven. Revelation 7:16, 21:4, 25, 27
No evil, no wickedness, no ungodliness, no sin. A place without crime, without corruption, without pain, sorrows and tears. No sirens, no deadbolts, no alarm systems, no barbed wire, no adversity, no trials, and no tribulations. No ambulances, hospitals cemeteries or prisons. No plagues, no funerals. No one will be hungry or homeless, and earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and raging fires will no longer exist to ravage mankind.
No hateful words, misunderstandings, slander or gossip. No envy, jealousy grudges, suspicions will be there. There will be NO abuse, exploitation, or violence in heaven. No strife, no broken hearts. No one will suffer from physical maladies, emotional disturbances, chemical imbalances, addictions, or handicaps of anykind.
No weariness, worry, fear, and anxiety will be there in heaven. No more cancers, aids, tumors, diseases, etc…
Until then…
(Titus 2:13) “…while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious
appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Refocus your energies.
(Matthew 6:19-20) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on
earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and
steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”
2. Reach people.
(Revelation 22:17) The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let
him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and
whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
(Jude 1:22-23) “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from
the fire and save them; to others show mercy…”
Renew your relationship with God.
(2 Peter 3:13-14) “But in keeping with his promise we are looking
forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of
righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward
to this, make every effort
Call to Salvation
The most important issue you will ever face in life pertains to where you will spend eternity
God wants everyone to be saved.
(1 Timothy 2:4) “(God)…wants all men to be saved and to come to
a knowledge of the truth.”
God provided a way of escape.
(Romans 6:23) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
John 14:6 - Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(Acts 4:12) “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other
name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
God invites you to receive salvation. (God’s RSVP)
(Revelation 3:20) “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat
with him, and he with me.”
(Romans 10:9-10) “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is
Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are
justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are
saved.”
Choosing Heaven means choosing to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Such a relationship brings a foretaste of Heaven in this life, and an eternity of happiness. You can make your decision today!
