Twenty years old, Matthew decides to begin his sophomore year at Texas State University, by pledging for a fraternity. He feels it’s a good way to make new friends. During initiation, he consumes enough alcohol to make an elephant inebriated. Still, at 20 years of age and two-sport athlete in high school, Matthew thought the hazing incident of “the gauntlet” was just a part of the embarrassingly awkward way of being accepted. His was healthy and could withstand just about anything. Yet, somewhere in the middle of the night, Matthew fell, resulting in a fractured skull among other injuries. He was placed on a near by couch in the fraternity house in order to “sleep it off.” It was only around noon the next day that Matthew refused to respond to anyone no matter how much they tried to wake him.
You find your normal seat next to family and friends. You haven’t felt great as your odometer turned into your 50s. While you felt you fine on your way here, you dropped your children off in the children’s area, and stopped to talk to some friends. But along about the welcome time of the worship service you begin to feel uncomfortable. You sit down while everyone else is singing, thinking whatever you are experiencing will pass. You have taken care of yourself; you’ve eaten the right foods and exercised. But then, the unthinkable happens. The radiating pain in your back increases exponentially and you soon black out. Before you know, your body heads the seat under you and everyone near you turns in your direction. EMT is on their way in minutes but despite the modern miracles of 911 and quick response time, your EKG response is flat-lined. You are gone, you have passed away.
Now at this moment, you will either be enjoying a personal welcome into the greatest joy you’ve ever experience… … or you are catching your first glimpse of gloom and regret. The Bible teaches that at your death you pass through a one-way door into eternity. You don’t pass through it repeatedly as if you try various versions of eternity like you you’re your favorite ice cream at Marble Slab. No, you pass through only once.
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…” (Hebrews 9:27). No, there’s no rewinds or mulligans. You had a lifetime to choose and now you are eternally stuck with the choice of your lifetime. Within in nanoseconds, you are either regretting your life of choices or you are staring at the very face of Jesus.
I know this is a heavy way to begin a sermon much less the new year, but let’s slow down a minute. Let’s pause and let me ask you four questions. How much do you know about what the Bible teaches about heaven? How much time do you think about heaven on any given week? Do you think it’s possible for you to go to heaven? How you ever read a book that summarizes what the Bible teaches about heaven? If God gave you a choice of going to heave this week or waiting another ten years, what would you choose? Opinions vary widely concerning heaven and how you get there.
A death row inmate from several decades ago wrote, “Being at home with God and his angels, that’s a lot to think about.” Mariah Shriver, the niece of former President John F. Kennedy said this about heaven in her children’s book: “[Heaven] is somewhere you believe in … It’s a beautiful place where you can sit on soft clouds and talk to other people who are there. At night you can sit next to the stars, which are brightest anywhere in the universe … If you’re good throughout your life, then you get to go to heaven... When your life is finished here on earth, God sends angels to take you up to Heaven to be with him.”
Would you want to know the truth about God and eternity? What if the truth was different from anything you’d heard at any funeral?
It was reported by official Soviet channels upon their entry into space in 1961 that the Russian Cosmonaut who first traveled into space said these words: “I went up to space, but I didn’t encounter God.” Fact is, Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, never said it. Instead, the quote was part of the Soviet Communist and atheistic campaign. It seems that Russian Premier Nikita Khrushchev made it all up – fake news, if you will!
For those who deny heaven and for those endorse heaven, we all long for heaven. We believe what we want to believe we are going to arrive in Heaven. This is called motivated reasoning. Most people’s belief systems are based upon what they desire and not the truth. Yes, every one of us longs from a place we called heaven.
Find three places in your Bibles: Genesis 3, Isaiah 65, and Romans 8. This morning I want to speak to the reason we all long for heaven. I want disabuse the notion that heaven is only a good thought for old people who are near the end of their lives. No, everyone of us, rich and poor, young and old, male and female, and even Democrat and Republican long for heaven. But to show your longing for heaven, you need to understand where you’ve been.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. 8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:6–8)
17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17–19)
20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:20–23)
1. Our Longing for Something New
1.1 Everything Fades
Inside all of us, is a longing for something new. The Bible describes it as each one of us “groan[ing] inwardly.” Everything goes out of date so quickly. Last year’s model needs to be replaced as they have changed the body style for this year’s cars. Surely, you’re still not using a two-year-old cell phone! Students must be sure to get the latest edition of textbook as they return back to class in a few weeks. Hairdressers will feature the latest styles from Hollywood. How many are starting new diets right now? You go into your closet and think, “I’ve got to get some new clothes!” Every one of us is longing for something new. Not just new toys or new conversations or even new journeys, but something inside of all of us tells us things are not right with our world.
1.2 The Reason Everything Fades
The reason we seek something new is because everything is decaying around us. The Bible tells us the reason why everything is decaying is because God cursed the ground: “…cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:17–19)
“For the creation was subjected to futility…” (Romans 8:20a). We see this in our lives today. Everything fades. Our beauty fades, our bodies fade, and our world fades. Have you ever driven by the house you grew up in? The house where all your happy memories were formed from your childhood? You pulled up alongside the front of the house to see how everything has faded. Have you seen the place that you remember with so much joy now sitting in neglect? Our homes fade. Our work fades. Even our best days at work, we will look around to see the quality of all we’ve done fade. The ground brings forth “thorns and thistles” no matter our best efforts.
1.3 The Power of Death
Why do we say a hurricane is powerful? Because it has some of the power of death; hurricanes can kill. Of all the powers you can find in the world, there is no power like death. Mankind can harness some of the power of creation. We can split the atom. We land a man on the moon, but we will always die. The curse on the ground is death. The Bible calls death the last enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). But the Bible also teaches us that your death is a door to eternity. We long for something new. We long for eternity. We long for heaven.
1. Our Longing for Something New
2. The Reception of Something New
Now, with Jesus something dramatic happened to the universe. He reverses the curse. “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23)
2.1 What Changes
When you embrace Christ by faith, great change happens to you. The body, which was once a workshop for Satan, has become a temple of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says sin no longer has dominion over you (Romans 6:14). When you experience the new birth, you are profoundly new. Jesus changes us fundamentally. He changes our desires. He offers us hope, real hope. He wraps our lives with His love, His tremendous love that sweetens our life. Fundamentally, the work of the cross and the resurrection alters the effects of the curse. We have the same spirit of life inside us that was at work in the first days of creation. He is making our spirits new. He has made our souls new. We are forgiven! We are united with Him forever! The Bible refers to this as “the firstfruits of the Spirit.” The Spirit is drop of heaven here on earth. The firstfruits of the Spirit is a drop of eternity in midst of our the “here and now.” Yes, when you embrace Christ by faith, you experience a little bit of heaven. A distinguishing trait for God’s people is their longing for heaven: “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:16)
2.2 What Doesn’t Change
But God doesn’t completely reverse the curse in this life: “…groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8: 23b). This groaning is universal among God’s people; there are no exceptions. Even for those who knew Jesus Christ by faith, there are still the effects of sin and the curse. Our bodies will still get sick. Our minds still fade. The quality and the craftsmanship of our best work fade over time. Even embracing Christ by faith, we long for eternity. Yes, we all long for heaven.
The earth around us is a beautiful place and it shows the grand design of its Creator wherever we look.: “The Earth in ruins reveals a magnificence which shows the sign of a royal founder and an extraordinary purpose. Creation glows with a thousand beauties even in its present fallen
condition, yet clearly enough it is not as when it came from the Maker’s hand — the slime of the serpent is on it all — this is not the world which God pronounced to be ‘very good.’’ Charles Spurgeon
There are still tornados, floods, volcanoes, and avalanches. There is still the sorrow of our friends in Houston after the great flood. There’s still misery all around us as we enjoy the great hope in Jesus Christ.
1. Our Longing for Something New
2. The Reception of Something New
3. The Wait for All Things New
And now the sermon turns a corner. Feel the hope. Let your heart and mind soak in all the hope is promised more than 700 years before the arrival of Jesus.
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them. 24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 65:17–25)
3.1 The Goal of All of Life
Isaiah paints a picture of where we long to go. He shows us God’s goal for the people He loves, the people who have embraced His Son by faith. Here’s the life you’ve always longed for, the life that’s eluded you, always just a bit out of reach. This is the life God is preparing for His people. Just look at how many times we are told to be happy by just thinking about the new heavens and the earth. God commands you to be happy at just the thought of this. Rejoice for the day when there is no more curse!
3.2 All Things New
The Bible teaches that our earth and heaven will be remade. The world and heaven is but temporary: “But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly” (2 Peter 3:7). And also in 2 Peter 3: “the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!” (2 Peter 3:12b)
So the heaven that is now constructed will be remade. The earth that you are now enjoying will be remade. All those in Christ will spend eternity living in the new heavens and new earth. The new heaven and new earth is everything that we loved about the old heaven and earth, minus the curse of sin. Creation’s beauties are heightened, its pleasures strengthened, and our limitations removed. All of this changes at the Second Coming of Christ.
John Bradford was an English religious Reformer and was later burnt at the stake. He said something that you need to hear … “if this universe out there, with all of it’s canyons and seas and skies and beauties and infinities and immensities, if this nature is what God gives to his enemies (which is what most of mankind is), what kind of world is he going to give to his friends?”
If you think Alaska is cool now, what would the glorified, heavenly Alaska look like? Imagine with me the joys of traveling the new heavens and the new earth? If fried catfish is good here on this ruined earth, how good will it be in the new heavens and the new earth? If Blue Bell is good here, how good will it be when you eat with Christ Himself around the table?
But wait, someone asks, “Are believers in heaven now?” And the answer is, “Yes, believers who die are immediately with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). Heaven is wherever the throne of God is placed and believers who have died are with the Lord right now. But these heavens will be remade: “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” (Revelation 21:1). The current heaven is a temporary heaven that will be remade.For those of you who are familiar with airports, think of it as a layover (but only much better!). The eternal heaven has yet to be made but we are commanded to enjoy the thought of it right now.
3.3 The Resurrection
One day all bodies which have turned to dust will rise again. Think of it: some of you will spend next Sunday with the angels! You are destined to spend another month here – rejoice for you will be with your Redeemer! We all long for heaven. Wouldn’t it a tragic thing to hear all about this place called heaven but miss it?
