Revealing Hidden Truth: What Does Heaven Look Like?

Introduction (5m)

What does heaven look like?

Video: Hilarious Kids Explain Heaven - 2:00

We speculate what heaven looks like

Poets:

Holy, holy, holy; all the saints adore thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be! Reginald Heber (1783-1826) Song Number 31

When with the ransomed in Glory His face I at last shall see, ?Twill be my joy through the ages To sing of his love for me. Charles H. Gabriel (1856-1932) Song Number 466

Now I’ve a hope that will surely endure After the passing of time, I have a future in Heaven for sure, There in those mansions sublime. And it’s because of that wonderful day, When at the cross I believed; Riches eternal and blessings supernal From his precious hand I received. John Willard Peterson (1921-2006) Song Number 307

Finished my work, I shall mount to the skies, Victory for me, victory for me; Comrades and kindred will shout as I rise, Victory for me, victory for me. Then saints and angels their welcomes will sing, Then in his glory I?ll see my great King, Then in loud rapture I?ll make Heaven ring; Victory for me, victory for me. William Booth (1829-1912) Song Number 713

There is a better world, they say, O so bright!  Where sin and woe are done away, O so bright! And music fills the balmy air, And angels with bright wings are there, And harps of gold and mansions fair, O so bright! 2 No clouds e’er pass along that sky, Happy land! No teardrops glisten in the eye, Happy land! They drink the gushing streams of grace, And gaze upon the Saviour’s face Whose brightness fills the holy place; Happy land! 4 And though we’re sinners every one, Jesus died! And though our crown of peace is gone, Jesus died! We may be cleansed from every stain, We may be crowned with bliss again, And in that land of Glory reign; Jesus died! John Lyth (1821-1886) Song Number 548

The Bible gives us pictures

Sense that it will be more wonderful than we can ever imagine, but we don’t know for sure.

It is a mystery.

Explanation (5m)

Jesus speaks in visions that are parables

Don’t directly answer question, What does heaven look like.

Jesus is speaking about the Kingdom of Heaven, the heavenly rule over all things.

There’s a difference, but not a huge one. Kingdom of heaven is not a spiritual reality beyond this world, but a spiritual reality that’s breaking into this world.

When we see glimpses in this life of the Kingdom of Heaven at work, this new reality, this new nearness of God in daily life, then we catch a glimpse of what heaven looks like:

We will seek Your face Almighty God Turn and pray for You to heal our land Father let revival start in us Then every heart will know Your kingdom come Lifting up the Name of the Lord In power and in unity We will see the nations turn Touching heaven changing earth

Reuben Morgan

Heaven is capable of phenomenal growth

Matthew 13:31–32 NLT

Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”

Mustard seed - as tiny as end of pin. But grows into largest of garden plants - sizeable bush around 16ft tall.

Huge growth!

To crowd listening, birds coming to roost in branches significant.

OT - used as a picture of the Gentiles.

Hint: Remarkable growth and spread beyond Jewish people to provide a home for everyone who believes in him.

Another positive symbol of growth

Matthew 13:33 NLT

Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

This parable also stresses small beginnings that lead to great growth.

Whilst the seed grows, yeast permeates the dough and transforms it into bread. A minor ingredient, but it permeates the whole loaf.

The Kingdom of Heaven may have had humble beginnings, but will grow to have a great impact on the world.

Imagine you were one of the first people to hear Matthew’s words.

30-40 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Seen remarkable things: 1000s of people come to faith in Jesus.

Gospel spread to regions of the world you didn’t even know existed.

Hundreds of towns throughout Roman Empire that has a house church.

Gospel has certainly spread. Kingdom of Heaven has certainly grown.

But subtle: except for Pentecost, it has mainly been a convert here and a household there.

It still seems as if Caesar is Lord, not Jesus Christ.

You wonder: Is Jesus going to win? Rome is winning. We might be growing, but they are fully grown.

Then you hear Jesus’ words from Matthew. About a tiny seed that grows into a tree and yeast that and you realise again that one day, heaven will become the largest reality of all.

Heaven is of great value to us

Matthew 13:44–46 NLT

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field. “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

Kingdom of Heaven is of incalculable value.

It is worth any sacrifice we might make.

And it will cost all we have.

In Jesus’ day no banks, no safety deposit boxes. So people often buried treasure in the ground. Sometimes, person would die before treasure retrieved. Law was that whoever owned the land owned the treasure in it.

Pearls highly valued in ancient world. More highly than gold. So finding a pearl of immense value, no wonder he sold all he had.

People find the Kingdom of Heaven in different ways. Some will come upon it almost by accident, like the man who discovered the treasure buried in the field. Some find it after a long and patient search, like the pearl merchant.

But however we discover it, it is immensely worthwhile. Treasure. A beautiful pearl. Worth any sacrifice.

The Kingdom of Heaven is of such great value that it is worth relinquishing everything you have to enter into it.

Application (5m)

Heaven remains a mystery, but if we want to know what it looks like then we have a choice to make

Matthew 13:47–51 NLT

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Do you understand all these things?” “Yes,” they said, “we do.”

Jesus says we must accept the salvation he offers us, and live a life of holiness if we want to find out what heaven looks like.

We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ.

The Salvation Army’s 9th Article of Faith

I will be responsive to the Holy Spirit's work and obedient to His leading in my life, growing in grace through worship, prayer, service and the reading of the Bible. I will make the values of the Kingdom of God and not the values of the world the standard for my life.

The Salvation Army Soldier’s Covenant

There are no shortcuts to heaven. We must make the choice between being good and real or bad and unreal.

Not that we are expected to be perfect and pure, but Jesus makes it clear that one day the final separation between the righteous and the wicked will take place.

Only the righteous will get to see what heaven looks like.

Philippians 3:8 NLT

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

I want to follow Christ like Paul. Whether it means persecution or poverty, I want to know one day what heaven looks like.

Despite its cost, heaven is worth it.

What will you do/what will you sacrifice in order to find out what heaven really looks like?

Sacrifice your self-will - what you want to do - for what the HS wants you to do.

Let him lead you where he wants you to go, rather than insisting on going your own way.

Attending worship, spending significant time in personal and corporate prayer, serving God and others in the Army and elsewhere, studying the Bible - maybe even joining one of those cell groups! - to ensure you are growing in grace and ensuring the values of the Kingdom of Heaven are the standard for your life.

The cost of discipleship is more than worth it!

Will you ensure that like Colonel Olive Holbrook you can say like v.4:

Next Steps

SB 164 - Deep were the scarlet stains of sin

Deep were the scarlet stains of sin, Strong were the bonds of fault within; But now I stand both pure and free, The blood of Jesus cleanses me. 2 Strong are the foes that round me creep, Constant the vigil I must keep; But from a secret armoury The grace of Jesus strengthens me. 3 What though the treacherous road may wind, Faith in my heart assures my mind; E?en when his face I do not see, The hand of Jesus reaches me. 4 This is the lamp to pilgrim given, This is my passport into Heaven, Portent of immortality, That God, through Jesus, dwells in me. Olive Holbrook (1895-1986) © The General of The Salvation Army. Used By Permission. CCL Licence No. 135015 Copied from The Song Book of The Salvation Army Song Number 164