May 4
A Party to End All Parties!
When my Grandpa died, we shed some tears. But he had been sick off and on for so long that his passing was a bit of a relief. Besides that, his funeral was the first time that many of our family had been together for years. So, as soon as the funeral dinner began, things got pretty lively. I remember my Jackie Gleason-type cousin dancing around, chanting, “Woo-woo! They have Kielbasa!” For all of you non-Polish immigrants, that’s Polish Sausage. Even in death, there was a bit of a party.
Things were very different last Monday at the Methodist Church where they held the funeral of 15 year old Kade Tomeshek. As I dropped off Sam for Preschool, I saw many young people standing in the funeral dinner line with vacant, teary expressions. I heard a few say that they didn’t feel like eating at all. Just about every head was hung, every shoulder slumped. I thought how different it seemed from my Grandpa’s funeral.
But, you know, there is always reason for Christians to rejoice in death. You see, the missing person who has left an empty hole in our heart, is partying with the Lord! One author wrote, “God is planning a party…a party to end all parties. A feast. Not giggles and chitchat in the conference room, but wide-eyed wonder in the throne room of God.” This isn’t a party that begins at 6 and peters out at 9. This isn’t a brat party that ends with heartburn and endless cleanup. It’s an eternity of ceaseless celebration.
And Jesus wants you there more than anything—yes, you! That’s why he gave old Apostle John a glimpse of the heavenly party in Revelation. He wants us to know how to get there and what it’s going to be like so that we never lose focus of it.
Revelation 7:9-17 9 After this 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 (i.e., Jesus, the lamb of God). They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands…13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes-- who are they, and where did they come from?" 14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. 16 Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (NIV)
How do you get to this party?
Getting ready for a party, the husband slaps on some old jeans and a sweater, throws on some shoes and he’s ready to go. He turns around to see ten different coordinated outfits carefully displayed on the bed. His wife begs him with strain in her voice, “Which one should I wear?” And he is not sure if this is another one of those trick questions like “Do you think these jeans make me look fat?” But she knows that if you are going to a party, you’ve got to have the right clothes.
How much more true that is when it comes to the party of Heaven. You must have to have the right clothes to be admitted into heaven. The Holy Maitre Di of heaven will not accept our shirts stained with sin and shame. He rejects our jeans splattered with the sticky jam of selfishness and lovelessness. He turns away the filthy ties of our tantrums, our lustful thoughts, our apathy.
But you will notice that all the people in heaven weren’t wearing filthy clothes. They were wearing white robes, stately, flowing robes of purity. It’s not that they never sinned, but their sins have been covered by Jesus.
That’s not any easy concept, so let me explain it this way. Maybe some of you saw the movie, “Glory” from a few years back. It’s a great movie about the first African-American Regiment in the Civil War. One of the soldiers, played by Denzel Washington, is unjustly caught stealing shoes, and he is sentenced to be whipped. As he takes off his white shirt, everyone sees that his back is crisscrossed with horrible scars from beatings in slavery. Nobody could see that he was so beaten, because his white shirt always covered the scars. So, Jesus’ blood covers your sins like a white robe. Because God cannot see them, and you will be allowed into heaven.
Some people, even many Christians, seriously wonder if they’ll be allowed into the heavenly party. But entrance isn’t based on your perfect life; if it were, we’d all be in trouble. It’s based upon the blood that covers your sins like a white robe. You don’t have to wonder if you’re invited, or if they’ll let you in. You’re in through trust in Jesus! That reservation was made 2000 years ago on a cross.
But, regardless of getting there, we might wonder,
How good will this party be?
We begin to get a picture of that in verse 15 and following. [Read the lesson]. I couldn’t help but notice that part in verse 15 that says, “He will spread his tent over them.” Literally, it says, “He will live in a tent with them.” It stood out to me because my family used to camp all the time. I wondered why God would use a tent to help us picture heaven. After all, a tent seems so temporary, something you stay in while you’re not at home. But what else do you think of when you think of camping or tenting?
You think of closeness, don’t you? When our family of six camped in a tent, we were so cramped together that we could hear every sound, smell every stink, feel every jostle that anyone made. It was no wonder that we were all ready to kill each other after the first night of our five night vacation. That got to be a little too much closeness.
But envision the closeness a baby has snuggled in at his mommies’ breast. Nothing to be afraid of; nothing but peace. He’s content. He’s with mommy and nothing bad can happen.
In heaven, God will be that close to give us the assurance that there’s nothing more to be afraid of, nothing but peace, nothing bad that can happen. There won’t be any more tumors, any more kids dying, anymore rejection and loneliness, any more aches and pains, anymore family fights, anymore failures and letdowns, anymore sickness or SARS. It will all be gone, and we will be close to God. No wonder He will be able to wipe away every tear from our eyes. In Revelation 21, John adds this: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling (tent) of God is with men, and he will live (in a tent) with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 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." (vv. 3,4) To be with God! To leave behind this life of letdowns! What a party that’s gonna be!
When a terminally sick little boy expressed his fear about death, his mommy told him this: “Do you remember when you used to play with your friends all day? You’d be so tired that when we’d sit around and watch TV afterwards, you’d fall asleep in the chair with your clothes on. Well, that wasn’t where you belonged, but in the morning, you always woke up where you did belong--in your own bed. Your Dad carried you up the stairs, into your room, and tucked you into your own bed where you belonged. I think that’s what death is like. It’s like waking up some morning and finding ourselves in another room, in the place where we belong—safe in the strong loving arms of Jesus." What a party to look forward to! An eternity so close to our Savior!
Now… How much have you put into this party?
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account." It’s certainly not healthy to become obsessed with death, but to ignore reality is just plain foolish! Someday, we must depart this world and stand judgment before God. How much time do we spend making sure that we are close to the only one who can get us into the party? How much time do we spend thanking him with our lives?
It’s so tempting for us to put all this off and passionately pursue the earthly paradise. Last week, Madonna, the Material Girl herself, said, “We as Americans are completely obsessed and wrapped up in a lot of the wrong values -- looking good, having cash in the bank, being perceived as rich, famous and successful...” That’s sort of the pot calling the kettle black, but she has a good point anyway. We can get so wrapped up in the money that matters so little and forget the focus of our lives.
If you don’t have Jesus Christ, you don’t have anything. You may have mountainous mansions, countless shiny cars, every gaudy outfit from Gap; but if you don’t have Jesus and heaven, you don’t have anything. On the other hand, you can be so poor that even the poor people wouldn’t live with you. But if you have Jesus and heaven, you are richer than Bill Gates. You have an invitation, scribed in the blood of Jesus, that says you’re partying with God forever in the mansion that makes Saddam’s palace look like a soggy shoebox.
Why would you ignore this party? Why would you want to drift from the only one who can get you there? Why would even consider not serving him everyday? Why would you not want to get to know him better? Hebrews encourages us, “See to it then that you don’t refuse to listen to the one who is speaking to you now (12:25).” This is the Savior who has got you in the greatest party of all.
