Home.
John 17:15-17TPT
Getting To Heaven- The pastor was talking to a group of young children about believing in Jesus and going to heaven. At the end of his talk, he asked, "Where do you want to go?” "Heaven!" they all piped up. "And what do you have to be to get there?” "Dead!", one boy yelled.
How strange, we are born into this world. We’ve never been anywhere else. And yet, we never feel at home here.
It’s the only place we’ve ever known, and yet still, We are never quite at home within it.
We are never at home with its pain and sorrows, with its growing old and dying, with its losses, it’s death, it’s imperfections, it’s darkness, it’s evil… And nothing last and everything passes away.
Matthew 6:20NIV But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal,
Jesus reminds His followers to lay their treasures in heaven... Begin today by laying your treasures in heaven! P.H
Have you noticed, that even in the best of times and circumstances, there’s always something missing. It can never fill our hearts. And the longer we are in this world, the less at home we are within it.
Where does the story of Passover begin? -In Egypt.
Where does your story of Passover begin? -In this world!
John 17:15-17TPT ”I am not asking that you remove them from the world, but I ask that you guard their hearts from evil, 16 For they no longer belong to this world any more than I do. 17 “Your Word is truth! So make them holy by the truth.“
As ‘believers’ we have ‘Egypt’ all around us; however, the power of God‘s word makes us holy. -Gods word is truth!
The Israelites grew up in Egypt. It was the only home they knew. -And yet, they were never at home within it.
Jesus states in, John 16:33AMP I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
John 16:33MSG I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
And what was salvation about, leaving Egypt and going to the promised land. -They had never been to the promised land, and yet it was their home. -Can I tell you that salvation is our promise land! P.H
Psalms 46:4-5TPT ”God has a constantly flowing river whose sparkling streams bring joy and delight to his people. His river flows right through the city of God Most High, into his holy dwelling places. 5 God is in the midst of his city, secure and never shaken. At daybreak his help will be seen with the appearing of the dawn.“
The Apostle Paul stated this about a constantly flowing river... 2 Corinthians 6:1-2NASB And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says, “At a favorable time I listened to you,?And on a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation”—
You see, salvation is about coming home. From the Jewish people returning to the land of Israel, to the prodigal son, returning to his father, -Salvation is about coming home.
And that’s the mystery… That’s why we are never at home in this world.
Again, Why? Why are we never at home in this world?
Hebrews 13:14NKJV ”For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.“
“Listen, we are never at home in this world, because it’s not home, our hearts were not made to be at home in a world of sorrows, and evil and dying and death… slowly we see everything we know and love, grow old and pass away.” P.H
We are not at home because there is a home, and this world is not it.
Salvation begins Passover. And Passover is about coming home, coming home to God, and coming home to home. So home is…
John 14:1-3TPT ”“Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also. 2 My Father’s house has many dwelling places. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am.“
So home is, the place for which our hearts were made… That place of no more sorrows, and dying and death…
And no evil or imperfections… And nothing grows old anymore or passes away…The eternal… The Promise land… Heaven.
Hebrews 11:13NKJV These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
“Heaven, a place we have never been to. However when we arrive for the first time in our lives we will be home!” P.H
You are not yet home. Live today in the light of that. -Set your heart away from that which is not home, and toward that which is.
Illustration: Suddenly I heard a noise it sounded as if someone or something was walking over a bunch of broken branches. Was it an animal or the wind? I stopped and waited a few moments to see if the noise would resume, but it didn't.
This got me to thinking, What would be the worst case scenario? With the noise? If it turned out to be that of a lion or a bear… Or a murderer. I would say any of those qualify.
-What would be the worst case scenario after that? -I’d be killed.
What if it was a less extreme scenario, you get sick. What's the worst thing that can happen? The sickness turns out to be fatal. And the worst case scenario after that? I die.
You have a job. You 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.
Now if you're a child of God, if you're saved, what happens after your worst case scenario? I go to heaven.
Heaven, with no more pain, and no more sorrows. Your worst case scenario… Is heaven!
All your anxieties, all your fears… Are ultimately based on heaven… Paradise… Perfect peace… Unending joy… that's what you have to be afraid of?
Think about that. 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 confidence that is beyond fear.
For the truth of the matter is, for a child of God, the worst case scenario… Is heaven!
Paul writes to Timothy, 2 Timothy 4:6-8MSG You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting—God’s applause! Depend on it, he’s an honest judge. He’ll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming.
The King James Bible, and most other translations, the words... A Crown of Righteousness is given to every overcomer! P.H
This is the Word from heaven: Take your fear, your worry, your anxiety to its end – heaven. And with heaven, as your worst case scenario, overcome to a fear-free-life.
Philippians 1:21-24ESV For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Paul states as long as I live on in this earthly body that means fruitful labor for me. He states, I have a deep desire to depart and be with Christ, but for now, for your sakes, I will live on in the flesh!
Several primary reasons I long for heaven:
I will live with Jesus.
I will get to meet the men and women of faith throughout Gods Word.
I will be with our loved ones. (Man, you missed it)!
I will live in one big eternal church.
Benediction.
