The Seven Wonders of Heaven
Scripture: II Cor.5:1-12; Rev.22:1-5
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Of course by now you know what I am referring to: HEAVEN! I want to share a message with you about this glorious place—a place of wonder and delight—a place prepared by God Himself for you to enjoy throughout eternity.
In the days of Alexander the Great, the Greeks originated the first group of “Seven Wonders of the World.”
This group is composed of monuments remarkable for their splendor and/or size:
Pyramids of Egypt
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Temple of Diana at Ephesus
Statue of Jupiter in Athens
Mausoleum of Artemisia in Asia Minor
Colossus of Rhodes—bronze statue of the sun god—105 feet high
Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt
Seven Wonders of the Modern World
Great Pyramid
St. Sophia
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Taj Mahal
Washington Monument (555 ft. high)
Eiffel Tower (984 ft. high)
Sears Tower? Mackinaw Bridge?
Seven Wonders of the Natural World
Grand Canyon
Rio de Janeiro Harbor
Iguassu Falls of Argentina
Redwood Trees
Mt. Everest
Nile River
Northern Lights
We could go on and on, talking about the seven wonders of science, transportation, communication, and medicine. But as wonderful as these all are, we can turn to the Book of God and find something more amazing than all of these—heaven!
C.S. Lewis said, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.”
Let’s look for a few moments at the Seven Wonders of Heaven.
1. The Wonder of It’s Existence
This is what the Spirit revealed to the Apostle John about heaven as recorded in the Book of Revelation:
Not made with human hands
Never wears out
Inhabitants too vast to number
Streets of gold; walls of jasper
No hospitals, cemeteries, prisons, or metal institutions
No crime, pollution, hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes
What a country!
2. The Wonder of Heaven’s Character
A place of incomparable beauty. Paul said it well in I Corinthians 2:9: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard; neither has the mid conceived, what God has prepared for those that love him.”
A place of purity and holiness. The bible says, “And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defiles.” It’s a place without sin, and therefore without sin’s consequences: war, hatred, crime, disease, and punishment.
A place without sorrow or sadness, or death—only perpetual joy!
What a country!
3. The Wonder of Heaven’s Inhabitants
Higher order of beings: angels, seraphim, cherubim—those holy, shining, singing servants of God, worshiping the Lamb before His throne.
The Redeemed from all the ages—saints, prophets, patriarchs, apostles, martyrs. Someone has estimated that there have been more than 75 million put to death for Jesus’sake. This great throng will be on the front row, so to speak—right in front of the throne of God.
Our loved ones—friends, family, pastors who led the way, S.S. teachers who taught us God’s truth.
But as great as all this is—the beauty, the deathless, painless atmosphere, the song of the angels, the reunion with loved ones—nothing will compare with the joy of catching just one glimpse of JESUS! Why? Because of what the hymnwriter wrote:
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow
Illus.: “Heaven Without Jesus?”
The beloved hymn “Over the Sunset Mountains” by John Peterson, was penned during the his meditation on the piano. Sure that it’s message would catch on, Peterson confidently approached a publisher. “We would like to use it,” the approving publisher said after glancing over it. “But we have one little suggestion. Can you take out the reference to Jesus and enlarge a little more on heaven?” Heaven without Jesus? Unthinkable! Clutching his manuscript, Peterson walked from the publisher’s office with another song coming on: “I have No Song to Sing, But That of Christ My King.” Both songs became favorites within the Christian community.
4. The Wonder of Heaven’s Interest in a Sin-cursed World
God the Father sent Jesus to us.
Jesus came to die for us—to take our punishment so that we could enter heaven unspotted by sin.
The Holy Spirit causes us to long for heaven. He convicts, woos and even gives us a foretaste of heaven by allowing us to experience the abundant life.
Even the angelic host is interested in us down here—The Bible says,“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner repents.”
It has been said that a man may go to heaven without wealth, fame, or a great name; he may go without learning, a big earning, culture, beauty, or friends. He may go without 10,000 other things. But he can never go without Jesus!
5. The Wonder that Heaven Is Open to Foreign Immigration
The gates are ajar by the blood of Christ. Praise the Lord! You can’t get in with naturalization papers. You must come by way of Calvary. The way of the cross leads home.
George Barna, the pollster found that 1/3 of all Christians surveyed think all good people will go to heaven, with or without Christ!
Illus.: “I’ll Just Go In”
A little boy, caught in mischief was asked by his mother, “How do you expect to get into heaven, acting like this?” He thought for a minute and answered, “Well, I’ll just run in and out and keep slamming the door ‘till they say, “Oh for goodness sake, come in or stay out!” “Then I’ll just go in and stay!”
That’s acute story but it won’t cut it at heaven’s gate. Peter will not meet us at the gate. Jesus will. And when He asks the question, “Why should I let you into heaven, we had better have the right answer!
6. The Wonder of the Conditions for Citizenship in Heaven
Heaven is open for all—“Whosoever will may come.”
The conditions are fourfold:
-believe that Jesus shed His blood for you, personally
-confess that you need forgiveness
-repent of your sinful life
-receive the gift of salvation
The choice is ours. God has done all He could do.
7. The Wonder That More Do Not Prepare to Enter Heaven
Not too long ago, an assistant pastor of mine called on a man in the hospital who was dying. He shared the plan of salvation with him, inviting him to receive Christ and be sure of heaven. His response? “No, I’m not interested. I think I’ll just die and go to be with my mother in hell.” He believed he was too great a sinner and felt that he couldn’t live up to the demands of Christianity. Thankfully, he eventually did come to faith in Christ shortly before his death.
Sometimes I don’t think we talk enough about heaven. Perhaps its because we are afraid folks will think we’re so heavenly-minded that we’re no earthly good.
I think it was Vance Havner who said, “Many people think they prefer hell to heaven because of the thought of living forever with sour-faced saints.
Happy, joy-filled Christians cause people to want to go to heaven. Jess Moody said, “A happy follower of Christ has more fun at a believer’s funeral than a non-Christian has at a ballgame. I have given both sides a real fling and the non-Christian way tastes very much like swamp water.”
Why don’t more people prepare for heaven? Because they’re too busy building a life on earth! They think that this is all there is.
Illus.: “And What Then?”
A young man ran up to one of his university profs with a face of delight and told him that what he had longed for had at last been realized. His parents had just given him permission to study law. He ran on a long time about it, and when he was finished the prof asked, “Well, when you finish your course of study, what are you going to do?” He answered, “Then I’ll go on for my Ph.D.” “And what then,” asked the prof. “Well, I’ll work hard at my profession and gain a great reputation.” “What then?” repeated the prof. “I’ll live comfortably in wealth and dignity and retire at a happy old age.” “And what then?” “Then I’ll die, I suppose.” “And what then?” The young man made no reply but walked away with his head down, deep in thought. The last question pierced his soul. Soon after he forsook his study of law and prepared for the ministry.
I wonder how many go through life, just like this young man, carefully planning our every step, yet failing to consider the life to come.
Illus.: “The Mother Who Resisted”
At Turnbridge, England, there stands a monument erected to the memory of some gypsies who lost their lives in a terrible accident. They were crossing a bridge when it collapsed, sending all of them into the fast-moving river. A young man had seized one of the horses and was drifting downstream when his eyes caught the struggling form of his mother. He left the horse and made for her. But she grabbed hold of him in such a way as to make it impossible for him to save her. He all but gave his life but she resisted ‘till death. In all, 19 bodies were taken from the river and from among the crowd that gathered at the funeral, came this young man, kneeling in grief at his mother’s casket. He cried out, “O mother, I tried to save you; I did all a son could do to save his mother, but you wouldn’t let me.”
Friends, Jesus did all that He could do to make it possible for us to go to heaven. If you resist His loving offer, you’ll be hopelessly lost and will end up in hell without God forever.
Don’t let God hang a “FOR RENT” sign in the window of the mansion He has prepared for you. Receive His salvation now!
