Background to passage: Beginning our new summer series on Heaven. Some of the material will be based on Randy Alcorn’s study called Heaven if you are interested in further reading.
One of his opening hypotheses is that the subject of heaven is rarely and only casually dealt with in church life, even in seminary and bible college life. This leads to many false conceptions and presuppositions and generalizations about it.
Today, I want to simply kick off the series and wet your appetite for what is to come. I want to dispel a few misunderstandings and untruths that we have about heaven so that we say with the apostle, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” I am convinced that some of the misconceptions about heaven lessen our desire for it, and for being with Christ.
Revelation 21:1–4 ESV
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.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 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.
4 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.”
Colossians 3:1–3 ESV
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Opening illustration: 73% of Americans believe that heaven exists. However, many have not given much thought to what it is like (much less how to get there). It was either on a street video interview or Alcorn’s book, the question was asked, if you trained with NASA for years for a mission to Mars, then after launch and travel, you are about to land, and one of the other astronauts asks you if you know anything about Mars?
Main thought: This morning I want to cover three misconceptions, and three foundations for out study, then a final comparison
1) Three Misconceptions (v. )
Satan need not convince us that Heaven doesn’t exist. He need only convince us that Heaven is a place of boring, unearthly existence. If we believe that lie, we’ll be robbed of our joy and anticipation, we’ll set our minds on this life and not the next, and we won’t be motivated to share our faith. Why should we share the “good news” that people can spend eternity in a boring, ghostly place that even we’re not looking forward to? -Randy Alcorn
It is difficult to imagine heaven. Like a number of other topics that are often neglected from pulpits, we get much of our theology in pictures from art and music. So many gospel songs about heaven, so many paintings and pictures. Well-intentioned, but often misconstruing truth. Let’s bring up three often-held misconceptions.
It will be boring: a common thought is that heaven will be one big long church service minus preaching. “When we all get to heaven…we’ll sing and shout the victory.” “This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.” “I’ll Fly Away.” If heaven was an eternal version of the last 30 minutes, it might sound boring. Let me assure you, heaven will not be boring. We will explore details as this series continues, but know that it will not be boring.
1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV
9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
We will become angels: This idea is a combination of truths and untruths (part of the reason we accept it). The OT angels were portrayed in various ways, and sometimes with wings. They do live in the presence of God. The Romans pictured some of their gods, particularly cupid, as little humans who flew. We sing about flying, think about floating, and look at paintings on the Sistine chapel with everyone on clouds. Here is a biblical newsflash: you will not be an angel in heaven. Angels and humans are very different. You will just be in the same place more often.
Illustration: John and Taylor arrived, and John seemed shorted than he seemed on Zoom
It will be the final destination: The title of this sermon refers to this misconception—where you go when you die is the final place. There are/will be two heavens and two earths. You will go to be with the Lord immediately when you die. There is no “soul sleep.”
2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Luke 23:43 ESV
43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
However, your body will be here on earth. In the resurrection, you will get your glorified body, and God will make all things new, including a new heaven and a new earth. Worldview implication: you are not done with your body after death (different from other faiths). Freedom from sin, sorrow, and suffering does not equal, nor require, the absence of the physical body.
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2) Three Foundations (v. )
It is where God and Christ Dwell: the crucial biblical point about heaven is that it is where God lives. First heaven and second heaven, both have the foundation that God dwells with his people. Of course, they are omnipresent, but in some special way they dwell in the real place we can heaven.
There will be no sadness: This is a foundation that provides us with a great deal of comfort. To know that a time is coming with no sorrow or tears, no sin or sickness, no suffering or sadness is peace of mind when loved ones pass, or even when we are fighting such feelings here below.
Illustration: Our students will testify that in classes review is constant. In fact, I used to think that the first six weeks of class was basically learning what we already learned.
Perfect Joy because of Christ: Better even that no sadness is that there will be perfect joy. The reason that we will have ever-increasing perfect joy is that Christ will be there. The one who meets every desire that we have had and all that we haven’t yet will be in our presence.
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3) Most important truth today (v. )
Misconception: Everyone Goes
Truth: Born-again Believers in Christ Go
Illustration: 1989 movie All Dogs Go To Heaven, “Charlie is automatically sent to Heaven despite not having done any good deeds in his life; a whippet angel explains to him that because dogs are inherently good and loyal, all dogs go to Heaven and are entitled to paradise...Charlie, having sacrificed himself to save Anne-Marie, has earned back his place in Heaven.”
Application: Can you know if you are going to heaven?
1 John 5:13 ESV
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
Mark 1:15 ESV
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 16:30–31 ESV
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Romans 10:9–10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
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Closing illustration: Matt 7:21-23
Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
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Recap
