Andy Stanley, in his book, How Good Is Good Enough, tells the story of a Sunday school teacher who wanted to explain to the 6-year-olds in his class what someone had to do in order to go to heaven. However, he wanted to know what the kids already knew about the subject, so he asked a few questions.
“If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale, and gave all my money to the church,” he asked, “would that get me to heaven?”
“No!” the children answered, and the teacher was encouraged.
“If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me to heaven?”
Again the answer was, “No!”
“Well then,” he said, “If I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children and loved my wife, would that get me into heaven?”
Again they all shouted, “No!”
“Well then,” the teacher asked, looking out over his class, “how can I get to heaven?”
A boy in the back row stood up and shouted, “You gotta be dead!” (Andy Stanley, How Good Is Good Enough? Multnomah, 2003, p. 8; www.PreachingToday.com)
I’m not sure that was the answer the teacher was looking for, but it does make you think. What’s beyond the grave? And how can I be certain that heaven awaits me there? These are important questions; because when we are certain of our destiny, the trip is a lot more fun.
Christian author and philosopher, Peter Kreeft, put it this way: “Suppose God took you on a crystal ball trip into your future and you saw with indubitable certainty that despite everything – your sin, your smallness, your stupidity – you could have free for the asking your whole crazy heart's deepest desire: heaven, eternal joy. Would you not return fearless and singing? What can earth do to you, if you are guaranteed heaven? To fear the worst earthly loss would be like a millionaire fearing the loss of a penny – less, a scratch on a penny.” (Tullian Tchividjian, Glorious Ruin, David C. Cook, 2012, page 175; www.PreachingToday.com)
Well, the fact is, God HAS shown every believer that kind of a future in the last book of the Bible. So if you have your Bibles, I invite you to turn with me to Revelation 21, Revelation 21, where God describes our future home beyond the grave.
Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (ESV)
As believers in Jesus Christ, we…
LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW HOME.
We anticipate a place of unspoiled beauty, where everything is fresh & perfect.
It’s a place where there is no danger. Did you notice? The text says, “the sea was no more.” That’s significant, because in Bible days, people were afraid of the sea. It was a place where sea monsters lived. It was a place where people died, and it was a trap for Israel. If an enemy ever decided to invade their land, with the sea behind and the enemy in front, there was no place to run. But in heaven, in our new home, there is no more sea; there is no more danger; there is nothing to fear anymore.
More than that, in heaven, there is no death there, as well.
Revelation 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (ESV)
The city is so beautiful, she looks like a bride on her wedding day.
Revelation 21:3-4 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (ESV)
The city is so blessed, because God Himself will be there. The psalmist said to the Lord, “In your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). And that’s exactly what we will find in our new city – fullness of joy and the absence of all sorrow, including death itself, because God is there!
The shortest complete story in English, supposedly written by Ernest Hemingway, is only six words long. It goes like this: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” (Gene C. Fant, Jr., God As Author, B & H Academic, 2010, p. 177; www.PreachingToday.com) This world is full of sorrow and heartache, but in heaven all of that will be gone!
Pastor Jack Hayford visited Carl in the hospital, knowing he had only a matter of hours to live. As he sat by Carl’s bedside, he said, “Carl, how are you feeling?”
Carl was a man of deep faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. He was also a very experienced and highly respected lighting director at CBS. He looked at his pastor, his eyes misted slightly, and he said, “Pastor Jack, you know when you're in my business, it's the combination of lights, the skill at blending things together in order to create special effects, that's what this job is about.” He said, “This morning I woke up and in the quiet of my heart, Jesus spoke to me and he said, ‘Carl, how would you like to direct a sunset?’” (Heaven, Gaither Gospel Series CD, track 14) Oh, Heaven is going to be so beautiful! – no death, no crying, and no more pain.
Revelation 21:5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (ESV)
It’s true! God is building us a new home, but that home is not for everybody. It wouldn’t work for God to populate his new home with old creatures. They would only mess it up just like they did with God’s first creation. No.
If you want to go into God’s new home, you must be a new creature. You must find new life in Christ.
Revelation 21:6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. (ESV)
God gives new life to the thirsty. God gives new life to those who long for something better. God gives new life to those who are tired of their sin and long for a better way of life. Does that describe you? Then you are a prime candidate for heaven. All you need to do is ask. It’s yours for free!
God gives new life to the thirsty, and they are triumphant. They are overcomers.
Revelation 21:7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. (ESV)
Isn’t that wonderful? The thirsty become overcomers and sons of God – i.e., kings in His Kingdom! (cf. 2 Samuel 7:14).
Philip Yancey writes in Christianity Today about a young man named Mike who works among the homeless. Mike has learned that homeless people, having hit bottom, don't waste time building up an image or trying to conform. And they pray without pretense. Mike finds it a refreshing contrast to what he has found in some churches.
He said: “My friends and I were playing guitars and singing ‘As the Deer Panteth for the Water,’ when David, a homeless man we knew, started weeping. ‘That's what I want, man’ he said. I want that water. I'm an alcoholic and I want to be healed.’” (Philip Yancey, “The Word on the Street,” Christianity Today, January 2006, p. 80; www.PreachingToday.com)
That’s exactly who heaven is for. It’s for people who are thirsty and who triumph through faith in Christ. Please, if you haven’t already, put your trust in Christ, and let Him change you from the inside out; let Him give you the water of life without cost.
Otherwise, you will miss out, because heaven is ONLY for those who have received new life in Christ. The rest miss out.
Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” (ESV)
Those who are born once die twice, but those who are born twice die only once. Those who have new life in Christ may die physically, but they never have to fear the second death of the lake of fire.
As believers in Christ, we look forward to a new home. More than that, we…
LOOK FORWARD TO A NICE HOME.
We anticipate a wonderfully splendid home.
Revelation 21:9-11 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. (ESV)
The city will shine like a radiant bride and like a sparkling jewel.
One of the wonderful things about living in the middle of Kansas is the glorious view of the night sky. Without the city lights to wash it out, we see millions of stars, like sparkling jewels, against a black velvet sky.
One little girl was taking a walk with her father in the country one night when she looked up and saw such a sky. She said, “Daddy, if the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful, what do you think the right side will be like?” (Charles L. Allen, “Home Fires,” Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 6; www.PreachingToday.com)
We can’t imagine it, can we? Our new home will shine brighter than the jewels on a radiant bride.
Second, our new home will be secure. It will be very safe.
Revelation 21:12a It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels… (ESV)
They won’t let anything in that shouldn’t be there. With high walls and a big, strong angel at each gate, there is nothing to fear. Our new home will shine. It will be secure.
And it will be spacious. There will be plenty of room for the believers of all ages.
Revelation 21:12-13 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. (ESV)
The city is for Old Testament Believers – those in Israel who believed God’s promise of a Messiah before He came. There is a gate for each of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Revelation 21:14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. (ESV)
The 12 apostles are the founders of the church. They are the first New Testament Believers, and as such they represent all who believe in God’s promise of a Messiah since He came. The city is big enough for believers of all ages – before Christ and after Christ, from Adam to the last man to trust Christ during His earthly reign. No one will be excluded.
Revelation 21:15-16 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. And he measured the city with his rod, 12,000 stadia. Its length and width and height are equal. (ESV)
12,000 stadia is about 1,500 miles. Can you imagine it? The city is a 1,500 mile cube! The city will be 3/4ths the size of the United States, and 250 times higher than the highest mountain! Mt. Everest is less than 6 miles high, so the skyscrapers in this city will make Everest look like a tiny molehill.
Revelation 21:17 He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel’s measurement. (ESV)
144 cubits is about 200 feet, so the wall around the city is 200 feet thick! It’s a big place! Our new home will shine. It will be secure. It will be spacious.
And it will be splendid! It will be more beautiful than anybody could ever imagine.
Revelation 21:18-20 The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. (ESV)
This is a place of “unmistakable beauty, designed to reflect the glory of God in a spectrum of brilliant color.” So says Dr. John Walvoord in his commentary on Revelation.
Revelation 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass. (ESV)
There was once a rich man who was determined to take his wealth with him into the next life. He pleaded with the Lord, who finally granted his request on one condition. He could bring only one suitcase full of valuables. So the rich man decided to fill the suitcase with gold bullion.
The day came when God called him home. St. Peter greeted him at heaven’s gate, but told him he couldn't bring his suitcase. “Oh,” said the rich man. “I have an agreement with God.”
“That's unusual,” replied St. Peter. “Mind if I take a look?” The man opened the suitcase to reveal the shining gold bullion.
St. Peter was amazed. “Why in the world would you bring pavement?” (Warren Keating, The Joyful Noiseletter)
Compared to heaven, our money is worthless! Why then do we kill ourselves just to get more?
Heaven will shine. Heaven will be secure. Heaven will be spacious, and heaven will be splendid!
But best of all, God himself will be there.
Revelation 21:22-23 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (ESV)
The city will glow with the glory of God, unveiled by any human temple. God will shine like the sun, and everyone will walk in His light.
Revelation 21:24-26 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. (ESV)
The city will be visited by kings and queens from all over the new world. We, who rule and reign with Christ, will be there. We will be there with the Lord Himself, and that is best of all.
Cindy Holmes, a pediatric nurse in Houston, Texas, was taking care of Tyler, a little boy in the final stages of AIDS. His mother was also dying of AIDS, and when it became obvious that Tyler would die first, his mother decided she'd better talk with him about what was going to come next.
She pulled him up into her bed, and they talked about life, love, and fun. Then she brought up the topic of heaven. She said, “You know, Tyler, I was kind of hoping that you'd do your growing up here, but the doctors say your body is telling them that you might want to move on and grow up in heaven.” She continued, “You know, I made a decision.”
Tyler asked, “What's that, Mommy?”
She said, “I've decided that if you're going to go live in heaven, I'm going to do that too, because wherever you are, that's where I want to be.”
A few days later, Cindy Holmes was in Tyler's room. She said he looked up at her and said, “Miss Holmes, will you do me a favor?”
Cindy said, “Sure, Tyler. What do you need?”
He asked, “When I die, would you put a red shirt on me?”
Cindy answered, “Tyler, why do you want me to do that?”
Tyler explained, “Well, I'm going to grow up in heaven, and I've been told it's fun over there. I'm going to have friends, and I'm going to play. But my mommy is going to come over there, too, and she's going to be looking for me. And if I'm real busy and don't see her coming, I want her to see me. So it's really important I have on something she can see. So would you give me a red shirt?” Tyler looked up from his bed and continued, “You know, heaven wouldn't be heaven without Mommy.” (Michael Brown, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, “Acquainted with the Night,” sermon preached on August 13, 2000; www.PreachingToday.com)
As wonderful as heaven is, Heaven wouldn’t be heaven without those we love, and especially without our Lord, Jesus Christ. The best thing about heaven is that Jesus is there!
Tell me, will you be there?
Revelation 21:27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (ESV)
Sinners will not be able to enter this city, because it is full of the glory of God. Only those whom Christ has changed will be there – only those who have been washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, and therefore only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Will your name be written there? It can be, if you put your trust in Christ today. For God so loved that world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). God will be there, and He wants you to be there too.
Please, if you haven’t done it already, trust Christ with your life, and let Him get you ready for that nice, new home He is building for you right now.
Imagine a family of four living in a modest home. It's a good home, and it meets their needs, but it's also far from perfect. The pipes are aging. The floors are scratched up. The walls have marks on them. The kitchen is dated. Then one day, grandpa visits and tells them, “I am saving money to do a major renovation of your house. In 10 years I'll redo everything for you – new floors, appliances, wiring, roof, siding, and landscaping. Everything will be redone.”
That night they celebrated and talked about their dream house. But after their grandpa left, they faced a dilemma: How do they live until the new house is ready?
With some sarcasm, the oldest son says, “Who cares how we live? It's all going to get redone, so I say we trash this place and live it up.”
The daughter says, “We can just live here, but let's spend all of our time and energy dreaming about the house to come.”
The father says, “Well, I'm not fixing anything else in this house. If it breaks, it will stay broken. I'm not patching holes, I'm not sanding floors, and I'm not fixing doors. As long as the roof does not collapse, I am not touching it.”
The family's mom listened quietly before saying, “Here's the thing: It will be wonderful to get a brand new home, but now, even before it comes, we have to live in this home like we are going to live in the brand new one. If we trash this house, we will just learn how to trash houses. We should dream and plan for the new house, but if we only think about the new home, we will miss the goodness that is still here. And if we never fix anything, we'll need to live with more things broken than are necessary. Seeing broken things will only bring sadness.” She concluded, “So from now on you need to imagine like we are living in the new house now and live in this house just like we will in our new one.” (Christopher Ek, Berlin, Connecticut; www.PreachingToday.com)
As we anticipate our nice, new home in heaven, that’s good advice for all of us. With God’s help, let’s begin living now in our old home like we will in our new one.
