Heaven (2)

One day a 1st grade teacher decided she would give her students an easy art project for an extra grade. She told the students that she wanted them to draw their home. She said you could draw what it looks like, or even what is found in your home. Whatever you want. The students quickly got up and got some paper and colors and most of them began to start drawing immediately except little Johnny. He just kind of sat there staring off into space. The teacher thought at first he was just trying to figure out what he was going to draw but after a few minutes he was still staring off into space. Finally the teacher goes over to Johnny and ask why he hasn’t drawn anything. Johnny replied I have never really thought about what my home looks like. The teacher was slightly puzzled at his response but she told him he needed to hurry because he was going to run out of time. Johnny began to get to work on his drawing and man he was working hard. he worked with great seriousness and he was using every color imaginable. then he stopped and got another paper and again he gets to work and he is coloring hot and heavy and then he goes and gets another paper and by that point. class was about to end and she asked the kids to turn in their papers. Johnny raised his hand and begged her to let him take it home and finish. The teacher noticed that he obviously cared about the assignment very much and he had worked very hard so she decided to let him finish at home. The next day the boy comes home and he has several drawings with him. The teacher gathers the class and says its time to share your drawing with the class. Johnny asked if he could go last and the teacher said certainly. One by one the children get up and present their drawings. some draw triangle houses, some draw their back yard some draw their room, some even draw their family. By the time it gets to Johnny you could tell he wasn’t too happy. It was almost as if he was sad. The teacher replied whats wrong Johnny. Johnny said I thought you said draw your home. well I did. Well my home doesn’t look like anything like these guys. the teacher replied that's OK everyone is different. the boy is still looking confused so she ask Johnny to show his drawing. before Johnny shows the class he tells the class that he had a hard time drawing his home since he has never seen it. I did my best with what I could remember about it. I have several pictures of my home I want to share. the first one was the hardest. He held the picture up and there was the this huge gate made of pearl and streets of gold with jewels all around and a giant tree was in the middle. then Johnny showed the next picture and it was a huge house with more rooms than anyone could count. Then he showed them the 3rd picture it was just yellow and very bright. The boy explained the 3rd one and he said God is light and so i thought about what light looks like and if God is light and there is no darkness in Him it all then it must be very bright in my home. blinding light that we cant hardly see. Rev. 22:4-5 “they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.” There will be no pain or suffering their. That’s what my home looks like and I want to thank my teacher fro giving us this assignment it really helped me to think about home and I know I want to get there. I don’t k now the rest of you but I’d rather have streets of gold and jewels everywhere than the homes you drew.

Little Johnny was forced to think about home. How often do we think about home? We sing This world is not my home but do we live like it. Do we really view Heaven as our home. Do our lives reflect that? store up treasures in heaven or on earth. do we spend our time on spiritual things or heavenly things? Do we set our minds on things above. I hate being away from home for very long I was look forward no matter how fun and great the trip is I look forward to home. there was a song that my quartet used to sing. It was called Beulah land

I'm kind of homesick for a country To which I've never been before. No sad goodbyes will there be spoken For time won't matter anymore.

Beulah Land (Beulah Land) I'm longing for you (I'm longing for you) And some day (And some day) on thee I'll stand (Someday we will stand) There my home (There my home) shall be eternal (Eternal) Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land

I'm looking now, just across the river To where my faith, shall end in sight (Shall end in sight) There's just a few more days to labor. Then I will take my heavenly flight.

Beulah Land (Beulah Land) I'm longing for you (I'm longing for you) And some day (And some day) on thee I'll stand (Someday we will stand) There my home (There my home) shall be eternal Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land Beulah Land, oh it's Beulah Land Oh Beulah Land, sweet Beulah Land

in it it says I’m kind of homesick I’m longing for you. Do we long for heaven? I think Paul was homesick because he longed to be with the one who dwells there and that is God

Philippians 1:21–24 NASB95

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

he was homesick and longed to be in heaven with Jesus. What about you this morning? people of faith keep heaven in view.

Hebrews 11:13–16 NASB95

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

Are you seeking a country of your own a heavenly country? God has prepared a city for you but you can only get there through Jesus. Jesus is the door. He is the only way in. You must come to Jesus through belief, confession, repentance and baptism. and then you have to live in faith seeking, thinking, desiring that heavenly country. And I want you to notice what the Hebrew writer says if you seek and think and desire that heavenly home God is not ashamed to be called their God; and he has prepared a city for them. For you. We would all do well to think more about our home.

A penny for your thoughts, I said to the old man As he sat there on the park bench, all alone With silver hair, and wrinkled brow, eyes gleamin' He smiled and said, "Just thinkin' 'bout my home" I sat down and we shared some laughs together And the cinema of remembrence, it did roam We talked about life's gains and its losses But mostly, he just talked about his home He said, "I'm thinkin' 'bout home" Thinkin' 'bout going home Dreamin' 'bout leavin' here, ready to be movin' on It won't be long before the sun goes down and I'll be gone But until then, I'll be thinkin' 'bout home I said, "Tell me old man, where's your home and What's it like? He said, "Oh, ain't nothin' 'round here that compares You see, a King had it built and gave the deed to me And all my family's already there