Sermon Series: “Questioning the Faith”
Sermon #3 “Question about Heaven”
(Some thoughts and illustrations taken form other sermoncentral.com contributors)
Text: II Corinthians 12:1-7
OPENING JOKE: Janet Sketchely was trying to teach her children the truth of salvation while reading through their evening Bible story. To check their comprehension she asked, “What do you have to do to get into heaven?” Her six-year-old sat back to ponder the question, but their little four-year-old quickly replied, “Die!”
INTRODUCTION: Last weeks discussion about the condition of the departed spirit sparked two interesting questions. Because they were fresh on my mind and heart I wanted to answer one tonight and the other next week.
Illustration: “Think we didn’t make it” Maggie and Eleanor were sitting side by side in rockers at a nursing home while talking about their age. Maggie said, “I can’t believe I’m almost one hundred years old.” Eleanor replied, “I still can’t believe I’ve already passed one hundred.” They both pondered their age for a moment then Eleanor expressed a critical concern and said, “Maggie, we’re getting so old our friends in heaven are going to start thinking we didn’t make it.”
***Will I know people in Heaven, and will I know people I love who did not make it?
1. This question stems from an old teaching that we will not know each other in Heaven, because the thought of a lost loved one in Hell would make us unable to really enjoy Heaven.
A. Many pastors and teachers preach this idea because it satisfies their feeling that Heaven is a place of absolutely no sorrow
B. To know a family member was burning for eternity would cause Heavens sweetness to be tainted
C. The problem is, much of what is taught is from feelings and not Scripture
2. So let us look to the Scripture for our answers:
A. I Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known”
i. Now refers to this life / Then refers to our life in Heaven
ii. This verse indicates an expanse of knowledge in Heaven, not a removal or erasure of it
iii. And it indicates that I will “know fully” as I “have been fully known”
1. This also indicates that we will know others
2. There will be no need for introductions in Heaven
3. Last week we talked about ‘The Mount of Transfiguration’, and how the Apostles saw Moses and Elijah
4. If you read that story close, you will notice Jesus did not have to introduce them – the Apostles knew who they were, even though they had never met them
B. Matthew 8:11 “And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.”
i. Let me ask this simple question:
ii. How will we sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob if no one in Heaven will identified?
C. II Samuel 12:23 “But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”
i. David here is referring to his dead son
ii. He indicates that one day they will be reunited in Heaven (I shall go to Him)
iii. This could just be the vain hope of a grieving father, but I believe it is a man who is convinced in his own eternity, and that of his son’s – and convinced, by the Spirit, that he will again see his son and know him
3. The idea of a memory wipe in Heaven is based on the idea that there is absolutely no sorrow, but this is not the case
A. Often at funerals you will hear the pastor say: “There are no tears in heaven.”
B. But I encourage you to look with me in the book of Revelation
C. Revelation 21:4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
D. The very fact that God must wipe away tears indicates that there was weeping up until that point
E. Why weeping? Two reasons:
i. There will be tears because of our lost opportunities as Christians
1. How many times have we had the opportunity to share the Gospel, but didn’t?
2. How many acts of service to the Lord did we get called to, but rejected?
3. How many times did we choose the “football game”, the “race”, or a “nap” instead of coming to church?
ii. There will also be tears because of those we love that are lost
1. How terrible to know a loved one did not know Christ as their Savior and died in their sins
2. Someone might say, well I couldn’t live in Heaven with that knowledge, I would want God to wipe it away
3. We should understand that sadness is not our eternal condition, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be a horrible moment
F. God wiping away our tears indicates a moment of sadness, as well as, a moment of comfort
i. This is where the idea of “memory loss” comes from
ii. Some people feel the only comfort would come by taking away our memory
iii. I believe, that in the omnipotence of God, He could comfort me without taking away who I am, who I was, and the memory of this life
1. Ultimately, taking away the memory of others will take away the memory of myself
2. Heaven would then be full of ‘personality-less’ souls
G. REMEMBER: We should also remember that to a certain extent, we have the choice between tears of burden now or tears of regret later
i. We should weep for our loved ones lost condition now in prayer, supplication and be ready to share the Gospel with them
ii. This may keep us from weeping for their lost soul in Heaven
4. Memory of ‘who you were’ is necessary for judgment
A. If we have no memory in the afterlife, what will we be judged according to?
B. Matthew 12:36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.”
C. I think, if anything, on the day of judgment we will remember more than we ever wanted rather than forget
CONCLUSION: So the answer to the question, “Will we know people in Heaven?” I believe the answer is yes.
NOTE: We will know each other in Heaven, but some significant changes will have taken place”
1. It is “not yet revealed” exactly what we will be.
1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
2. We will not have the “fallen” body we had on earth.
1 Corinthians 15:42 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.”
3. We will not be grouped in the “families” we are now in.
Matthew 22:30 “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.”
• For some this is a major concern because we like to think of “being married” to each other for eternity.
• This is a sentimental idea that has no basis in Scripture.
• Scripture points us to something far better. That is point #4. . .
4. Our primary relationship will be with Jesus.
Revelation 21:2 “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
There are many things about Heaven we will not know until we arrive. But those things we do know should fill us with anticipation – an eternity of time to be with God and with His people; our brothers and sisters in Christ
Are you confident tonight in your place in Heaven?
It is not based on works, but on the precious blood of Jesus
And if you are counting on works, I am sorry to disappoint you – but you will not make it by your good deeds –
Heaven is attained by surrendering to faith in Christ
Have you done that tonight?
If not, would you?
(Let us pray)
