The Heaven Scenario.
1 Corinthians 2:9NKJV
Listen, listen. It was late I was sitting around the dying embers of the campfire when I heard a noise. It sounded as if someone or something was walking over a bunch of broken branches.
I thought to myself, I wonder what that is? maybe a wild animal or a murderer?
I listened for a few moments, waiting to see if the noise would resume, but it didn't.
I thought to myself, What would be the worst case scenario?
If it turned out to be that of a lion, or a bear… Or a murderer, I guess the worst case scenario would be I would be killed.
What if it was a less extreme scenario, I get sick. What's the worst thing that could happen? I die.
What if I have a job, I get fired… Worst case scenario…? I can't find another job. I sink into poverty and starve to death.
Notice, each of our worst case scenarios end with the same thing – death.
1 Corinthians 2:9NKJV But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.””
Notice, Eye, Ear, nor any wisdom from any source. -Nothing can, nor will, prepare the follower of Jesus for the things which God has prepared for those who love Him!
Now, if you're a child of God, if you were saved, what happens after your worst case scenario, death? -I go to heaven!
Again, 1 Corinthians 2:9TPT This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine — these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers.
Are you a lover of God? -His lover?
Notice, each of my worst case scenarios (a bear, a lion, or a murderer), end with the same
thing – death.
Again, if I’m a child of God, if I’m saved, my worst case scenario always leads to heaven!
Are you a lover of God? Are you bold enough, and brave enough, to stand up to any foe and speak the name of Jesus?
The apostle Paul wrote these words in, Philippians 1:21-23NKJV “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”
Heaven, with no more pain, and no more sorrows. Hear me well, my worst case scenario… Your worst case scenario… Is heaven!
Again, what do you have to be afraid of? All my anxieties, all your anxieties, all fears… are ultimately based on heaven… Paradise… Perfect peace… And unending joy… -That’s what you and me have to be afraid of.
Again, Paul shoots straight from the hip when he states, Philippians 1: 21-23TPT “If I live on I will be fruitful! ”My true life is the Anointed One, and dying means gaining more of him.
22 So here’s my dilemma: Each day I live means bearing more fruit in my ministry; 23 yet I fervently long to be liberated from this body and joined fully to Christ.
Think about this, The day of your death you will be liberated from this body, and joined fully to Jesus Christ! 1961-2045? P.H
Truth is, #1- death is certain.
• Natasha Richardson- Head trauma
• Jett Travolta- Head trauma
• Mike Tyson’s Daughter- Asphyxiation via treadmill chord
• Dom DeLuise- Kidney failure
• David Carradine- murder or accidental death
• Ed McMahon- Bone cancer
• Farrah Fawcett- Anal Cancer
• Michael Jackson- Cardiac Arrest via drug induced.
• Billy Mays- Heart Failure via drug induced.
• Karl Malden- Natural Causes (97 years old)
• Steve McNair- Murdered (Shot in the face)
Oscar Mayer- Natural Causes (95 years old)
Again, #1 Death is certain.
2. Death may come to you sooner than you think.
Luke 12:16-21TPT Jesus then gave them this illustration: “A wealthy land owner had a farm that produced bumper crops. Every year the harvest was so great it filled his barns to overflowing! He thought, ‘What should I do now that every barn is full and I have nowhere else to store more? I know what I’ll do! I’ll tear down the barns and build one massive barn to hold all my grain and goods. Then I can just sit back, surrounded with comfort and ease. I’ll enjoy life with no worries at all.’ “God said to him, ‘What a fool you are to trust in your riches and not in me! This very night the messengers of death will demand to take your life. Then who will get all the wealth you have stored up for yourself?’ The same thing will happen to all those who fill up their lives with everything but God.”
The rich farmer had his future all planned out. What he didn’t know was that his future would last only a few more minutes.
He had given lots of thought to farming, making money, and having a good time; but he hadn’t made any preparations for death.
Again, #2. Gass may come sooner than you think.
3. Death will take you to one of two locations—heaven or hell.
Matthew 7:13-14NLT “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
This farmer in Luke 12, wasn’t ready to die. This farmer assumed that he had many years left to live. But he was wrong.
And like that farmer, you and I have no guarantee that we will live a certain number of years.
Think about it. All your (my) fears and anxieties about death end up in the most beautiful and joyous place you could ever imagine.
Colossians 1:5NKJV “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,”
Once you've resolved that, what do you have to be afraid of ever again? All your fears, all your anxieties, end up in the happy place/ heaven. -And heaven gets sweeter!
4. Death has been defeated by Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection.
Hebrews 2:14-15TPT Since all his “children” have flesh and blood, so Jesus became human to fully identify with us. He did this, so that he could experience death and annihilate the effects of the intimidating accuser who holds against us the power of death. 15 By embracing death Jesus sets free those who live their entire lives in bondage to the tormenting dread of death.
I want you to do something, close your eyes, I want you to begin thinking about the end of your life, because the end is only the beginning! P.H
Again, #4 Death has been defeated!
5. Death can be seen as better than life to those who put there faith in Jesus.
The story is told of two Christians who lived very healthy lives. When they died, they went to heaven. As they walked along, marveling at the paradise around them, one of the men turned to the other and said, “Wow. I never imagine heaven would be this good!” “Yeah,” agreed the other. “And just think, if we hadn’t eaten all that oat bran we could have been here ten years sooner.”
John 11:25-26NKJV Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Here’s the truth for every follower of Jesus. All your fears and anxieties end up in the most beautiful and joyous place you could ever imagine.
Once you've resolved that, what do you have to be afraid of ever again? Look to the end. Look to heaven. And live a life of obedience, that is beyond fear. For the truth of the matter is, for a child of God, the worst case scenario….is heaven!
When Paul was in prison, he knew he was going to die. But it was going to be a triumphant death.
John Wesley said, “Methodists know how to die well.” Can that be said about you?
In a football game, the final 2 minutes can be the most critical time of the game. Notice what Paul said when he faced the final two minutes.
II Timothy 4:6-8NKJV “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
If you're a follower of Jesus, you will receive a crown of righteousness! P.H
What can be said in the above verses about Paul? Notice the three things I see in these verses:
1. Paul was ready to go, meaning there wasn’t any other spiritual thing he had to do to get ready to die.
2. Paul looked back over his life and knew that he had done all that God had wanted him to do.
3. Paul knew there was a reward for him after death, he would meet the Lord and be rewarded.
Your mission, take your fears, your worries, your anxiety to its end – heaven. And with heaven as your worst scenario, overcome to a fear-free-life.
What can man do to me? Revelation 21:4 describes the heavenly city. "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”
As you think about life now, as well as a football game, In the final 2 minutes:
When you get the two-minute warning, you know you have one final opportunity to win the game.
In the final two minutes, play like there is no tomorrow.
In the last two minutes talk to the Coach often, listen to the Coach, and implement His plan.
In the final two minutes, every person must do exactly what the Coach says.
In the final two minutes, don’t hold anything back.
Hear this, You know you must win the game, so give everything you can- every day until you die. P.H
Vince Lombardi once stated, "I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle-victorious" -Vince Lombardi
6. In the final two minutes, be ready at any moment for service, even if you’re called in just for one play.
7. During the final two minutes, even the third string “bench sitter” must be ready to go in for an injured player.
Let me name drop some one play people Here’s some bench sitter’s who had a one great “play.”
1. Ananias who baptized Paul.
2. Rahab saved the spies.
3. The little boy who guided Samson to the right pillar.
4. The young lad with fish and bread.
5. Joseph of Arimathaea loaned his tomb for Jesus.
In heaven, we will say, “Goodbye sorrow. Goodbye sickness. Goodbye pain. Goodbye poverty. Goodbye hatred. Goodbye injustice. Goodbye prejudice. -Hello paradise!”
Here’s 100% truth: The heaven scenario is the beginning.
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus name, Amen.
