"There Aren’t Any Cemeteries in Heaven"
Author: Dr. Neal Gray
Passage: Revelation 21:1-8, KJV
Purpose: True, we must all die. It is the fate of all humans, because we have sinned. But THANKS BE TO GOD that Jesus Christ His Son has given us the new birth; so that death no longer has its sting nor its victory. We have life eternal. And in heaven, there aren’t any cemeteries!
INTRODUCTION
Opening
I have for the longest time wanted to preach this passage of Scripture. This passage gives me such hope and assurance. It gives me the assurance that the present pain and suffering and death that we all experience ARE NOT FOREVER!
There will come a day, so very soon, when we who are God’s true followers shall know a life that has none of the awfulness of this earthly life.
At each and every funeral where I have been honored to bring the Word of Hope to the grieving family and friends, I have quoted Revelation 21:3-5. It gives hope. Now, don’t worry! This is not a funeral sermon, though I suppose it could be. It is a message about a certain future that all Christians have.
On this Memorial Day weekend, I feel it is appropriate to think about the reality of an earthly death, and the more-than-equal reality of life eternal for all who will trust and live in Christ Jesus.
Scripture
Our Scripture is Revelation 21:1-8, which reads as follows:
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
5 And He that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said unto me, "Write: for these words are true and faithful." 6 And He said unto me, "It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:1-8)
DEATH HERE, BUT NOT THERE
Introduction
Last week, Vicki and I had the privilege of touring the famous landmarks of our nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C. Our Pastor and his wife from Greenville, Texas, Rev. Marvin & Fran McDaniel, were here in Baltimore, Maryland, visiting with us; and we all enjoyed seeing the sites.
Arlington National Cemetery
One of the famous sites we toured was the Arlington National Cemetery. The cemetery location was originally the farmland of the Civil War’s southern General, Robert E. Lee. Today, it is acres of well-cared-for property where our nation’s honored military and civil servants are buried.
To be there and see the thousands of graves, is to be overwhelmed. So many men and women have sacrificed their lives to make and to keep our country a free country. But, no matter how you look at it, it is still a cemetery, where people who were once living are now dead and buried.
Saved from the Second Death
Now, we certainly hope that the souls of all of those folk buried in Arlington National Cemetery are in heaven with the Lord. In fact, I hope that the souls of all persons buried, cremated, or lost at sea are with the Lord. We know our God desires that all persons would get right with their Creator.
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
Sadly, though, I know what you know. Not all persons leave this earthly life situated in God’s grace. Super-sadly, they will experience the first death, the earthly death that all of us will go through; and then those ungodly persons will experience "the second death" for all eternity.
==> The job of Christ’s Church--of Christ’s people--is to rescue as many as we can, "pulling them out of the fire," (see Jude 1:23).
==> Let me tell you MY PERSONAL GOAL IN LIFE: no matter where they shall bury this body, my soul shall be with Jesus in His heaven! And no matter where they shall bury my good wife, her soul shall be with Jesus and me in heaven! Amen? Of course, Amen! And, and, and...wherever they will bury you, my friend, I want your soul to be with Jesus in heaven!
And we’ll be there to stay! Because there aren’t any cemeteries in heaven!
The New Heaven
Now, I don’t really know that much about heaven. I do know that some of the created beings at one time long ago rebelled against the Lord. And, "God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment," (cf. 2 Peter 2:4).
One might say that EVEN HEAVEN ITSELF HAD SOME POLLUTION IN IT. There had been sin there.
But we know that our God shall create "a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away," (Revelation 21:1a). It is in the new holy city, the New Jerusalem, where God shall dwell with us, and we with Him.
==> In this new heaven, new earth, new city, there is "no more death." In the New Jerusalem, there aren’t any cemeteries!
On earth, there is death, and there are places to bury our dead. In our eternal heaven, there is no death, and no cemeteries.
TROUBLE HERE, BUT NOT THERE
Introduction
Back to the Arlington cemetery in our thoughts, please.
No More Suffering for the Dead
The day was cool but comfortable. The sun was shining on this Spring day. The trees and flowers were in full bloom; the birds were singing and squirrels were scurrying. All-in-all, it was a very nice day.
Yet, from the cemetery I could see the repair work being done on the Pentagon building nearby; where the evil-doers flew an airplane into the building last year (September 11, 2001). I was aware of the tight security at our nation’s historic landmark sites; and the fact that police were watching us. And traversing the rolling hills, my own body felt the strain of moving around in this earthly life. Clearly this isn’t heaven!
I couldn’t help but think that all of those who had passed on before me, i.e., those who were dead and buried, that they no longer suffered on this earth.
Oh, the day was enjoyable, and I was glad then as I am now to be alive!
The Pangs of Our Earthly Life
Strangely though, I thought of how they, the dead, were no longer suffering the pangs of this earthly life. They had "passed on," no longer subject to the forces in this world. But you and I are subject to the pangs of this earthly life.
Listen, we are not yet in the New Jerusalem! We are not yet in God’s eternal heaven! We live in a sin-sick world that is full of suffering and grief.
* In this life, I can’t see clearly; and so I wear eyeglasses.
Even spiritually, I can’t see very clearly. The Bible tells me that now it is like I look "through a glass, darkly." But there will come a day when I shall see God "face-to-face," (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:12)
* In this life, I have pains when I get out of bed, when I walk, even when I sit. (Do you know what I mean?) And so I take aspirins, rub cremes on my muscles, and sometimes just bear it.
But God tells me that "neither shall there be any more pain" in His heaven.
* In this life, I have suffered family problems, troubled relationships, and felt the hurt that one human being can give another.
In heaven, there is "neither sorrow, nor crying." I won’t lay awake at night in the New Jerusalem worrying about someone whom I love, or about someone who has an offense against me. (Do you know what I mean?"
* In this life, people try to push me around, tell me what to do and how to behave. They threaten to fire me from my job.
But soon, and very soon, God Himself will dwell with me, and I with Him. AND ONLY GOD SHALL I ANSWER TO.
Yes, you and I suffer the pangs, disappointments, and sorrows of this earthly life. And while I knew that those buried in the cemetery no longer suffered here, I also knew this: they were dead, and I am alive!
Earth is Not Heaven
My prayer, therefore, is not that I should immediately die to escape any earthly sorrow; but rather that Jesus would strengthen me to live honorably, leading a holy, God-fearing, God-honoring life that is pleasing to Him. My day will surely come when I shall no longer live in this earthly realm.
Until that day, I will keep my eyes on Jesus, enduring the hardships that may come, just as my Savior "endured the Cross, despising the shame, for the joy set before Him," (cf. Hebrews 12:2). If ever it was the case, TODAY I SAY TO YOU WITH CONVICTION THAT I DON’T NEED TO FIND AN ARTIFICIAL HEAVEN in this world. This is a world of suffering; thank God it is a temporary world.
Today, I find so many persons who want God to make this life into a life of bliss. LISTEN; it is not going to happen!
==> Earth is not heaven. While here I shall do as the Lord wills, even suffer. When I leave earth, I shall make my way into gloryland! Absent from the body--present with the Lord! (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:6, 8)
Bury me where you will on this earth; I don’t care where. It doesn’t have to be Arlington National Cemetery. But know this; it is the last grave that will have my name on it, because you won’t see any cemeteries in heaven!
CONCLUSION
Overcome and Inherit
How can I complete this message? Will you be inspired to hear one more time that God Himself has declared, "These words are faithful and true"? Will that inspire you to live the holy Christian life?
Does the thought that "the former things are passed away" give you hope?
What if I told you again that Jesus "will give unto him/her that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely"? Would that help you in your Christian walk?
If we would inherit all His promises, we must be overcomers in this life. You need the Holy Spirit of Christ to help you overcome and endure.
What motivates you to seek God? Does the promise of living forever with God in His heaven move you toward God in Christ? Or must you have the fear of God’s certain punishments put before you?
Jesus Took Care of the Death Problem
Perhaps I should close this message by reminding you that Jesus suffered on this earth, too. Our Great Lord Jesus Christ knows first-hand what death is. He knows how awful death is. And how terrifying death is. You see, Jesus Himself experienced death, that you might live:
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, THAT HE MIGHT BRING US TO GOD, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison." (1 Peter 3:18-19)
Don’t miss this: Christ Jesus was "put to death in the flesh that He might bring us to God." His death has taken care of the "death problem" for us-- that is, He has taken care of the spiritual, eternal death problem.
==> There are no cemeteries where Jesus now reigns! There never will be.
Your Eternity
So which of the two will be your eternity?
If you go to hell, it is an eternal cremation fire.
==> But if you choose to go to heaven, THANK GOD, there aren’t any cemeteries! Overcome, and inherit. THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU.
Hymns & Reading
Suggested hymns and readings from the Church of the Nazarene "Sing to the Lord" hymnal:
When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder......Hymn #285
What a Day That Will Be................Hymn #283
Our Eternal Home reading....................#284
Forever With Christ reading.................#280
AMEN.
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| Copyright 2002
| Practical Holiness Ministry (r)
| "BRINGING PRACTICAL IDEAS TO
| THE CHRISTIAN LIFE." (tm)
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| You may reprint or publish or hopefully preach
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| except that it may profit one’s soul,
| (see Mark 8:36).
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| Dr. Neal Gray is the Senior Pastor of the
| Baltimore Parkville Church of the Nazarene.
| 8510 Fowler Ave -- Baltimore, Maryland 21234
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| You can reach Dr. Gray by e-mail at:
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| LEARNING. MENTORING. SERVING. (tm)
| 2 Pet. 3:18 - 2 Tim. 2:2 - Matt. 20:26-28
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| All Scripture is the King James Version.
| Used with God’s blessed permission.
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