ALL THINGS NEW
REVELATION 21: 1-7
MARCH 29, 2005
INTRODUCTION: “Some glad morning when this life is o’er, I’ll fly away; To a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away. I’ll fly away, O glory, I’ll fly away; (in the morning); When I die, hallelujah, by and by, I’ll fly away. When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away; Like a bird from prison bars has flown, I’ll fly away. Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away; To a land where joys shall never end, I’ll fly away!”
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more and the morning breaks eternal, bright and fair – When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there! When the roll is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder, When the roll is called up yonder – When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there!
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, sing His mercy and His grace; in the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place. While we walk the pilgrim pathway clouds will over spread the sky; but when traveling days are over, not a shadow, not a sigh. Let us then be true and faithful, trusting serving every day; Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay. Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open, we shall tread the streets of gold. When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory.
TRANSITION THOUGHT: As I read those words, those famous hymns, what came to your mind? Did you feel a little excitement? Did you want to sing along? Did your mind rush to Heaven and the hope we all share that one day, one glorious day, this struggle will all be over and we shall see Him? There is another song that comes to my mind. I don’t know it really, but the title and maybe one line: “Heaven is getting sweeter all the time!”
As we gather here this day to celebrate the life of one we loved and see no more, the Hope of Heaven grows stronger in all our minds! There may be times when we ignore the truth of our God, but at times like these how thankful we are for His perfect plan of Salvation and the Hope of Heaven HE so Freely offers!
Our New Testament scripture reveals to us once more the bright and blessed hope of Heaven. Let’s thing about heaven for just a couple of minutes together!
THESIS SENTENCE: HEAVEN IS OUR GOAL IN THIS LIFE AND A GIFT FROM GOD ALMIGHTY THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST!
I. HEAVEN IS A NEW ADDRESS [New Jerusalem (Vs. 1-2)]
A. Old things pass away!!
1. This is a reminder of Gen. 1:1 God had created everything out of Nothing. The last book of the bible reminds us of the first book of the bible.
2. Then the problem, Genesis 3. Sin entered the world. God goes from saying, “It is very Good” to “What is this you have done?” The curse had arrived!!
3. Even creation itself was waiting for this: Romans 8 tells us, “All of creation waits with eager longing for God to reveal his children. For creation was condemned to lose its purpose, not of its own will, but because God willed it to be so. Yet there was the hope that creation itself would one day be set free form its slavery to decay and would share the glorious freedom of the children of God. For we know that up to the present time all of creation groans with pain, like the pain of childbirth” (vv. 19-22).
4. One ASIDE here: No More Sea?? What is that all about? The Sea has always been an obstacle. An obstacle to reaching other people. An obstacle for survival; the sea claims many lives of those brave enough to cross her! There is also a reminder of the Flood here; the reminder that God will never use water to destroy the earth again.
B. Behold, he makes all things new!!
1. Once more God unleashes His creating Power and “EX NIHILO,” God creates again out of nothing and makes it something!!!
2. BUT, it is not just any something; it is a new heaven and a new earth. It is not just a new creation, either; it is a HOLY CREATION, THE NEW JERUSALEM:
3. The old Jerusalem had been the center of worship for God’s chosen people, but in the end it had been the place of rejection for HIS CHRIST!! NOW God has set things the way they are supposed to be. Jerusalem is a bride prepared to meet her HUSBAND, not reject him. She is Beautifully Dressed in Holiness!!
4. This is Heaven: Our understanding that God has something more prepared for us. It will be new, it will be different. It will Be God’s Design. He is Still Sovereign. He is Still in control. He is God and there is no other!! God will make it happen.
TRUTH: HEAVEN IS A NEW ADDRESS DESIGNED JUST FOR US!
II. HEAVEN IS A NEW ASSOCIATION/ COMMUNION [With God (Vs. 3-4)]
A. Still the New Jerusalem:
1. Worship of God is back on track: “Now the Dwelling of God is with men (human kind).”
2. We know that God does not live in a box or in a church, or even in a city. God is everywhere all the time!! GOD IS WITH US, BUT!!! God is separated from us, somewhat, within the confines of the spiritual and physical realms. Now this is deep and I don’t know how accurate I am being, but I believe the gist of it all is that God will be with us physically-spiritually!
3. 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 says, “While we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord, here we walk by faith not by sight.”
4. Jesus says to us, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” It is a promise. Something Greater is coming for all of us in our relation with God.
5. Now the Dwelling of God is with men and HE will live with them.
B. The opposite of the new is the ABSENCE OF THE OLD!
1. Now that God Dwells Physically/ Spiritually with His people things are different.
2. No sadness: He will wipe (obliterate, erase, blot out, wipe out) away every tear! There will be no cause for crying there!!
3. No Separation: Death will no longer separate us from the ones we love and who love us!!
4. No sorrow: No more mourning, crying or pain. This is not just focused on death, either. No more mourning our failures. No more crying over things we could never change. No more pain caused by an unkind world.
5. No Suffering!!
TRUTH: HEAVEN IS A NEW ASSOCIATION WITH THE LIVING GOD WHO CHANGES EVERYTHING!
III. HEAVEN IS A NEW ASSURANCES [From God (Vs. 5-7)]
“He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ He said to me: ‘It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him how is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.’”
A. A splendid place:
1. I am making all things New!! It is done!! Words from the cross now complete.
2. John 14:2-3 is the key thought here! “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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also my be where I am.”
B. A satisfying Place:
1. Satisfying resources: Every need supplied, every desire fulfilled: Thirst fulfilled with out cost: the water of life!
2. Satisfying reward: We are now joint heirs with Jesus - Rom. 8:17 “He who overcomes will inherit all this”: HEAVEN: ALL THINGS NEW!!
3. SATISFYING RELATIONSHIP:
“I will be his God and he will be my son.” The adoption process, which began at our conversion, is now completed!!
C. A safe place:
1. All those who are outside are banished form Heaven!
2. It is this type of people that have ruined our world, but they will not ruin that world, for they are not allowed in.
3. Remember the beggar in our Gospel lesson. His time came and he died, but angels to Abraham’s side in Heaven carried him.
TRUTH: HEAVEN IS A NEW ASSURANCE FROM THE LIVING GOD THAT HE WILL BE OUR GOD AND WE WILL BE HIS CHILDREN!
CONCLUSION: HEAVEN IS OUR GOAL IN THIS LIFE AND A GIFT FROM GOD ALMIGHTY THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST! TODAY WE REJOICE IN THIS, HEAVEN WAS GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR ETERNAL LIFE, A PROMISED PLACE OF PEACE, SEPARATE FROM ALL PAIN AND DESPAIR! HEAVEN IS FREELY OFFERED TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS, WHO CONFESS HIM AS LORD AND BELIEVE THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. AMEN!
