HEAVEN: AN ETERNAL HOME
1. Last week I made reference to a book in my library.
2. The title of this volume is, “You Can Live Forever On The Earth.”
3. People try to teach this view because of verses like passages just read.
4. Texts like Ps. 78:69; 104:5; and Eccl. 1:4 say the earth will “last forever.”
5. In teach of these verses is a Hebrew word spelled olam.
6. Olam simple means “age lasting.”
7. In Num. 25:13, olam describes the Jewish priesthood.
8. This was to be “forever” (age lasting).
9. We know the age for this priesthood was limited; it has been taken out of the way.
10. Olam must be considered in view of a verse’s context as well as other Scriptures.
AFTER JESUS FINISHED SPEAKING ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM IN MATTHEW 24, HE SAID THIS IN MATTHEW 24:35.
A. “Heaven and earth shall pass away.”
B. Did Jesus now what He was talking about when He spoke these words?
C. A similar point was made by the Hebrew writer in Heb. 1:11-12.
D. Peter said the earth and everything else will be burned up (2 Pet. 3:10-12).
2. Beyond these points, we can introduce a key fact from Ephesians.
3. Several “ones” are in Ephesians 4:4-5.
4. We know about the one Lord, one faith, one baptism, etc.
5. In giving this list Paul referred to “one hope.”
A. Here is a thoughtful question:
B. If some “hope” to live on the earth, and other “hope for heaven,” how many hopes are there?
C. Consider too what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, Mt. 6:19-20.
1) Jesus said “lay treasures up in heaven, not upon the earth.”
D. If we are going to live forever on the earth, why not store up treasures here?
E. Jesus also said in this sermon (Mt. 5:12) that our reward is “in heaven.”
F. An apostle also weighed in on this subject.
6. Paul said “if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved.”
7. That is, if a Christian dies something happens.
8. What happens? In eternity we have a “house” from God, and it is not upon the earth.
9. Our names are written in heaven, Heb. 12:23 for this is the place for the saved. Heb. 12:23.
10. Jesus ascended into heaven (Mk. 16:19), and He is our forerunner (Heb. 6:19).
11. Jesus has “dedicated the way for us” (Heb. 10:20).
12. In view of these verses, where are the saved headed to? Heaven.
13. To all this someone might point back to 2 Pet. 3:13.
14. Peter said there is a “new heavens and earth” for the saved.
15. Many Christians have been puzzled by this expression.
A. Peter’s terminology is used in the Old Testament (Isa. 65:17; 66:22).
B. Isaiah referred to Israel’s return from Babylonian captivity.
C. These people had a “new heavens and earth.”
D. Did Israel literally get moved to a new planet?
E. No, they were still living out their lives on the earth.
F. Isaiah used this expression as a figure to refer to a new state of existence.
G. God’s people had gone from slavery and bondage to freedom.
H. Peter did the same thing, and he was speaking of heaven.
WE OFTEN SING SONGS ABOUT HEAVEN. THESE SONGS ARE GOOD SONGS BECAUSE THE BIBLE ENCOURAGES CHRISTIANS TO THINK ABOUT HEAVEN.
A. When writing to the Colossians Paul reminded them about their former way of life.
B. Col. 3:3 says they had “died” to the old life of sin and ungodliness.
C. These Christians had been “raised” to walk and live with the Lord.
D. When the Lord appears, these Christians will be in a position to meet Him, verse 4.
E. In verse 2 of Col. 3 this is said – READ.
2. If we state this in a different way, Paul said “think about heaven.”
3. We need to think about heaven because this earth is a temporary place.
4. It is not going to be renovated or fixed it; it will be destroyed.
5. Rev. 21:1 refers to a new dwelling place. In this new place there is no “sea.”
6. For the Hebrews, the sea was often a place of terror.
7. Certainly in our day and time we have seen the damage vast bodies of water can do.
A. In this no place there will be no threats or disturbances.
B. Also at the start of Rev. 21 we see some other encouraging things.
C. Tears will not be there. Death will not face heaven’s inhabitants.
D. None will mourn, have pain, what we put up with now will all be gone.
8. As we live our lives on this earth, we can drive by cemeteries.
9. I recently read about a woman who lost a daughter in a very tragic way.
10. She visits the grave seven days a week.
11. All around us there are reminders of death.
12. In heaven, there will not be a single reminder.
13. We will not see a hillside with even one grave marker.
A. Many of us have sat by someone’s side in a hospital room.
B. Doctors did all they could, but we knew the individual was going to die.
C. Never again will we need to experience that kind of thing.
D. There will be no hospital beds in heaven.
E. Neither will there be doctors who are writing prescriptions.
F. If we have to fill prescriptions and take medicine now, those things will end.
14. Our lives are filled with change.
15. Last Wednesday night I said our meeting speaker from last year has been diagnosed with cancer.
16. I spoke with him Thursday morning and he said, “our lives have changed.”
17. Distress, set backs, hurts of all kinds…these will all vanish.
18. Heaven is a wonderful place, but not everyone is going to go there.
19. Also from the 21st chapter of Revelation we find these words: verses 6-8 – READ.
A. Heaven will be for those who love God and have been obedient to His word.
B. In the beginning chapters of Revelation we have a repeated expression:
C. “He that overcometh, unto him will I give…….
20. We have only small glimpses into heaven, but it is enough to say it is a splendid place.
21. Rev. 21:11 portrays it as bright and glorious.
22. It is presented as having walls that are high, great, and made with the finest materials.
23. If we use the dimensions (and we must understand them figuratively),
24. It is nearly 400 miles high, 400 miles wide, and 400 miles long.
25. It has no sun, moon or stars, because God Himself is the light (Rev. 21:23).
26. One of the most encouraging texts is Rev. 21:25-27 – READ.
27. In this life, “gates” are a prominent part of society.
A. We have in Elkhart county some “gated” properties.
B. People want privacy and security.
C. Years ago many felt like they could leave their doors unlocked at night.
D. Maybe some felt so safe, they could go on vacation and leave their houses unlocked.
28. Today all kinds of means are used to provide security.
29. We have safes, vaults, cameras, security guards, sensors, etc.
30. Heaven is such a secure place there is no need for fortification.
31. When we have a basic understanding of what heaven is, earth has little appeal.
A. We should be thinking about this as we sing many of hour hymns.
B. One of our songs is titled, “Earth holds no treasures.”
C. At the beginning of this song the words say, “earth holds no treasures but perish w/using.”
D. “There is a country to which I am going: heaven holds all to me.”
E. “Why should I long for the world with its sorrows?”
32. “Heaven will surely be worth it all” is also in our books.
33. “Heavenly sunlight” sounds a whole like Col. 3:1-4.
34. “Sing to me of heaven” is another favorite for many, as it should be.
35. “From the toils that bind, it will bring release.”
36. “Burdens will be lifted that are pressing so. Of its pearly glory, of its pearly gleam.”
37. “I have heard of a land” is sometimes sung here.
38. “Tis a beautiful home of the soul; built by Jesus on high, where we will never die.”
39. It is a land “where we never grow old.”
40. This is the hymn that in the refrain said “never grow old” is repeated several times.
41. When someone is age 15 and in good health, those words may not mean a lot.
42. Let the years begin to pass and that hymn starts to take on some meaning.
43. “There is a habitation” is also sung here.
44. “There is a habitation, built by the living God.”
45. “O Zion, Zion I long thy gates to see.”
46. “Within its pearly portals, angelic armies sing.”
47. “No night is there, no sorrow, no death and no decay.”
48. “Firm as the eternal throne, no wars, no desolation, shall ever move a stone.”
49. Every time we sing a song about heaven we should be extra enthused.
50. One of the saddest songs in our books is “When we all get to heaven.”
51. If we are talking about the saved, this song can encourage us too.
52. There is another perspective on this hymn.
53. Not all are going to go to heaven.
54. Most of the world will not make it.
55. God says to us that each of us does have an opportunity to go.
56. Tonight we hope you have accepted heaven’s invitation.