WHY I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN
REVELATION 21:1-7
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ON A FEW OCCASIONS TO HELP FRIENDS AND RELATIVES BUILD NEW HOMES. I HAVE NOTICED A COUPLE OF THINGS WHEN THESE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES.
FIRST, THAT’S CLOSE ENOUGH IS A PHRASE THAT IS NEVER HEARD. IF MEASUREMENTS ARE NOT CORRECT AT THE BEGINNING, IT COULD CREATE GREATER PROBLEMS LATER. I THINK THE CURSE OF ANY WOODWORKER IS THAT WE SET HIGH STANDARDS FOR OUR WORK. I KNOW MANY WHO WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT THE MOST FRUSTRATING STATEMENT IN WOODWORKING IS “NO ONE ELSE WILL KNOW, BUT I WILL KNOW.”
SECOND, THERE IS GREAT ANTICIPATION AND EXCITEMENT AS THE HOME IS BUILT AND PRIDE AS IT IS FINISHED. WHEN TALKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING THEY WILL DESCRIBE WHAT WILL GO WHERE, “WE’RE PUTTING IN BIRCH CABINETRY”, “THIS ROOM IS THE LIVING ROOM”, “THIS IS WHERE I WANT MY MAN CAVE, IF MY WIFE SAYS IT’S ALL RIGHT”.
THE ANTICIPATION AND EXCITEMENT BUILDS AND REACHES A CLIMAX WHEN THE HOME IS READY AND THEY MOVE IN. EVERYTHING IS JUST RIGHT. THE FURNITURE IS PICKED WITH SPECIFIC PLACES IN MIND, THE COLORS ON THE WALLS ARE PERFECT. THERE ARE NO REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE MADE. THE HOME IS READY TO BE LIVED IN.
MY QUESTION TO YOU TODAY IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU LOOK TOWARD YOUR HEAVENLY HOME WITH THE SAME ANTICIPATION?
I THINK SOMETIMES WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THE CARES OF THIS WORLD, THAT IT BLINDS US TO THE FACT THAT THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME. THE SCRIPTURES ARE CLEAR ABOUT THIS. PAUL TEACHES:
2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-2:
“1 ¶ Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,”
I’M 55 YEARS OLD AND IN RELATIVELY HEALTHY, BUT I FIND THAT THE REALITY OF PAUL’S TEACHING IS BECOMING MORE PRESENT IN MY LIFE. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING AS I FIND IT HELPS ME TO FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND NOT TO SWEAT WHAT ARE REALLY MINOR AREAS OF LIFE IF WE THINK ABOUT IT.
SOMETHING THAT I ALLOW MYSELF TO DO EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IS TO THINK ABOUT HEAVEN. I FIND THAT THERE IS NOT MUCH PREACHING ABOUT HEAVEN TODAY, AND USUALLY IT IS AT A FUNERAL. THERE ARE SOME GOOD BOOKS CONCERNING HEAVEN, ONE OF THE BEST THAT I’VE READ, AND ACTUALLY USED IN BIBLE STUDY WAS WRITTEN BY RANDY ALCORN ENTITLED “HEAVEN.”
THE BEST BOOK TO STUDY CONCERNING HEAVEN THOUGH IS THE BIBLE. THE BIBLE IS THE SOURCEBOOK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HEAVEN. IT IS GOD’S WORD, DESCRIBING THE PLACE THAT GOD CREATED.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD NOT HAVE US TO THINK ABOUT HEAVEN AS IF IT WERE A WASTE OF TIME. HOW CAN OUR MORTAL MINDS CONCEIVE OF SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE. HOW SAD TO FEEL THIS WAY. HOW SAD NOT TO ALLOW GOD TO USE HIS WORD AND SPEAK TO OUR IMAGINATION AS TO WHAT HEAVEN IS LIKE.
YES THE BIBLE DOES SAY:
1 CORINTHIANS 2:9: “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" —”
THIS HOWEVER IS NOT A FINISHED THOUGHT. THERE IS NO PERIOD AT THE END OF THIS STATEMENT. THERE IS SOMETHING MORE. LISTEN!
1 CORINTHIANS 2:10: “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”
IF WE DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ILLUMINE DEEP TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE TO US CONCERNING LIVING FOR JESUS, AND SALVATION, JUST TO NAME TWO, WHY SHOULD WE NOT LOOK TO HIM TO ILLUMINE SOME OF THE GLORY OF HEAVEN TO US. THE SCRIPTURE WILL TEACH US A LOT ABOUT HEAVEN, IF WE ARE WILLING TO PUT THE TIME INTO IT.
STILL MORE SCARY THAN CHRISTIANS NOT WANTING TO THINK ABOUT HEAVEN, ARE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO DON’T BELIEVE THERE IS A HEAVEN. SOME PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF EITHER HEAVEN OR HELL. SOME SAY THEY ARE ON EARTH. SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IN HEAVEN, BUT IT IS A BELIEF OF THEIR OWN MAKING AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT HEAVEN.
TODAY, I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN. IT IS IN SOME WAYS A SERMON OF WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IN HEAVEN, AND WHAT I THINK IT WILL BE LIKE. SO SIT BACK IN YOUR CHAIR AND DARE TO DREAM FOR A LITTLE WHILE AS I SHARE A VISION OF WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME.
THERE ARE MANY POINTS THAT I COULD BRING OUT ABOUT HEAVEN TODAY BUT I WANT TO SHARE THESE WITH YOU:
1. HEAVEN IS OUR HOME
2. HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF REUNION
3. HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF RELATIONSHIP
4. HEAVEN IS ETERNAL PERFECTION
5. A BELIEF IN HEAVEN IS LOGICAL
POINT ONE: HEAVEN IS OUR HOME:
WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CHANGE TODAY. HOME IS WHERE PEOPLE HANG THEIR HATS ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY. LES AND I SOMETIMES WATCH DESIGNER SHOWS AND HOME RENOVATION SHOWS, AND ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED, IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSE, IT IS REFERRED TO AS “THE SPACE”. IT CAN BECOME A HOME, BUT ONLY AFTER PEOPLE LIVE IN IT A NUMBER OF YEARS.
ANOTHER THING I HAVE NOTICED IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE A DEEP DESIRE TO HAVE THEIR OWN HOME. THEY LOOK FOR IT
PLAN FOR IT
SACRIFICE FOR IT
TAKE CARE OF IT
TAKE PRIDE IN IT
IT IS THEIRS. IT IS THEIR HOME.
JESUS MADE US A PROMISE THAT HE IS PREPARING A HOME FOR US.
JOHN 14:2-3:
“2 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. 3 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.”
AS A CHRISTIAN I BELIEVE THAT HEAVEN IS A HOME THAT GOD HAS MADE FOR ME. NO MORE MOVING FROM PLACE TO PLACE. I HAVE A HOME THAT IS BEING BUILT WITH THE LOVE OF GOD ALMIGHTY.
THUS IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREPARE FOR THAT HOME THE SAME WAY I WOULD PREPARE FOR A HOME HERE. I DID LOOK FOR IT, ALTHOUGH WHAT I WAS SEARCHING FOR IN REALITY WAS JESUS. WHEN I FOUND HIM, I FOUND THE HEAVEN HE CREATED AS WELL.
I DID PLAN FOR HEAVEN. THE FIRST STEP WAS ACCEPTING JESUS AS MY SAVIOR AND LORD. THIS OPENED THE DOORS OF HEAVEN FOR ME. I STUDIED ABOUT HEAVEN IN THE BIBLE.
I DO SACRIFICE AND TAKE CARE OF MY BELIEF IN HEAVEN. I DO HAVE TO ADMIT THOUGH THAT THE SACRIFICES I HAVE MADE FOR CHRIST ARE NOT AS GREAT AS OTHERS HAVE BEEN CALLED ON TO MAKE.
HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF OUR BELIEF IN HEAVEN? BY WALKING IN HOLINESS BEFORE THE LORD AND THE WORLD.
EPHESIANS 5:15-16:
“15 Be very careful, then, how you live— not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
WHAT WE BELIEVE IN MEANS NOTHING, IF WE DO NOT HAVE THE INTEGRITY TO BACK UP THAT BELIEF. IF PEOPLE WILL NOT BELIEVE ME IN MY DAILY LIFE, WHY SHOULD THEY BELIEVE ME WHEN I TALK TO THEM ABOUT HEAVEN.
I BELIEVE HEAVEN IS MY HOME. AT THE END OF THE DAY, WHEN THE WORK IS DONE, HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO SIT ON THE COUCH WITH A CUP OF TEA, KNOWING THAT MY HOUSE IS IN ORDER. I KNOW THAT IF I WERE TO DIE TODAY THAT LES AND SOPHIE OUR CAT ARE WELL TAKEN CARE OF, AND I’LL BE AT HOME IN HEAVEN WAITING FOR THEM. YES I SAID THEM!
POINT TWO: I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN BECAUSE IT IS A PLACE OF REUNION.
I BELIEVE THAT HEAVEN WILL BE A PLACE OF BLESSED REUNION FOR THOSE WHO LOVED GOD AND ACCEPTED HIM AS SAVIOR AND LORD.
SAINTS OF ALL TIME WILL BE THERE. WE WILL BE ABLE TO TALK WITH DAVID AND PAUL. YOU WILL HAVE THE THRILL OF SEEING LOVED ONES THAT YOU WITNESSED LOWERED INTO THE GRAVE AND BE TOGETHER FOREVER.
1 THESSALONIANS 4:15-17:
“15 According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 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.”
THIS PASSAGE IS SPEAKING ABOUT THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH, BUT NOTE THAT PAUL IS TALKING ABOUT THE REUNITING OF BOTH LIVING AND DEAD CHRISTIANS, TO BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER. THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE TRIBUATION AND MILLENNIAL SAINTS.
THIS WORLD OFFERS US ONLY A SHORT TIME TO BE TOGETHER AT BEST. WHAT IS FIFTY OR SIXTY YEARS TOGETHER COMPARED TO ETERNITY. DEATH IS SO CRUEL. IT IS NO RESPECTOR OF AGE, OR FAMILY. BE IT A YOUNG FATHER OR A GRANDFATHER WELL IN YEARS, THIS WORLD ENDS IN SEPARATION AND HEARTBREAK AS WE GATHER IN A CEMETARY, UNTIL ONE DAY THEY GATHER THERE FOR US. THE SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR.
PSALM 90:10: “The length of our days is seventy years— or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.”
IF THIS IS ALL THERE IS TO HOPE FOR, THEN AS PAUL TEACHES WE SHOULD BE THE MOST MISERABLE.
BUT THE GRAVE IS NOT ALL THAT THERE IS TO HOPE FOR. THERE IS A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN. WHEN WE ACCEPT CHRIST INTO OUR LIVES AS LORD AND SAVIOR WE HAVE THE SURE AND CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE THAT TO BE ABSENT FROM THE BODY IS TO BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD IN A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN. SO AS PAUL TEACHES:
1 CORINTHIANS 15:54-57:
“54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN BECAUSE CHRISTIANITY IS THE ONLY RELIGION THAT SPEAKS OF THIS REUNION WITH LOVED ONES, AND IT IS IN HEAVEN THAT THIS REUNION TAKES PLACE.
POINT THREE: I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN BECAUSE IT IS A PLACE OF RELATIONSHIP:
I BELIEVE WE WILL HAVE WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIPS IN HEAVEN. WE KNOW THERE WILL BE A REUNION, BUT WHAT POINT IS A REUNION WITHOUT A RELATIONSHIP.
CONSIDER THE ACCOUNT OFJESUS AND THE PHARISEES WHERE THEY POINTED TO A WOMAN AND TOLD JESUS SHE HAD A NUMBER OF HUSBANDS ALL WHO HAD DIED. THEIR QUESTION WAS “IN HEAVEN, WHO WILL SHE BE MARRIED TO?” THEY WERE IMPLYING THAT A FEW OF THE GUYS WOULD BE OUT OF LUCK.
JESUS SURPRISED THEM BY ANSWERING THAT IN HEAVEN THERE WOULD BE NO GIVING IN MARRIAGE. HE WAS SAYING THAT SHE WOULD NOT BE MARRIED TO ANY OF THEM.
WELL WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIPS IN HEAVEN? WE MUST REMEMBER THAT MARRIAGE WAS CORRUPTED BY THE EFFECTS OF THE FALL AS WAS EVERYTHING. THEREFORE IT IS NOT A PERFECT INSTITUTION AND ONLY MADE FOR THIS WORLD. REVELATION 21 STATES THAT GOD WILL MAKE ALL THINGS NEW, AND THAT INCLUDES OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
IT’S TRUE THAT LESLIE AND I WON’T BE MARRIED IN HEAVEN, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE WILL NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP IN HEAVEN. I BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS TEACHING US THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP IN HEAVEN WILL BE BETTER THAN IT IS NOW, BECAUSE IT WILL BE PERFECT.
RELATIONSHIP IN HEAVEN WILL NOT HAVE THE CORRUPTION OF SIN IN THEM. THEY WILL BE MADE NEW. WE SHALL KNOW EACH OTHER AS GOD DESIRED US TO KNOW EACH OTHER. GENESIS TEACHES US THAT WHEN WE WERE IN A SINLESS STATE THERE WAS NO SHAME OR GUILT.
REVELATION 21:4-5:
“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." 5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
I BELIEVE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WILL BE PERFECT.
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.”
I BELIEVE THE RELATIONSHIP WE WILL HAVE WITH GOD WILL BE AS IT WAS WHEN WE WERE FIRST CREATED. ADAM AND EVE ENJOYED DIRECT FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD. I BELIEVE THEY SPOKE WITH HIM AND WERE IMMEDIATELY ANSWERED, AND I BELIEVE THIS WILL BE THE RELATIONSHIP WE WILL HAVE IN HEAVEN.
NOW WE COMMUNICATE THROUGH PRAYER AND WE RECEIVE GOD’S ANSWER THROUGH THE WORD. IN HEAVEN I BELIEVE WE WILL STILL TALK TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER, BUT IT WILL BE THE SAME AS A CONVERSATION WE WOULD HAVE. I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL AUDIBLY HEAR GOD’S RESPONSE TO US.
I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IN HEAVEN WE WILL HAVE PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS.
POINT FOUR: I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT TO BE A PLACE OF ETERNAL PERFECTION:
THIS WORLD HAS BEEN CORRUPTED BY SIN. PART OF THE EFFECT OF THIS CORRUPTION IS DISEASE, DEATH, EVEN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIY HAS ITS BASIS IN THE EFFECTS OF SIN.
THEREFORE WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS OF SIN IN THIS WORLD. WE MAY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS IN WHEELCHAIRS, MINOR ISSUES LIKE WEARING GLASSES OR MORE PRESSING ISSUES LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO TALK, HEAR OR SPEEK.
I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GONE. THEY WON’T EVEN BE A MEMORY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A NEW IMMORTAL INCORRUPTIBLE BODY IN HEAVEN. THERE WILL BE NO CANCER, OR HEART DISEASE. DIABETES WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST. WE WILL LIVE AS WE WERE MEANT TO BE.
I BELIEVE THE PLACE WE WILL BE AT, HEAVEN, WILL BE PERFECT AS WELL. WHEN WE EAT IT WILL BECAUSE WE WANT TO NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO. AND GET THIS, NO CALORIES. WEIGHT WATCHERS AND JENNY CRAIG WILL BE OUT OF BUSINESS.
WE WILL DRINK FROM THE RIVER OF LIFE. THERE WILL BE NO POLLUTION. WE WILL HAVE JOBS TO DO. WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT GOD’S UNIVERSE, ALL FROM A PERFECT POINT OF VIEW FOR WHICH WE WILL GIVE GOD THE GLORY AND PRAISE.
POINT FIVE: I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN BECAUSE BELIEVING IN HEAVEN IS LOGICAL:
PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I AM NOT TRYING TO SOUND LIKE SPOCK FROM STAR TREK HERE. I AM MERELY MAKING A POINT OF OBSERVATION IN THIS CONCLUSION THAT I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER.
IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN HEAVEN, THEN BY ALL MEANS LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST NOW. DO THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO AND ENJOY THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO THE FULLEST. THIS WILL BE ALL YOU HAVE. ONCE IN THE GRAVE THAT’S IT YOU CEASE TO EXIST. THERE IS NO MORE.
IF YOU DO BELIEVE IN HEAVEN, AS I DO, THEN BY ALL MEANS LIVE YOUR LIFE TO THE FULLEST NOW. DO THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO AND ENJOY THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO THE FULLEST. BEING A CHRISTIAN WILL GUIDE YOU TO THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO BECAUSE OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO CHRIST, AND THEY WILL BE THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO TO PLEASE CHRIST.
BUT THAT’S NOT ALL I HAVE. I HAVE AN ETERNAL HOME. I HAVE A HOME WHERE I’LL BE REUNITED WITH MY LOVED ONES WHO KNOW CHRIST. IN HEAVEN I WILL HAVE A PERFECT RELATIONSHIP WITH LESLIE AND GOD AND ALL OTHER CHRISTIANS. IN HEAVEN I WILL BE PERFECT, NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT DIABETES OR THIS POT BELLY. IN HEAVEN I WILL BE HOME FOR ETERNITY.
THE WAY I SEE IT, IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN HEAVEN THEN ULTIMATELY THE BEST YOU HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO IS THE GRAVE.
WHEREAS BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IN HEAVEN, I NEED NOT FEAR THE GRAVE AT ALL, FOR IT IS MERELY A DOOR TO SOMETHING FAR GREATER.
THEREFORE I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY LOGICAL CONCLUSION FOR ME TO REACH, BASED ON THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED.
LASTLY, I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN BECAUSE YOU CAN BE THERE AS WELL. THERE IS AN OPEN DOOR FOR YOU TODAY. YOU CAN ENJOY THE BLESSING OF A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
WON’T YOU CONSIDER IT AS WE SING OUR CLOSING HYMN. COME FORWARD IF YOU WANT TO TALK MORE ABOUT THIS. CALL US IF YOU ARE LISTENING BY RADIO AND WANT TO KNOW MORE.
ETERNITY IS A LONG TIME TO BE WRONG.
