"Heaven, A Home To Share"
INTRODUCTION
(Give each person two pieces of foil covered chocolate. Tell them not to eat it right away. While they wait(and some will not wait), talk about how good chocolate tastes. How recent studies have shown it is an antioxidant. Lead them on for a while. Tell them to smell it. Finally, tell them to unwrap just one piece and to savor its taste and texture. Then tell them to hold the other unwrapped piece in their hand as they listen to the sermon. Tell them you are going to keep checking to see that they do not eat it.)
All of us would agree, that chocolate is delicious. During this Lenten Season, store shelves are filled with chocolate rabbits, chicks, eggs, even some chocolate crosses… Thousands of pounds of chocolate are sold and consumed at Easter. For most of us chocolate is at the top of the list of sweets that we love to enjoy and to eat. Today, I want to tell you about something that is far better than chocolate. I want to tell you about HEAVEN. The taste of chocolate only lasts for a short time on our taste buds. Our minds can imagine the taste… But those thoughts melt too quickly and they need to be replaced with more chocolate.(For some of us, far too often.) The Heaven that I want to tell you about will be the most wonderful place ever designed. And the Bible teaches us that Heaven and its joys and residents will last forever. It will be good beyond imagination.
Allow me to use five words that I discovered in a book years and years ago about our HEAVENLY HOME. Words to help you remember Biblical descriptions about Heaven. To help you remember, each word begins with the letter "P." 1. A PREPARED HOME. 2. A PURE HOME. 3. A POPULATED HOME. 4. A PROTECTED HOME. 5. A PLEASANT HOME.(Now you have not yet eaten that second piece of chocolate yet, have you? Come on now. Show it to your neighbor.)
I. A PREPARED HOME.
In the Scripture that I read to you a few moments ago Jesus was telling his disciples that he was going to leave them. The disciples did not fully understand Jesus’ teachings until after the crucifixion, Easter, and Pentecost. They had expected Jesus to set up a political kingdom in Israel where they would live in peace and rule the world. They longed to be free of Roman rule and to be able to worship God and to enjoy peace and prosperity in this wonderful world that God had created for man to enjoy. The thought that Jesus, the man that they believed to be their Messiah, was going to leave them was more than they could understand. Jesus told them in John 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to PREPARE a place for you."
The man that they knew as the Carpenter Joseph’s son, Jesus of Nazareth, was telling them that he was going to build/prepare them a home in his Father’s/God’s house. The Carpenter, the Creator of the universe told them that he was making a place, a suite of rooms, for them in his Father’s house. Now I have never been invited to sleep over at the White House. Would I like to? Of course! I have stayed in a couple of luxury hotels, where they even placed chocolate on my pillow at night: But no place on earth can compare with what we will find PREPARED for us in Heaven. In John 1, John tells that all things were created by the Word/Jesus. Jesus knows the struggles that we go through down here on earth. The unfairness of life, of people, of situations, and he will make it right in Heaven. He knows how man has spoiled much of the earth. Now I still really enjoy the earth. It is beautiful. Somehow, we have to realize that this earth is not the end. That lasting rewards are not given in this evil affected world. Jesus knows all about our troubles and he will keep till the day is through.
We also have to realize that Heaven is a PREPARED place and only available for a PREPARED people. Opinion polls reveal that a large majority of people believe in Heaven. In John 6, Jesus teaches that he is the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. Only those with faith in Jesus; those who have admitted that they are sinners; those who have confessed their sin and confessed Jesus as Lord; those who believe in him will be saved and allowed to claim their home in Heaven. Are you ready? Have you tried to help tell your friends how to get ready?(Don’t eat that chocolate! Just hold it.)
II. A PURE HOME.
In the Book of Revelation John tells us, "21:7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
Teens, children, even adults want to be accepted by this world. There is lots of pressure to compromise and to sin in order to be accepted. No one enjoys being lonely. No one enjoys the sneers of their peers.(Hey, I just made a poem. By the way, do you still have that piece of chocolate?) Have you ever told your friends that only the "pure in heart will see God."???(Matthew 5:8) Have you ever told them that you choose not to sin because Jesus has saved you from your sins and you love him and that he loves you and that he died for them? In John 3:16, we are taught that we must believe in order to have eternal life in that heavenly home. Christian--Stay PURE. We do not want to miss out on Heaven. Hell is the only alternative destination.
III. A POPULATED HOME.
How many of you are the only Christian in your class at school? How many of you are the only Christian at your place of work? How many of you think that you are the only Christian in your neighborhood?(I remember hearing the story of one man who was totally deaf. He faithfully went to church each Sunday, even though he never heard a song or a sermon. Some one ask him why he continued to go when he could not hear. He replied, "Because my neighbors are watching and I want them to know that church attendance and a relationship with Jesus is important.")
Some times Christians feel all alone. Church attendance, Sunday School attendance, etc. are all ways to remind us that we are Forever Family. They remind us that we are not alone. In Revelation 7:9, we are told "I looked and there before me was a GREAT MULTITUDE THAT NO ONE COULD COUNT, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb/Jesus. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb/Jesus.’" Will we meet people who are in Heaven because of prayers, our personal witness, our acts of encouragement done in Jesus’ name, our tithes and offerings, our faithful attendance at worship, our example???
At times we may get lonely here; but in Heaven we will have saints like Noah, Jonah, Abraham, David, Esther, Lydia, John, Paul, John Wesley, Billy Graham, folks from India, Africa, from the other side of the tracks, red, yellow, brown, black, white, as our neighbors! A little rejection here is nothing when we think of an eternal Heaven—A place without sinners. A place only POPULATED by saints.
Do we love Jesus and our neighbors enough to do our best to help them learn to love our Jesus? You have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. Have you told anyone else about his great love? Have you accepted him?(Do you still have your chocolate? Let me see. Hold it up. OK.)
IV. A PROTECTED HOME.
How many of you have locks on your doors and windows? Locks on your cars? Many of us have burglar alarms. When I lived in Miami a majority of houses had bars on the windows. Missionaries serving God in many lands take for granted that they will live behind walls and bars and that their lives are in danger. Since "911" we are all more aware of the threat of danger, destruction, death… Terrorism is a constant threat.
In the parking lot and across the street from the last church that I pastored, the police, almost every day and night, had a radar speed trap in operation. Several times, I thanked the police for the personal protection that they were giving the church and parsonage. Criminals noticed their presence and stayed away from that location.(Well, many got saved at the church--But you understand what I mean. They did not dare to break into the church with police just outside.) Jesus is our security.
Police, the United States government, our armed forces, alarms, security guards, body guards, our own vigilance, can not provide enough protection to give us a complete sense of security on this earth. Notice what John told us about Heaven’s security in Revelation 7:17, "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd…" The Devil will be "thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Revelation 20:10) and Jesus will be in charge. The Good Shepherd will never again allow danger to threaten or to harm the residents of Heaven. Again, In Revelation John writes, "OUTSIDE are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."(Revelation 22:15) Never will those unrepentant sinners get inside and defile or spoil Heaven!
Do you know someone who is afraid? Do you know a sinner? Have you told them about Jesus and about a safe place called Heaven?(By the way, I am still watching to be sure you have not eaten that piece of chocolate. I know, it is such a great and delicious temptation.)
V. A PLEASANT HOME.
Where were you born? I have know many people who think that the place of their birth is the most wonderful place on earth. When I was a child and a native of Pennsylvania, I thought that state was the most beautiful state in the union. Then I got to travel and soon learned that there were more beautiful places on this earth than I could ever have time to see.
Paul wrote, "However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him."(1 Corinthians 2:9) It will be more beautiful or PLEASANT, more enjoyable than we could ever imagine. "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."(Revelation 21:4) Wow! What a place. I’m going.
CONCLUSION
Well, you have been patient. It is now a half an hour closer to lunch and you are hungry. You may now eat that last wrapped piece of chocolate that you have been holding and salivating over for so long.(As they try to unwrap the chocolate they will discover that the chocolate they have been holding is now mushy and soft. It is hard to get out of the foil wrapping. It makes their fingers sticky.)
I notice that you are having a hard time getting to the chocolate. Why? You kept it to yourself. Perhaps it would have been better if I had told you to store it in your Bible or purse. To lay it down until later. Wait, I’ll tell you what—Share your piece with your neighbor. What? You say, "They do not want it." "It does not look appetizing." "It’s ruined, you say…"
Except for the most diehard chocolate connoisseurs, or the most hungry, most of you will not eat the piece that looked so appealing earlier in the sermon. Perhaps you have already caught on… Jesus is better than chocolate. The world, the lost, need him more than anything else. If we do not share Jesus with them who will? Will we wait until it is too late to tell them by our lives and words that "Jesus loves and saves?" Christian, you hold in your heart the world’s most precious treasurer. Will you share it with your friends while you still have time? If you had two pieces of chocolate and you were with your friend, you know that you would share the extra piece of chocolate with them. Don’t store it…Share Jesus.
If you are here today and you are not ready for Heaven, right now, I want to invite you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Shepherd. I want you to allow him to prepare you for HEAVENLY citizenship. Come, now, make him your Messiah, your Lord, your God. Accept his gift of love before it is too late. Jesus died and rose again just for you. He loves you. Accept his love.
(Quotes from the New International Version of the Bible.)
(Somewhere over the past years I found the 5 P’s used to describe Heaven. I can not remember where… So, I can not give credit to the author. I can just say, "Thanks for your description.")
(Ron Keller 3/9/03)
