The 7 Myths About Heaven

THE 7 MYTHS ABOUT HEAVEN

Matt. 22:2-14

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR

1. A Michigan couple decided to go to Florida during an icy winter. The husband was to fly down first and the wife to follow the next day. The husband checked into the hotel and sent an email to his wife. Unfortunately he sent it to the wrong email.

2. Meanwhile, in Texas, a widow who’d just returned home from her husband’s funeral, decided to check her emails. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted. The widow’s son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read:

3. “To My Loving Wife. I arrived this morning. I bet you’re surprised to hear from me; there’s computers down here now and we’re allowed to send emails to loved ones. I’ve checked in & I see that everything’s been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was. P.S. It’s stinkin’ hot down here!”

B. TEXT

Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 “Then he sent some more servants....5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite...anyone you find.’...10 and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Matt. 22:1-14

3. Let’s see what The 7 Myths About Heaven are:

I. MYTH: NOBODY REALLY KNOWS ABOUT HEAVEN

A. ASSUMPTION: NO ONE KNOWS

1. Many people are under the mistaken notion that all talk about heaven is just guessing, that nobody really can say what heaven is like.

2. After all, different religions claim different things about heaven: a)Some say it’s all in your mind, b) The Egyptian Book of the Dead says it’s where you get to do anything you like, c) Muslims say that there are 72 virgins waiting for them, and d) Hindus say it’s a state of extinction, perfect peace. So who’s right? Who really knows? So they say that we won’t know what heaven is like until we get there; so don’t try telling them what you think.

B. MAJOR ERROR: THERE IS A WITNESS

1. There is one Person who knows what heaven is like – Who has been to heaven and can tell us what it’s actually like: JESUS!

2. Listen to these statements of Jesus:

a. “No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven – the Son of Man”.(Jn. 3:13)

b. “For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of Him who sent Me”. (Jn. 6:38)

c. “What if you see the Son of Man ascend up to where He was before?”. (Jn. 6:62)

d. “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world”. (Jn. 8:23)

e. “I am telling you what I have seen in My Father’s presence…” (Jn. 8:38)(see 10:36; 17:5)

3. So the Lord Jesus qualifies as a witness of what heaven is like, because He was there and came to tell us from the Father. So what myths does Jesus bust/discredit about heaven in this parable?

II. MYTH: AFTER DEATH WE’LL BE LIKE GHOSTS

A. WARPED PERSPECTIVE

1. Many people have ignored the thought of heaven because of the faulty stereotypes that after death, we’ll be little naked babies with wings! It’s impossible for such a vision to appeal to a man.

2. Another strange misconception is that we will be Casper the Ghosts; disembodied spirits floating around without purpose or real substance. Such images evoke a feeling of non-reality.

3. Don’t forget, Satan hates heaven and doesn’t want the Saints or sinners to have a clear picture of it lest they see it as desirable and strive to enter it.

B. A CORRECT PICTURE

1. In reality, our lives will not be so radically different than our lives are now. We will live on a real planet, in a real city, with streets, buildings, homes with furniture, friends and neighbors;

2. We will have real physical bodies, wear clothing; have duties to perform, books to read, activities to attend; we’ll enjoy running, jumping, dancing, relaxing, singing…