Sunday, July 9, 2017 pm
SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT
HEAVEN
From time to time, as we grow weary, we need to remind ourselves of the
end goal. Paul in
Philippians 3:7-21 addressed this by noting: 1) He did these things so
that he might gain Christ (8); 2) That he might obtain to the
resurrection of the dead (11); 3) He pressed toward the goal for the
prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (14); 4) For our
citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Because this subject deals with the spiritual realm and the other side
of our life, there is much speculation and great discussion about our
eternal destinies. But we
are not completely blind about this.
The Bible does give us some insight into this subject.
We are simply going to notice what it says.
NOTE: This is a subject to consider when studying with others about
salvation, as it has a bearing on their eternal destiny (so does a study
of hell).
a.
Not a place made up by
preachers to increase membership or give false hope.
b.
It is of the spiritual
realm. John 18:36 Jesus
said, “My kingdom is not of this world”.
In John 14:1-3 – He spoke of going to prepare a place.
c.
Hebrews 11:10, 16 –
Abraham waited for a city which has foundations.
It is described as a better, a heavenly country.
d.
1 Peter 1:3-5 describes
it as an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade
away
e.
2 Corinthians 5:1,
For we know that if our earthly
house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
a.
A better place
– 2 Peter 3:13 speaks of how we look for new heavens and a new earth – a
new place, which is clearly better than where we are right now.
How is it better?
Consider some of the other descriptions of heaven.
b.
A place of rest
– 2 Thessalonians 1:7 – as God deals with the ungodly, he “will give you
who are troubled rest.”
Revelation 14:13 – they may rest from their labors…
Hebrews 4:9-11 speaks of there remaining a rest for the people of God.
The life of a Christian is one of toil as we have noted.
But in the end, our reward will be rest.
This is an assuring thought and one of those of those
descriptions of heaven that is appealing to me.
c.
A place of joy and gladness
– everything we read about heaven describes it as a place of
joy. Matthew 25:21, 23 –
enter into the joy of your Lord
1 Peter 4:13 in addressing our suffering in this life for Him, Peter
notes that we rejoice with joy that when His glory is reveled, we may be
glad with exceeding joy.
d.
Nothing unpleasant will be there
– hardly a day goes by that we don’t hear about and/or
experience unpleasantness in this life.
We experience pains, troubles and difficulties.
We constantly hear about the evil that is abounding around us
more and more – crime, wars, corruption, greed, selfishness, immorality,
etc. In heaven we read
of a place where these are not concerns.
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.”
Rev. 21:27 reminds us,
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes
an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s
Book of Life.”
Revelation 7:16-17,
They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not
strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the
throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
e.
The place where our real
treasure is
– Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus
calls for us to lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven.
Obviously, this is not silver and gold, but that which is
meaningful. In heaven we
will be rewarded. Consider
what the Bible says about our rewards:
Revelation 22:12, And behold, I am
coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according
to his work.
Hebrews 11:26 – Moses gave up what he did because he looked to the
reward.
Colossians 3:24 when we do what we do heartily, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.
f.
We will be serving God day and night
– Revelation 7:15, 22:3. We
don’t know everything we will be doing in heaven. We will be worshipping
God (as is so often a part of the descriptions of heaven and the throne
of God -cf. Revelation 4-5, 7:9-12, etc. ) and serving Him day and
night. Whatever this
involves, it will be not be unpleasant as is often the case in this
life.
g.
Indescribable beauty
–
In 2 Corinthians 12:4, Paul was caught us to “Paradise.”
The Greek word is descriptive of a garden or a park.
In this world, some of the most beautiful places are a part of
nature God has provided for us.
I know I enjoy the outdoors and hiking.
When I think of these places, I realize they are but a glimpse of
the beauty of heaven. Jesus told the penitent thief he would be with Him
in Paradise (Luke 23:43).
Revelation 2:7 tells us the tree of life is in the midst of the Paradise
of God.
We sometimes sing songs like “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be” and “Alone
at Eve”. There is a reason
so many of our songs are about heaven.
To remind us of what we look forward to.
I am also reminded of the picture of the New Jerusalem described as
coming down out of heaven in Revelation 21:10-22:5. It is described as
measured, being built with all sorts of precious jewels.
Vs. 21 speaks its streets
are of pure gold
Vs. 22-23 describe God as its
source of light and its temple.
There will be no night there.
IT will be eternal “daylight”.
Vs. 23-26 – describes how the
nations will bring glory and honor to God and the Lamb into it.
Vs. 27 – nothing that defiles
will be there, but only the saved!
22:1 describes a river of water
proceeding from the throne of God and the Lamb.
Vs. 2, the tree of life is there.
Vs. 5 concludes, “And they shall
reign forever and ever.”
NOTE: While this is likely descripting of the Kingdom of Heaven that we
are part of even now, it comes out of heaven and thus describes the
quality of that which is there.
h.
It is eternal – Matthew 25:46, 2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have
a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens.
Man in this life is constantly seeking for ways to live just a little
longer and to restore our youth and vitality.
Heaven is the TRUE “fountain of youth”, as we will live there
forever.
a.
The Godhead
– as we have seen in this lesson, God will be there – along with Jesus
and the Holy Spirit
Psalm 11:4 says, “The LORD is in His holy temple, the LORD’S throne is
in heaven.”
Isaiah 66:1 says, “Heaven is MY throne and the earth is My footstool…””
Jesus is seated at His right hand! (John 14:1-3, Mark 16:19)
b.
Righteous “heroes” of
faith –
Hebrews 11 describes many OT godly men and women who died and had hope
of a better city. Moses and
Elijah and Enoch are there.
We can know that Paul and Peter and other godly characters in the New
Testament are in heaven.
Are not such, men who we would want to spend eternity with?
c.
Those who obey the gospel – Matthew 7:21 – he who does the will of My Father.
d.
Those who are faithful
until death – Revelation 14:13 – those who die in the Lord.
Hebrews 12:23 – souls made perfect
Revelation 2:10 speaks of those who are faithful unto death
Romans 2:7 speaks of those
who by patience continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and
immortality.”
Mark 13:13 says that he who endures to the end will be saved.
Matthew 25:34-40, 46 speaks
of those who cared for His sheep in various ways will enjoy “the kingdom
of heaven prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (vs. 34)
Truly, heaven is described as a reward that we should be willing to give
up ANYTHING to obtain. And
that is the exact point Jesus made in the parable of the hidden treasure
and the pearl of great price (Matthew 13:44-46).
If our desire is not to do everything God calls upon us to do in
this life, we probably do not have a good enough grasp of what heaven
will be like. Maybe we need
to think a little more about heaven and do what we can to make it there
AND to take with us as many as we possibly can.
As a preacher once said, “If you miss heaven, you miss all there
it.” So what about you?
Are you ready to go to heaven?