We Believe In Heaven
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Introduction
Maybe you feel as if you’ve passed your peak, physically or emotionally, and that your best opportunities are behind you. Perhaps you’re burdened, discouraged, depressed, or even traumatized. Perhaps your dreams—your marriage, career, or ambitions—have crumbled. Perhaps you’ve become cynical or have lost hope.
One pastor stated, “Whenever I think of Heaven it makes me depressed. I’d rather just cease to exist when I die.” “I can’t stand the thought of that endless tedium. To float around in the clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp . . . it’s all so terribly boring. Heaven doesn’t sound much better than Hell. I’d rather be annihilated than spend eternity in a place like”
J. C. Ryle, a nineteenth-century British theologian, said, “I pity the man who never thinks about heaven.” We could also say, “I pity the man who never thinks accurately about Heaven.” It’s our inaccurate thinking, I believe, that motivates us to think so little about Heaven.
Alcorn, Randy. Heaven: Biblical Answers to Common Questions (Kindle Locations 52-55). Tyndale House Publishers. Kindle Edition.
J. C. Ryle, a nineteenth-century British theologian, said, “I pity the man who never thinks about heaven.”[2] We could also say, “I pity the man who never thinks accurately about Heaven.” It’s our inaccurate thinking, I believe, that motivates us to think so little about Heaven.
We believe that heaven is a place.
We believe that heaven is a place.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
When Jesus talks about have as a place where he will take us this implies something very powerful.
We believe heaven is real because Christ said it is.
We believe heaven is real because Christ said it is.
The words of Christ are sufficient proof for the existence of heaven.
The words of Christ are sufficient proof for the existence of heaven.
I don’t know if I can trust those books? I know I can trust the words of Christ.
What God wants us to know about heaven He has revealed in His word.
What God wants us to know about heaven He has revealed in His word.
It is a place that the redeemed inhabit after death.
It is a place that the redeemed inhabit after death.
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
It is a place where the redeemed are with the Father and the Son.
It is a place where the redeemed are with the Father and the Son.
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2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
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Heaven is the Father’s House! It is where the Father is.
Edwards knew that we were created to be with God - our greatest delight is to delight in Him. Listen to what He said
“To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here.”
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
God does not intend for the redeemed to live eternally in a disembodied state.
God does not intend for the redeemed to live eternally in a disembodied state.
This is not on the screen.
One pastor stated, “Whenever I think of Heaven it makes me depressed. I’d rather just cease to exist when I die.” “I can’t stand the thought of that endless tedium. To float around in the clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp . . . it’s all so terribly boring. Heaven doesn’t sound much better than Hell.”
One pastor stated, “Whenever I think of Heaven it makes me depressed. I’d rather just cease to exist when I die.” “I can’t stand the thought of that endless tedium. To float around in the clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp . . . it’s all so terribly boring. Heaven doesn’t sound much better than Hell.”
The resurrection means the redeemed will have new bodies prepared to live in a new creation.
The resurrection means the redeemed will have new bodies prepared to live in a new creation.
We do not long for a non-body, non-Earth and non-culture, but for a new body, New Earth, and new culture, without sin and death. This is all part of longing for the resurrection of the dead, which is at the heart and soul of the Christian faith.
At death the redeemed move in with the Father. At the end of the redemption story the Father moves in with the redeemed.
At death the redeemed move in with the Father. At the end of the redemption story the Father moves in with the redeemed.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Rev 21:3-4
Where is the dwelling place of God?
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
Re 21-2-3
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
We believe that after the resurrection God will eternally dwell with His people on a recreated earth.
We believe that after the resurrection God will eternally dwell with His people on a recreated earth.
The prayers of countless saints will be asked
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Heaven coming to earth means:
No sin.
No sin.
No suffering
No suffering
No sorrow
No sorrow
No death
No death
No funeral homes
No funeral homes
No abortion clinics
No abortion clinics
No missing children
No missing children
No unemployment
No unemployment
No birth-defects
No birth-defects
No hospitals
No hospitals
No war
No war
No hunger
No hunger
No mental illness
No mental illness
No curse
No curse
Can you imagine the joy as the redemption story comes full circle and God restores all that the curse as taken.
“Earth is a in-between world touched by both Heaven and Hell. Earth leads directly into Heaven or directly into Hell, affording a choice between the two.
“The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of Heaven; the worst of life is a glimpse of Hell. For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.”
The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of Heaven; the worst of life is a glimpse of Hell. For Christians, this present life is the closest they will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.”
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.