A Big Big House
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Introduction
Introduction
C S Lewis — We are very shy nowadays of even mentioning Heaven. We are afraid of the jeer about "pie in the sky," and of being told that we are trying to "escape from the duty of making a happy world here and now into dreams of a happy world elsewhere."
Come and go with me to my Father's house
Come and go with me to my Father's house
But either there is "pie in the sky" or there is not. If there is not, then Christianity is false, for this doctrine is woven into its whole fabric. If there is, then this truth, like any other, must be faced, whether it is useful at political meetings or no.
CHORUS: It's a big big house with lots and lots a room A big big table with lots and lots of food A big big yard where we can play football A big big house Its my Fathers house
Jesus knew His disciples were troubled in their heart. Judas had just left in order to betray Him…Jesus had just told Peter, the leader and strongest of the bunch, that he would betray Jesus three times. He told them He was about to go away to a place where they could not come.
CHORUS
It's a big big house
with lots and lots a room
A big big table
with lots and lots of food
A big big yard
where we can play football
A big big house
Its my Fathers house
What was about to happen??? What trial awaited them? A trial in which Jesus would be betrayed, taken from them and the chief of His disciples would deny Him three times?
So Jesus tells them, Let not your heart be troubled…Think about heaven.
Heart — In Jesus’ day the heart was seen as the center of human volition or will. Jesus was in affect saying, “Don’t waver in your determination.”
Instead Jesus commanded them to Believe, believe, believe and never stop believing.
This would not be easy…again...he is even then being betrayed by one of his followers and about to be denied three times by the chief of them, abandoned by the rest, and crucified by his enemies. To call for faith in these circumstances is not to utter a platitude.
The world in which we live is broken. It is not working as intended and sometimes we are tempted to waver in or determination…
he is even then being betrayed by one of his followers and about to be denied three times by the chief of them, abandoned by the rest, and crucified by his enemies. To call for faith in these circumstances is not to utter a platitude.
The original intention was that it be perfect, free from sin and free from the curse which came as the result of sin.
Morris, L. (1995). The Gospel according to John (p. 567). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
God created a world that He termed, “Very good” and it was just that. Adam and Eve lived and worked in a garden of perfection. They existed in a world which cooperated with their every move. There was no sickness, disease, decay or death. Everything was fruitful, plentiful and perfect.
That is not the world we live in and it was not the world the disciples lived in either.
Jesus knew these men were living in a broken world system and they would be tempted to discouragement because of all they were about to experience.
You and I experience the pain of the broken system as well. We experience pain, heartache, sickness, corruption, the wickedness of evil people and their schemes. We experience death. Jesus knew we would be tempted to dispare and discouragement as well.
So Jesus tells us what to do when we are seemingly overwhelmed by the circumstances the broken present world system brings to our life…choose to believe in Him and remember what He came to do….Think on Heaven.
Redemption
Redemption
Jesus came to redeem creation from sin and the curse of sin. He came to remedy everything that was broken in our life and the world around us. Because of this redemption we can be assured of a better world to come. This better world is realized in a place the Bible calls heaven.
The original intention was that it be perfect, free from sin and free from the curse which came as the result of sin.
God created a world that He termed, “Very good” and it was just that. Adam and Eve lived and worked in a garden of perfection. They existed in a world which cooperated with their every move. There was no sickness, disease, decay or death. Everything was fruitful, plentiful and perfect.
That is not the world we live in and it was not the world the disciples lived in either. But change is coming…there is a better world coming!
My Father’s House — Heaven
Let’s talk about Heaven for a while...
When we die we immediately go to be in the presence of Jesus. Jesus told the thief on the cross, “today you will be with me in Paradise.” There would be no waiting period. He was going to be immediately in the presence of Christ.
Paul told us, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
We know our spirit goes to be with the Lord the very instant it leaves our mortal bodies. This is clear in what Paul told the Thessalonians in
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
He is bringing the disembodied souls of believers with Him at the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection of their mortal bodies to be rejoined with their spirit, which at this moment reside with the Lord.
The place where believer’s souls reside right now is not the final place we often refer to as Heaven. It is heaven but not the Final Heaven. It is an intermediate heaven. A place where the souls of the righteous live in the presence of God. The final heaven is seen in
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Heaven in verse 1 is referring to the heavens above us we see each night as we go to bed…the stars and planets. The earth and the cosmos will be made new…no longer tainted with sin and the curse.
But then look at verse 2...Things change. Earth is perfected and the Holy City of Jerusalem comes to earth as does the Tabernacle and dwelling place of God.
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
having the glory of God. Her brilliance was like a very costly stone, as a stone of crystal-clear jasper.
Things change. Earth is perfect, the literal heaven comes to earth as does this Holy city of Jerusalem.
To put it another way…heaven and earth will then be in their final state…creation perfected and heaven come to earth. We will have our new, perfect, physical bodies and live forever in perfected flesh in a perfected creation.
Some have in their mind that heaven is a place where disembodied spirits cling to clouds and play harps. This is no the Biblical heaven at all. Heaven will be a real physical place with cities, countryside, mountains, snow and a host of other things.
So what Jesus is talking about in our passage today is simply this…He is going to prepare a permanent home for all those who have faith in Him. In the meantime, we live our life on earth, die a physical death, our spirit goes to be where He is until the day when we again take on our physical form and live eternally upon a new heaven and earth.
When our hearts are troubled we are to remind ourselves of these things…Remind ourselves that Jesus came to redeem our body, soul, spirit and the whole of creation. This is not the end…this is not everything. The trouble we see now is only temporary.
There is coming a day when everything will be made new and perfect. We will live in a world where creation cooperates with our work...
And work we will! We will have jobs, ways that we might participate in God’s work. Mankind was created to tend the garden of Eden…We will again tend the creation…
Spurgeon — "What engagements we may have throughout eternity we are not told, because we have enough to do to fulfill out engagements now; but assuredly we shall be honored with errands of mercy and tasks of love fitted for our heavenly being; and I doubt not it shall be one of our greatest delights while seeing the Lord's face to serve him with all our perfected powers. He will use us in the grand economy of future manifestations of his divine glory. Possibly we may be to other dispensations what the angels have been to this. Be that as it may, we shall find a part of our bliss and joy in constantly serving him who has raised us from the dead."
Work there will never be drudgery, we will never tire, we shall never be bored…All we do will be joy as we join with God in what He is doing to reveal His glory.
We will worship God forever and enjoy His presence…we will enjoy the presence of other saints as well. Every single Christian will be there. We will remember one another, our lives together…and we will enjoy fellowship together again.
We will serve, enjoy and love our God with all of our being…and we will truly love one another as ourselves. We will be living in a world that is working as intended. Jesus is preparing that world for us even now.
But it’s not for everybody
But it’s not for everybody
There is only one way to heaven. There is only one path to get there. Despite what the world wants us to believe all roads do not lead to heaven.
Jesus is the Way, truth and life...
Way — He is not a better way, or the best way, He is THE way. When it comes to relationship with God, Jesus is the only entry. There is no wiggle room in this, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Truth — Jesus is truth personified. “When we know the truth, we really understand who Jesus is; we believe it with all of our hearts; we stake our life upon it.”
Life — Supernatural, eternal life which transcends the limitations of biological creatures.
Christians quickly became know as “The Way” after the resurrection of Jesus because they preached Jesus as the one and only way to relationship with the one and true God.
Paul taught us there is only one mediator between God and humankind, the man Jesus Christ.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
The world apart from Christ goes to hell. Those who have faith in Christ for their salvation from sin go to heaven.
Share the Gospel
This is why our mission at HTBC is to love God and lead others to Him. This is why we are passionately seeking out the lost so we might tell them the way, truth and life found only in Jesus.
Who is your one? Who is the one person you are praying for, inviting to church, sharing the Gospel with? Who are you intentionally seeking out so that they might come to faith in Jesus and someday live in heaven as well.
Not everyone make it. There is a wide path which leads to destruction.
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
This blissful existence in heaven is only for those who would give up sin and rebellion against God so that they might enjoy life in Christ.
There is a judgement which happens at death…a judgement of faith…do you know Jesus? Those who do go to the intermediate heaven to await the resurrection of their body. Those who do not know Jesus go to Hades, a place of torment to await their final judgement and destination in a lake of fire.
Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Share the Gospel
Share the Gospel
This is why our mission at HTBC is to love God and lead others to Him. This is why we are passionately seeking out the lost so we might tell them the way, truth and life found only in Jesus.
Who is your one? Who is the one person you are praying for, inviting to church, sharing the Gospel with? Who are you intentionally seeking out so that they might come to faith in Jesus and someday live in heaven as well.Would you place faith in Jesus today? Would you become burdened for those around you who do not profess the faith in Jesus that you possess?
Conclusion
Conclusion
Life is hard and there are going to be many, many moments when it will seem crushing. The imperfection and pain of this world is at times overwhelming. It floods us with sorrow and pain. Jesus was very straightforward and told us there would be days like that.
“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus has overcome the world. He has redeemed it…we just haven’t seen all of the affects of that redemption just yet. But remind yourself of what He has done…remind yourself this isn’t all there is…Sin hasn’t won…Satan hasn’t won.
The tomb is empty, Jesus is in heaven preparing a place there for us…He will come again…these broken bodies will be made perfect and well…We will have perfect relationship with God and one another in a perfect world in which to enjoy…a perfect place being prepared even now for us.
Sometimes people will say this earth is not my home, I am just passing through…but the truth is this…This earth as it exists now is not my home…but someday it will be made new as will my body…and I in my new body upon that new earth will live…that will be my home…the permanent place Jesus prepares for me even now.
Let’s be encouraged…and let’s not keep the reason for our encouragement all to ourselves.
CS Lewis — If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.
Audio Adrenaline song — Pre-chorus: Come and go with me to my Father's house Come and go with me to my Father's house...CHORUS: It's a big big house with lots and lots a room A big big table with lots and lots of food A big big yard where we can play football A big big house Its my Fathers house
Audio Adrenaline song — Pre-chorus: Come and go with me to my Father's house Come and go with me to my Father's house...CHORUS: It's a big big house with lots and lots a room A big big table with lots and lots of food A big big yard where we can play football A big big house Its my Fathers house