GROWING IN CHRIST
Is It Worth It?
We have been studying the subject of growing in Christ. We have noted the importance of such growth as well as some of the things that will help us to grow as we ought to in Him. Today, we bring this study to a conclusion, by asking the question, “Is it worth it?” Why should I grow in Him rather than just living this life to its fullest? What’s going to happen if I don’t grow in Him? What’s in it for me?
That is an interesting question from the viewpoint of the Christian. While our life is to be one of service, thinking about the other person and how we please God, in reality one reason we do what we do is because of the reward promised when this life is over. Today, let’s talk about that reward for a little while.
I. Heaven Described
A. It is a real place – not just a place that preachers have made up to gain a following.
1. Hebrews 11:16 describes it as a heavenly country.
2. John 14:1-3 – Jesus describes heaven as His Father’s house and a place where He was going to prepare a mansion for us.
B. A place of incomprehensible beauty.
1. In describing the place of eternal torments (Hell) Jesus found a word that would describe the worst possible conditions that His audience could relate to. He made reference to Gehenna, the garbage dump of Jerusalem and compared that to the place of eternal torments they faced if they were lost. Added to this were a number of descriptive phrases such as “weeping and gnashing of teeth” “torment” “where their worm doesn’t die and the fire is not quenched” which combined give as accurate of a description of this place as possible in human terms. Much could be said about this place, but let us suffice by noting two quick observations:
a) It is a real place.
b) You don’t want to spend eternity there! I firmly believe that hell is actually worse than any description imaginable upon this earth.
2. In describing heaven, just like hell, we don’t actually know what it is like. But there are words and thoughts that give us an idea of how awesome this place really is. And unlike hell, it is described as a place we WANT to be.
a)
Paradise – This word is used only 3 times in the
New Testament. Once by Jesus to the penitent thief (Luke 23:43), once by Paul
(2 Cor. 12:4) where he was caught up to paradise, are Revelation 2:7 describing
the location of the tree of life “in the midst of the paradise of God.”
Paradise is believed by some to be derived from a Persian word meaning “a royal
park” (ISBE) or “a walled orchard” (Nelson) or “a king’s garden” (Easton). Some
scholars make reference to the Garden of Eden prior to the fall of man, a
“perfect place” where God put man.
Like back then, when we think of the word paradise, we think of a place of
immense beauty. Our perfect place where we can go to relax and enjoy our
surroundings without the cares of this life.
b) We can glean an idea of the beauty of heaven from that which comes out of heaven. Revelation 21:10-21 – while this is not a description of heaven itself (it is actually the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven) it describes the character of that which is IN heaven – a place of the most magnificent and best things.
c) Only the best things originate in heaven – James 1:17 tells us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” and comes down from God.
C. A place where there will be no suffering.
3. One of the descriptions of heaven that makes it so appealing to me is how all the bad things of this world won’t be there.
4. Revelation 21:4 says, “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."
Imagine a place where you don’t have to say goodbye to your loved ones anymore.
A place where there will be no disabilities, no sickness or pain of any sort.
There will no disappointments, or anything that causes misery.
5. Furthermore, nothing that defiles will enter therein. Revelation 21:27 says, “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” We understand that there are people on this earth who hate us because of what we stand for. We understand the intense efforts that Satan uses against us. As we look at this life we see the crime, dishonesty, corruption, immorality, jealousies and numerous other sorts of ungodly men in our midst. They are responsible for much of the miseries of society. Such like will NOT be in heaven and we won’t have to worry about their ungodly behaviors tormenting us. Understand it does not give me joy that such people will be lost, but the fact is their conduct is anti-God and they will NOT be allowed into heaven unless they repent. Note also Revelation 21:8 which describes some who will NOT be in heaven.
D.
A place of rest – we all understand the blessedness
of rest. There is nothing better after a hard day of work than coming home and
being able to kick up your feet and just relax.
While in this life, we have to labor and toil and it seems like it will never
end, we are looking toward that day when we can rest once and for all.
Hebrews 4:1, 9 speaks of the rest that remains
Revelation 14:13 says, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write:
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Yes’, says the Spirit,
‘that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them’”
We have been talking about the many things involved in growing in the Lord. It
is hard work. We do that looking forward to that day when we can rest from the
labors.
E. What will we be like?
1. In this life, we have many aches and pains, as well as emotional and mental stress. As we get older our bodies start slowing down and the problems intensify. But in heaven, not only will we be in a place with no problems; our bodies will also be changed.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 speaks of the fact that in a moment we shall be changed
3. 1 John 3:2-3 speaks of the fact that we shall be like Him.
Philippians 3:20-21 says that our citizenship is in heaven and Christ will
transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body….
II. Who will be there?
A.
God - Heaven is where the throne of God is present
Psalm 11:4 – “The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven…”
Isaiah 66:1, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My
footstool”
Matthew 5:34 speaks of heaven being God’s throne.
How wonderful it will be to stand in the presence of our creator who is Almighty
God
B.
Jesus is there
He went to heaven to prepare a place for His disciples – John 14:1-3
Mark 16:19 speaks of the ascension of Jesus saying that He was received up into
heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
C.
Saints gone before
In the Bible we read of Moses, Abraham, David, Job, Enoch, Elijah, the prophets
and many other righteous souls that have gone on to meet their reward and spend
eternity with God in heaven. In the New Testament there are the apostles,
including Paul; there is Timothy, Lois and Eunice, Stephen and many other
righteous men and women who are awaiting heaven. Many gave up many things so
that we might have a hope of heaven.
In heaven, we will be with them. Paul in 2 Timothy 4:8 said that the crown
awaited both him and all who have loved His appearing, which is US!
D. Those who have overcome, those who have grown.
1. There are many passages in the Bible that describe those who will be in heaven.
2. Revelation 2:10 speaks of those faithful unto death. Rev. 14:13 speaks of those who die in the Lord.
3. Romans 2:7 speaks of those who “by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality”
4. Mark 13:13 speaks of “he who endures to the end will be saved”
5. 2 Peter 3:5-11 speaks of those who GROW in the Lord leading to “so an entrance will be supplied …into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord.”
III. Our Blessed Assurance
A. Heaven is our eternal reward after this life. We have described this place and mentioned those who will be there. 1 Peter 1:4 speaks of an inheritance reserved in heaven for us.
B. How does our growth in Him relate to the hope of heaven?
1. With growth comes assurance
a) 2 Timothy 1:12 – Paul knew that God knew what was going on and He would be the One who make the ultimate decision about Paul. Paul was confident because of the way he had lived his life
b)
John in his first epistle spoke of the confidence
we can have of our salvation. He used the word “know” some 32 times in this
relatively short epistle.
1 John 2:3 – “By this we know that we know Him, IF we keep His commandments”
1 John 4:13 – “By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us…” – speaking
of our love for one another
1 John 5:13 – “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the
Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life…”
c) As we continue to grow, as we overcome the world, we find more confidence in our standing before God. WE know that whatever man does to us, it is NOTHING compared to the reward that awaits us – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are nothing to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
2. But also, with growth comes desire to be with Him.
a) In time, we really do see ourselves as not belonging here. We know there’s something better waiting for us.
b) Philippians 1:21,23 – Paul understood this as he desired to depart and be with the Lord.
c) 2 Corinthians 5:6,8 – We realize that while we are down here we are absent from the Lord.
Thus we can see blessing of Growth in Christ. It is my hope that in this lesson, the reward of heaven has been presented in such a way that we will do all that we can to secure our place there. The more we grow in Him, the closer we are to that reward. I am reminded of a fictitious story about Job who did not see death because he walked with God. It was said that one day as he was walking with the Lord, God said to Him, “You are now closer to My home than yours. Come on and stay with Me.” Brethren, if you miss heaven, you’ve missed everything!