Imagine

Joke

There was an evangelist in town for a revival. He was asked by one of the families in the church if he would come and have dinner with them one evening during the meetings. He obliged. Dinner went very well. But after the evangelist was gone, the hostess of the evening told her husband that she thought the evangelist had stolen her good knife. She couldn’t find it anywhere. But she decided to not say anything.

A year later, the evengelist was asked back for another revival series of meetings. Once again, the same couple had him over for dinner. But this time, the curiosity was killing the hostess, so she brought up the elephant in the room.

“Last year when you were here and ate dinner with us, I came up missing my favorite knife and I jsut have to ask, did you take the knife?”

“Oh no,” the evangelist replied. “It’s been here all along. I hid it in your Bible.” 

Introduction:

Explanation:

Imagine… What comes to your mind when you hear that word? For some, it might be dreaming of a better job or vacation. For others, it’s wondering what Heaven will be like. And for some of you with music playing in your heads—it’s The Beatles. 😄

But unlike the encouragement we got from John, George, Paul, and Ringo, to imagine that it doesn’t exist, have you ever truly tried to imagine Heaven? The joy? The glory? The reality?

Scripture says this in:

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

“That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.’”

It doesn’t say no mind has tried—just that no mind has succeeded. That tells us something huge: What’s coming is better than anything we can dream up. The complexities of the human mind can’t even attain that level of creativity.

Application:

We may not be able to picture it fully, but we can prepare for it. Like an actor rehearses before the curtain rises—we’re in rehearsal now for what we will do then.

Illustration:

Have you ever walked through IKEA with your spouse imagining your dream kitchen… but then got home and remembered you’re still living with 1997 countertops and a drawer that bites your fingers? 😅 Earth is the showroom—Heaven is the real thing!

Point 1: There Is a Real Place Beyond What We Can Imagine

Scripture: Hebrews 8:1–2

“We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. There He ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle…”

Explanation:

Heaven is not symbolic. It’s not a state of mind. It’s a real place, with structure, order, and divine purpose. Jesus didn’t rise and go into an imaginary realm—He entered a real Tabernacle in Heaven.

Application:

When this world feels heavy, remember: This isn’t the end. We’re not just holding on—we’re being held, and we’re heading home. Casting Crowns had a song that said much that same thing.

Illustration:

Think of a movie set that looks like a grand castle, but the walls are cardboard and the throne is plastic. Now imagine the real castle that inspired it—solid, glorious, eternal. The Tabernacle on earth was the movie set; Heaven is the real thing.

Point 2: The Tabernacle Was a Copy—Heaven Is the Reality

Scripture: Hebrews 8:5

“They (WE - priests; who we really are) serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven.”

Explanation:

God gave Moses a divine blueprint—not to impress, but to prepare. The Tabernacle was a heavenly shadow on earth. A visual aid. A holy hint, if you will.

Application:

Studying the Tabernacle isn’t about Old Testament nostalgia—it’s about Heavenly prep! Every detail pointed to something eternal. And if we only look…and IMAGINE…, we can peer through a window in the spiritual realm to catch a peek of what is happening in Heaven.

Illustration:

Remember those “Magic Eye” books? You’d stare and stare at those weird patterns until a 3D image popped out? That’s the Tabernacle—it looks like ritual until you train your eyes to see the reality behind it.

Point 3: Five Things from the Tabernacle That Reveal Heaven’s Activity

1. Brazen Laver – Living In the Voice of God

Scripture: Ephesians 5:26

“Cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…”

Explanation:

The priests washed before serving. It symbolized preparation, cleansing, and readiness. In Heaven, we won’t just hear about God—we’ll hear from Him, perfectly.

Application:

You don’t have to wait. Let the Word wash over you daily. Hearing God’s voice now prepares your spirit for eternity.

Illustration:

It’s like trying to get GPS directions in a tunnel—you might catch half the words. The walls of this earthly existence in a sinful nature sometimes block the signal. But one day, you’ll be walking side by side with the One who wrote the map. No interference. No static. No guessing.

2. Table of Shewbread – Living In Worship Face to Face

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:12

“Now we see but a poor reflection… then we shall see face to face.”

Explanation:

The bread on the table represented God’s presence and fellowship. It was always before Him. In Heaven, we don’t just get bread—we get Jesus, the Bread of Life, at the table.

Application:

Practice presence. Worship isn’t just songs—it’s setting your heart to meet with Him. Our worship comes from the overflow of what He has poured into us through the week. That’s what we say that worship isn’t about us; that we don’t come here to be blessed, but to bless Him. And if you haven’t met Him at the Laver to be washed in the water of the Word, your attempt at worship is but a bucket drawn from an empty well. The Laver was OUTSIDE THE TENT. If you think that the Message, this thing I’m doing now, is the highlight of the service, you couldn’t be more wrong. First, Jesus is the sole highlight. But if we are blessed at all, the blessing comes from the joy of telling Jesus what He means to you; telling him His worth to you; or ascribing to Him His “worth-ship” (that’s where we get the word “worship”). One day, you’ll know what REAL face-to-face feels like. No imagination necessary.

Illustration:

Remember Zoom calls during the pandemic? You saw your family, but it wasn’t the same as hugging them. Heaven is the hug after the long call.

⸻

3. Golden Lampstand – Living Out Eternal Purpose

Explanation:

The lampstand gave light, symbolizing the Holy Spirit’s guidance. In Heaven, we’ll perfectly do what we were created for—no more guessing or second-guessing. This present rehearsal will give way to eternal perfection. Scripture says this,

Matthew 16:19 NLT

“And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven."

Let me say it another way so you see what this verse is saying, “Whatever you rehearse binding on earth, you will then perfectly bind in Heaven. And whatever you rehearse loosing on earth, you will then perfectly loose in Heaven.”

Application:

Ask God daily: “What eternal purpose can I live out now?” Start walking it out even in small ways. Start rehearsing. The concert of eternity is quickly approaching. 

Illustration:

Ever see a kid discover they’re good at something? Their eyes light up. That’s you in Heaven—fully alive in the thing you were made for. Then the hindsight of this life will make perfect sense as you step into what you will do for eternity. “I just want to see Jesus and hear Him say ‘well done,’” you say. If you want to hear that, you need to ask yourself how many disciples you will have made. 

4. Altar of Incense – Living Among Eternal Treasures

Scripture: Matthew 6:20

“Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…”

Explanation:

Incense symbolized prayer. In Heaven, your faith, tears, and worship have been collected and will be revealed as eternal treasures. Your prayers are also being collected and make an appearance in Revelation.

Revelation 5:5-7 NLT (OPTIONAL)

But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals." [6] Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. [7] He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.

Revelation 5:8 NLT

And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people.

Revelation 8:4 NLT

The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God's holy people, ascended up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.

Application:

Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop believing. You’re not talking into thin air—you’re investing in eternity.

Illustration:

It’s like putting money in a retirement account as a teenager. It feels small now, but one day, the interest compounds and the reward is huge.

5. Holy of Holies – Living in God’s Full Glory

Scripture: Revelation 21:23

“The glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.”

Explanation:

Behind the veil was the full glory of God. The PRESENCE! That veil has been torn. One day, we’ll live—not just visit—in His presence.

Application:

Let your life now reflect the glory you’ll live in then. Make decisions in light of His light.

Illustration:

Imagine a man who inherits an old house from his grandfather. On the surface, the house looks ordinary—dusty furniture, creaky floors, dim lighting. He moves in and lives there for years, never thinking much of it.

One day, a storm knocks out the power, and in the darkness, he lights an old oil lamp. As the soft glow spreads across the wall, he notices something strange—the wallpaper is shimmering. Curious, he begins peeling it back. Behind the faded paper, he discovers intricate gold inlay etched into the very walls—an old technique his grandfather had commissioned, now forgotten over time.

He realizes: all these years, he had been living surrounded by treasure, by beauty—by glory—but never saw it. It had always been there, hidden beneath the surface.

Connection to Luke 17:20–21

Jesus told the Pharisees, “The Kingdom of God is already among you.” They were looking for fireworks, signs in the sky, a political revolution. But God’s glory was standing right in front of them—in Jesus—and they didn’t see it.

Too often, we’re like that man in the house—waiting for a dramatic experience, a visible change, something external. But God’s glory isn’t only something you go to—it’s something you carry. If you’ve received Christ, the Kingdom isn’t just “out there.” It’s “in here.” You’re already living in the atmosphere of Heaven, even if you don’t always feel it.

Point 4: Our Role As Priests Prepares Us for Heaven

Scripture: Leviticus 8–10; Numbers 3–4

The Levites had three roles—and we share them.

1. Steward the Tabernacle

Explanation:

The Levites cared for the sanctuary—every pole, curtain, and vessel. In Heaven, we’ll steward God’s dwelling forever.

Application:

Start now. Take care of what God’s given—your time, your talent, your home, your worship.

Illustration:

Ever loan your car to someone and they bring it back with fries in the seat and the gas on E? God’s letting you drive His stuff—treat it like it’s His. Because it is.

2. Minister to the Lord

Explanation:

The Levites didn’t just serve people—they ministered to God. In Heaven, we will worship with no distractions.

Application:

Set time just to be with God—no list, no requests. Just adoration.

Illustration:

It’s like your kid crawling into your lap—not to ask for candy, but just to say, “I love you.” That’s ministry to the Lord.

3. Bless the People

Explanation:

Priests were conduits of blessing. In Heaven, we’ll reflect His goodness continually.

Application:

Bless with your words today. It’s more than a casserole. It is speaking destiny—God’s destiny; His call—over others. Your credentials are found in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Illustration:

A kind word is like sunscreen—it doesn’t change the sun, but it changes how people feel the heat. Be someone’s screen today.

Closing: Imagine…

So, can we imagine what is going on in this place God is preparing for those who love Him?

A more real than this world.worship

A deeper than we’ve ever known.relationship

A more fulfilling than we’ve ever imagined.purpose

A more uncontainable than we’ve ever experienced.joy

A finally sustainable from the curse in our current existence.freedom

We may not fully see it now, but we’ve been given a glimpse. We’ve walked through the Tabernacle—the copy. But one day, we’ll walk into the Tabernacle of Heaven—the reality.

Let’s end where we started:

1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Let’s rehearse well… because the curtain is about to rise. For now, we can only imagine, but soon we won’t have to imagine anymore. 

[Cue Video: “I Can Only Imagine” by MercyMe]