Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven
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Misjudging Heaven
Misjudging Heaven
CS Lewis once said
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”
He was making the point that each and every one of us desire something more than this world we live in will ever be able to offer us.
No matter how much money, who we are with, where we live, or what job we have...
The great theologian Kenny Chesney once sang:
Preacher told me last Sunday morning
Son, you better start living right
You need to quit the women and whiskey
And carrying on all night
Don't you wanna hear him call your name
When you're standing at the pearly gates
I told the preacher, "Yes I do"
But I hope they don't call today
I ain't ready
“Everybody Want to Go to Heaven”
Many of us may share that same sentiment.
The idea of heaven sounds much better than the alternative, but let’s just put it off as long as possible.
If we are honest...
Heaven just doesn’t sound all that good
Or we just don’t know much about heaven
What we do know about heaven is often driven by misconceptions and faulty teaching.
Heavenly Misconceptions
Heavenly Misconceptions
(ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVEN) We become angelic beings skipping around on clouds.
I saw “All Dogs…” when I was 7 or 8 and it framed my perspective of heaven for a long time.
First time I flew on an airplane I though “so this is what heaven will be like?”
Although it would nice for a bit, it would get pretty boring jumping around on clouds and lounging around all day.
In the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” the “angel” Clarence is helping George Bailey traverse life and if he does a good job he will EARN his wings.
I love that movie, but I can’t help scream at Clarence when I watch it “YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THE GREATEST REWARD CLARENCE, WHO CARES ABOUT WINGS!!!”
The author of Hebrews spends the first 2 chapters talking about how much higher we are than the angels in God’s creation, yet here Clarence is in heaven trying to become a “full-fledged” angel.
God has a much more glorious vision for heaven than us becoming angels.
Heaven is an eternal church service.
A very common misunderstanding of Heaven within the church is that a perpetual church service where we sang praise and worship with the occasional hymn.
Heaven is presented as more of a perpetual church service where we sang praise and worship with the occasional hymn.
Heaven is presented as more of a perpetual church service where we sang praise and worship with the occasional hymn.
Even though I am sure the music in heaven is great, the thought of heaven being a church service does not get me too excited.
One of the common misconceptions about heaven that many of have is it’s connection to our world.
I want to be sensitive here because I know many people find comfort in thinking that our loved ones are around us or looking down on us.
Though there is some indication that loved ones in heaven do look down on us and are encouraging us in our faith journeys, the bible doesn’t say that our loved ones are with us or that they interact with us.
The biblical picture of heaven is not our loved one’s interacting with us on earth, but of our loved ones in a glorious place awaiting our arrival when we will be reunited in eternity.
The reality is, if our loved ones are in heaven right now the last place they would want to be is here with us, in body or in Spirit.
I hope that brings comfort and peace in your heart knowing that even though you miss them and long for their presence, they are at peace in the presence of God.
God has not been silent
God has not been silent
When we think about heaven we are often imagining a place that is not talked about in scripture, but is a product of culture, folklore, and sentimentalism.
But God has not been quiet about heaven.
Heavenly Promise Land
Heavenly Promise Land
It is a great story, but
The bible paints an incredible picture of Heaven that can spark our imagination to begin to picture the glorious place God has promised us.
Here are 5 words that reveal what our future HOME will be like.
1) RE- CREATION
1) RE- CREATION
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. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
rev 21 1-2
The book of Revelation was written by the apostle John late in the first century as is an apocalyptic letter describing the end times.
Lots of controversy, but the point is simple Jesus WINS!!
Chapter 21 tells of what will happen once Christ returns to make all things right.
The first picture John gives us of our future home is that it is a lot like the one we live in, just PERFECT...
We often think Heaven is some kind of unimaginable place that we could never describe.
But that is not the picture we get in the bible.
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.
The picture Isaiah and John are painting is of a RE-CREATED earth, where all that is broken and stained by sin is restored to it’s original glory and goodness.
Let your imagination wonder:
Think of the most beautiful place you have ever been, imagine the beauty of that same place unstained by the brokenness of our world.
Think of a time when you had a blast hanging out with a group of people. Laughing, enjoying food and fun with them. Imagine that being a daily occurence, not marred or hindered by selfishness, pride, shame, guilt, envy, strife, or anything else that keeps us from true community.
God wants us to dwell and day dream about how glorious heaven will be.
The biggest reason it is so hard for us to picture heaven is because the EVIL ONE (Satan) has perpetuated the false images of heaven throughout our culture.
As long as he can keep us from thinking about heaven, or for us to have these lame pictures of heaven, he can keep us from getting excited about it and longing for the day when we get to be there.
The Intermediate State
The Intermediate State
QUESTION YOU MAY BE ASKING: What about those who have died and will die before Christ returns?
Though we don’t know in detail what the “Intermediate State” will be like, we do know a few things:
43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
we will be with Christ in paradise...
8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Though we will be separated from our bodies, we will be with the Lord and that is much better.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
It is a place to be desired, even if it is not the final resting place.
Randy Alcorn in “Heaven” gives the analogy of flying to a new home in California by way of Dallas.
If you are telling a friend about your new home, you won’t spend much time talking about Dallas.
In the same way, though it is a great place to be, our hearts long for our final home.
2) RE- UNION
2) RE- UNION
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.
24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
I had the blessing of doing a funeral for a lady we affectionately called Ms. Lila.
I have been to a lot of funerals and have heard a lot of funeral sermons.
I led a bible study in her apartment complex for a couple of years and just a few months before she passed away she asked me a question about heaven.
A common statement, that is very much true, is “You will see them again one day, if you have trusted in Jesus for salvation.”
“Will Wendall (her deceased husband) know me when I get to heaven?”
It is true, if our loved one died knowing Christ and we also die knowing Christ we will be reunited when we get to heaven
What an awesome privilege it was to tell her that not only will Wendall know you when you get to heaven, but he will be SO excited to reunite you to Jesus, the one who created you.
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.
I told everyone at her funeral, that the moment Ms. Lila breathed her last breath in this world, she was reunited with Wendall who couldn’t wait to introduce her to Jesus in person.
rev 21:3-
Who is it for you, a grandma, a child, a parent, or friend?
Oh what a day it will be when we are reunited with the loved ones that have gone before us.
But what about the ones that do not know Jesus? Or what if you have never trusted Christ for salvation?
The hope of heavenly reunion hinges on faith in Christ, don’t delay.
The greatest reunion though is with our Lord and Savior
His dwelling place will be with us.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
we will see his face and have his name tattooed on our foreheads.
we will see his face and have his name tattooed on our foreheads.
CONNECTION, not weird.
We will need no light because “the Lord God will be our light”
No more darkness
no more fear
no more lonilness
we will be complete in Him and with Him.
9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
reve 22
He will know our needs before we even have time to think of them.
QUESTION: But what if my family member isn’t in heaven?
Jesus is enough, I know that isn’t entirely comforting now, but the reality is Jesus is enough.
3) RE- STORATION
3) RE- STORATION
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 4
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. 20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
is 65
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.
no more tears, no more death, no more cancer, no more heartache, no more mourning, no more despair, no more pain, no more conflict, no more anger, no more fear...
No more lost children, no more saying goodbye at a funeral
Close down the hospitals and funeral homes, board of the police stations, who needs them when sickness and death are gone and sin no longer leads people to hurt, steal, and destroy.
All the pain, all the suffering, all the loss and frustration this world has caused us will be brought to light and swallowed up in victory.
The same hands that were nailed to the cross will wipe away the tears from our eyes and welcome us into eternal joy.
4) RE- ASSIGN
4) RE- ASSIGN
3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.
Good news: We are going to have jobs in heaven…like really awesome, rewarding jobs.
rev 22
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them.
Work was a part of God’s original creation, sin just made it hard and unrewarding.
But the reason the false pictures of heaven are not exciting is because we were made to create, to work, and to be productive.
Imagine farming where no bug will destroy, every place you plant reaps a great harvest.
Imagine a workplace that isn’t full of back stabbing, gossip, or grumpy bosses.
Imagine a job that is eternal rewarding and fulfilling.
Heaven will not be a boring place, but a place of joy and abundance.
5) RE- INSTATE
5) RE- INSTATE
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.
rev 21
God created us to rule over creation.
Though it is not clear in the bible whom or what we will rule over, we will be reinstated as co-heirs with Christ.
17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Christianity is increasingly being looked at as meaningless and close minded.
In the not to distant future, biblical Christianity will not have a place in the public sphere as a valid and accepted belief system.
But there’s a promise we can rest in, we are destined for greatness, destined for royalty, and that is a great promise in a world that is against us.
Let the hope of the future Heaven be your joy in the present.
Let the hope of the future Heaven be your joy in the present.
Trust Jesus- receive the promise
Find rest in hope- dream about heaven
Live in light of eternity- don’t look to this world to give you what can only be found in heaven.
CS Lewis Quote: “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.”