heavenly home

open to 2 Corinthians 5 where we have been learning from the Apostle Paul about power in weakness

paul has shared that this particular time was a difficult season of his life

some scholars would say it is the most difficult season of his life

and yet in the middle of it Paul will write that he's always of good courage

2 Corinthians 5:6 NASB95

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—

he always stays encouraged

and this really becomes then instructive for us

because the issue for all of us is

as we face difficulties in life as we come upon challenges

and oftentimes challenges aren't just for a day

or even for a week

but they can go on and on

the question is how do you and I stay encouraged

Paul tells us there are three things that encourage him

1. he's encouraged when he thinks about the gospel

and the privilege of being a minister of the gospel

when he thinks about how much God loves him

of what God did for him

not only that but now God has given him the opportunity to be an ambassador for Christ

an ambassador for the king of kings

when Paul thinks about that Paul says

I don't lose heart

he stays encouraged

we also saw last week that

2 Paul stays encouraged as he spends time in the presence of the Lord

in verse 16 we read this

2 Corinthians 4:16 NASB95

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

as he's spending time in the presence of God

it is strengthening him in a way that is giving him

the grace

the energy

and the courage

to keep on going

never underestimate

never depreciate the value of taking time to be in the presence of the Lord

because spiritual strength will make you physically strong

it'll give you a heart to keep on going

to fight another day

3 Paul says this that

he gains courage as he thinks about heaven

2 Corinthians 4:18 NASB95

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

in Chapter five and verses 1 through 10

he explains what that means to fix our eyes on what is unseen

previous generations of believers used to talk a lot about heaven

but as Christians living in the postmodern world

there is not as much talk about heaven anymore

maybe it's because we have somewhat tamed the elements of life

because of the advances in medicine

and the advances of technology

by and large we live a much more comfortable life than people have had for millennia before us

in fact it's just really been in the last hundred years that life has appreciably changed for Humanity

and that's not saying it's changed everywhere

but it's changed in such substantial ways that people are much more comfortable

and consequently more caught up in this life

than in the life to come

I think it is a product of

as we live in a materialistic society

the tendency is for human beings to get caught up in the material things

and so we don't think as much of the spiritual things

so what happens for most people

you hang on this life as long as you can

you not only hang on to this life

but you hang on to this life for dear life

if you watch

a lot of people forget that this life is temporary

forget that this life will soon be passed

and so for most people

heaven is the place that you kind of go to

when you can't do what you really want to do

which is to live in this life

which is an absolutely unchristian way of thinking

because in Christianity we understand that we're living this life

to live again

that this life is short

that this life is passing

that this life is fading

and that the life yet to come is where the actions really matter

that's why when we come to this passage

it's such a great reminder for us

last time we looked at verses 1 - 5

and we talked about heaven

what will be what will we be like

we talked about the body that we're going to have

a new body

and an awesome body and

now this morning I want to talk to you about heaven

what will it be like

so we know what we're going to be like

now what will heaven itself be like

2 Corinthians 5:6–7 NASB95

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight—

would you notice that there's a bit of melancholy in the statement

that while we're in this body

we're away from the Lord

Paul views life in this physical world as a as a circumstance

that is not to be preferred

you give him his choice

he wants to be in heaven

he understands that he wants to be faithful to the Lord

that God has given him an assignment

that God has him on this earth for a purpose

but as soon as this purpose is over, he’ll get the prize

and you can read about it in Philippians

Philippians 1:21–26 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. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

that's the Christian perspective

that when a person passes from this life

they gain

they win

they've gotten what life is really all about

that's what it means to fix our eyes on what is unseen

for we walk by faith not by sight

we're talking about a new body

we're talking about a new place

and we can't see it with our physical eyes

but it is real nonetheless

how do we know ?

we accept it on the basis of faith

as we read the Word of God

we're not walking by what we can see

it doesn't take faith to do

that we're walking about

what we can't see well

what God has revealed to us

we walk by faith not by sight

Indiana Jones

yes we're of good courage

and we would rather be away

would you rather be in heaven

no no I'm not trying to be morbid here

and I'm not asking anybody to accelerate their departure

but I am saying this then

when our life is complete

the psalmist says this

you've numbered my days

before I ever lived the one

God has counted them out

so he has a plan

and we want to make the most of every opportunity while we're in this life

but we're looking forward to the next life

Paul says we'd rather be away from the body

that means I'm going to die someday

that's away from the body

and in that moment

at home with the Lord

heaven then is being at home with Jesus

so if heaven is being at home with the Lord

then what will heaven be like

eventually all of us deal with death

the death of family, friends

oftentimes what happens is there are people who are trying to give comfort

but they're saying things in their desire to give comfort

they're saying things that are terribly unbiblical

and if we don't give the truth

ultimately that's no comfort at all

right

so before we talk about what heaven is like

I should dispel some myths about what heaven is not

1 every time you hear a bell ring an angel gets its wings

2 when a child dies people will say “well I guess God needed another angel”

Psalm 8:5 NASB95

Yet You have made him a little lower than God,

1 Corinthians 6:3 NASB95

Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?

3 heaven is a place where people sit on clouds and play harps

4 you won't know if you make it into heaven until you get there

jk: that st. Peter, the keeper of the keys of the kingdom, is at the gate

and you're going to show up at the gate

and then Peter is going to tell you whether or not you get to come in

maybe you heard the story of the guy who came to the pearly gates

and Peter was there and Peter greeted him and asked him if he had done anything good

that would merit being allowed

to get into heaven

and the man said

well I can think of one thing o

ne time there was this gang of Hells Angels

and they were harassing this young woman

so I stepped in

I walked over to where their motorcycles

were I pushed some on the ground

I turned and walked over to the one that I thought was the leader of the gang

I grabbed his nose ring

I pulled it out

and I said you leave her alone

or you're gonna have to answer to me

and Peter said

wow that's impressive

when did that happen

the guy said about a minute ago

5 you get to heaven by being a good person

that's so sad to think that anybody would think that

through their own good works

which could never be sustained

that any one of us could somehow accomplish

what it took God pre-planning

through the ages for

and giving the most precious gift of all

his son Jesus Christ

who came and lived a righteous, pure, sinless life, for us

and then took our place on the cross for our sin

and God punished him for our sin

to think that somehow

kind deeds

or a nice word

or good feelings

could make up for that

such is a tragedy

to think that somehow people would believe that that they could earn their way to heaven

the fact of the matter is

that when you and I put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

he saves us

not because of good works we have done

but because he paid the price for us

and in that moment

when we give our our heart to him

and we put our faith in Him

the Bible says our name is written down in the Lamb’s book of life

and a place is reserved for us in heaven

—————————

so what is heaven like

God has promised us heaven

he's told us about heaven to strengthen us

and to encourage us as we see in the life of the Apostle Paul

but we can't rejoice in a place that we don't know anything about

so God has told us a little bit about heaven

to cause us to anticipate what it will mean to spend eternity with him in that place of heaven

so I'd like you to hold your place and second Corinthians 5 and go with me if you would to Revelation 21

the last book of the Bible

chapter 21 the second to the last chapter

the word revelation is the Greek word apocalypsis

it means uncovering/ unveiling

this is the unveiling of Jesus

this is the revelation of Jesus

the disclosing of Jesus

as you read through this book

and John the Apostle

who's now an old man

has had some glorious visions

he's seen the resurrected and glorified Christ

he's seen the throne room in heaven

with Myriad's of angels gathered around the throne worshiping God

he's seen the company of the redeemed

he's seen the rapture and the tribulation

he's seen the Millennial Kingdom and the final judgment

and when you come to Revelation 21

human history has come to a close

and the Lord shows John in one final grand vision

eternity in heaven itself

in fact you could kind of look at Revelation 21 and 22 as as a travel brochure

if you go to a travel agent they've got that wall with all those brochures

and there's pictures

and all of them designed to help you imagine what its gonna be like when you go to that place

you've always dreamed of visiting

but have you never yet experienced

and you imagine yourself being there

and you dream about it

that's what revelation 21 and 22 is

and I might imagine what its gonna be like

that you and I might might anticipate

the Wonder

and the glory

and the awesomeness of heaven

and in Rev 21 John gives us five facts about heaven

1 In heaven everything is new

Revelation 21:1 NASB95

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away,

uncreated

the Bible says God holds everything together

in that moment he's going to let go of it

it'll be destroyed by fire

it will be burned up

it'll roll up like a scroll

it's gone

everything gone

your house is gone

your bank accounts gone

Detroit's gone

the rocky mountains are gone

the Andes and the Alps are gone

the oceans gone

creation gone

it's as if God is saying

you thought that was something

wait till you see this

he says I saw a new heaven and a new earth

for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away

and then he says this

and the sea was no more

no more sea

it's the first of seven things that he tells us

in those first few verses

that will not be in heaven

it's an indicator really when he says there's no sea

that we're talking about a totally different existence

right down to the basic elements

heavens different

it's not like this earth

we live in a watery world

3/4 of this globe is covered in water

90% of your blood is water

in fact 65% of your flesh is water

plants and animals are mostly water

it's a watery world

and when John is saying

I didn't see a sea any longer

he's telling us this is an absolutely different world

it's not only different in the way it's made up

but it's different in the things you would feel in it and about it

to the ancients, the sea was mysterious

the sea was foreboding

the sea represented evil and darkness and uncertainty

and so when John says there's no more sea

what he's saying is

there's nothing to be afraid of

and there's nothing to be anxious about

and there's no evil

and there's no foreboding

this is a place of perfect peace

totally different place

a new place

verse 2

Revelation 21:2 NASB95

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 saw the holy city

it's holy

it's good

it's pure

it's a righteous place

there won't ever be any sin in heaven

so there will never be anything wrong in heaven

in heaven it's gonna be good news all the time

always

never a day with bad news

notice it says this I saw the holy city of New Jerusalem coming down from heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband

this is really just such a cool statement

because you know it's coming down from God

he's created it

who wouldn't want something God has created

the Bible tells us this that in Colossians 1

Colossians 1:15–17 NASB95

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Jesus created the earth

Genesis 1 tells us that he did it in 6 days

and if he's been working on the earth

he worked on it for 6 days

and he says in John 14

I go and prepare a place for you

John 14:3 NASB95

“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

and he's been preparing heaven for 2,000 years

you better believe it is going to be absolutely amazing

and what he does is

he says it's like a bride prepared for her husband

I don't know about you, I can relate to that

I will you know I was thinking as I was studying this week I was thinking back to 2011, this very week

Mount Clemmons Michigan

standing at the front in the altar area next to my Father

and the doors at the back of the sanctuary opened

and there came the most beautiful woman in the world

Jeslyn walking down that aisle

I was like wow

this is awesome

This is happening

that's how it's going to be in heaven when you see it

you're going to be like that is unbelievable

For years after we got married

we would randomly look at each other

and say, “can you believe we are married?”

That we get to share a bed?

That we get to share a life together

I mean that's a picture God is creating

and you and I

when we see it

your first thought when you get to heaven

is going to be this

it is unbelievable

this is amazing

so can I just say to you

don't don't believe for a minute that it's only just pretty

everything about heaven

the beauty will be over-the-top

but everything about heaven is going to be more amazing than you can imagine

if you think heavens gonna be a boring place

if you think a loving God is going to disappoint us

if you think we're going to be standing around with our hands in our pockets

or sitting on a cloud playing a harp

then you have absolutely underestimated

the kindness

and ingenuity

and creativity

of our amazing God

heaven is going to be amazing

but one of the things that scripture points out here

I think this is so interesting

is it's gonna be new

one of the great joys in life

and I think it's a part of being made in the image of God

it's something about God and who he is as a person

and how he has made us in His image

that we like new things

that's universal to the human condition

we like new things

I mean you get a new phone

it really doesn't do anything different to last phone

maybe it's slightly faster

or maybe it's maybe it's got a little better screen

a little bigger

But it’s new

it's fun to get something that's new

you get a new pair of shoes

or you get something that's new to you

there's something in our humanity that loves new

and here's one of the things God describes to us about heaven

watch this in verse 5 of Revelation 21:5

Revelation 21:5 NASB95

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.”

now whenever you see the word behold

whenever you're reading your Bible

you stop

and what that's like is

that's like saying

now check this out

can you believe this

this is like over-the-top amazing

behold I am making all things new

would you notice it's not

I made all things new

it's I am making all things new

you know what this tells us about heaven

that one of the great joys of heaven is that

everything's going to continually be being made new

that through eternity we are going to witness and marvel

at the creative genius

and capacity

and power

and imagination

of a God who

even after we've been there ten thousand years

and eons beyond

that he's still doing things that are like new

new revelations of him

his purpose

his person

his work

his creative capacity

his genius

constantly always being new

amazingly all the time

in heaven everything's new

continually, constantly

nothing ever gets old

and I mean everything about heaven

so as you're watching that

as you're experiencing that

as you're as you're seeing what God is doing

you know you're running down to the banquet hall

and somebody's coming out

you're saying

hey what are they having today

they're like uh I don't know it's really awesome

it's new

I've never had that before

can you imagine just one new experience after another in heaven

everything's new

2 In heaven God is near

Revelation 21:3 NASB95

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,

verse 3 says and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying

this is the last time there's a loud voice

but anytime you're reading revelation

just the key is anytime there's a loud voice

it signals something significant

something worth paying attention to

and here there's a loud voice saying

behold

again it's stop, wait, time out

check it out

get a lot of this

the dwelling place of God is with men

and he will dwell with them

the dwelling of God is with man

the idea simply is this

that God is no longer distant

God is is no longer behind the veil

no longer hidden

no longer a gap between you and God

there are times in your in your walk with God

even when you're walking close to God

were there are things you don't understand

and there's things you're trying to figure out

and there's there's seasons and times where God can feel a bit distant

not in heaven, in heaven God is near

he is near in all of his undiminished glory

this the highest joy in heaven

its not you being in that place

though that will be a huge joy

and it's not you seeing people that you miss

though that will be a huge joy

the highest joy in heaven will be

being with God in person

close to him and enjoying and experiencing his power

in his presence

and his personality

and the unveiling of that

and the revealing of that

and watching his power at work

and experiencing his peace

you read that verse in its with man

verse 3 it says

and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying behold the dwelling place of God is with men

among men

and he will dwell with them

and they will be his people

did you catch that everybody

together

as one without distinction

without racial division

without class distinction

no one will be saying

well you know I'm from China

or I'm the US

or I'm from Germany

or I'm from Egypt

nobody will be doing that

no one will be saying I'm from Michigan

or I'm from Missouri

or I'm for the Lions

I'm not saying there's not a team you might say you're for in heaven

but no division verse there

and God Himself will be with them as their God

what that’s saying is

we'll be able to sit with him face to face

we'll be able to talk with him

and I don't know about you

but there are a lot of questions that I want to ask

but you can go first

because we'll have all eternity

but I want to ask him what it was like to leave the glory of heaven

and I want to know what it was like to grow up in Nazareth

and what exactly was happening on the cross

and then there are questions about my life

and God is going to converse with us

and we're going to be with him

and he's going to answer every single question

and you're gonna be amazed at his wisdom

and you're gonna say you do all things well

3 In heaven suffering is no more

up to this point John's been telling us what's in heaven

but now he focuses on what's not in heaven

look at it in verse four

Revelation 21:4 NASB95

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.”

would you notice who wiped away the tears

not angels

not other believers

God will

Jesus himself will lift a nail-pierced hand to your cheek

and wipe away your tears

tears stand for the pain

and the sorrow

and the abuse

and the disappointment

and the shattered dreams of this life

gone

wiped away in a moment

to put that behind

and he'll say

no, there won't be any more of that here

the only tears in heaven will be tears of joy

which would be really great for us guys

because if you see somebody crying

you'll be able to say

you're crying because you're happy aren't you

verse four it says and death shall be no more

neither shall there be mourning

or crying

or pain any more

for the former things have passed away

no goodbyes

no death

no age

no older

no younger

no funerals

no caskets

no tragedies

no crying

no more pain

there won't be anything to be unhappy about

no strife

no conflict

no pride

no feelings

no wheelchairs

no tests

no surgeries

no $3k root canals

no doctors

no dentists

here's a little tip, “have a nice day” will be a really dumb thing to say in heaven

people will look at you

and say you're new aren't you

this is heaven

and sufferings no more

4 In heaven satisfaction will never end

Revelation 21:6 NASB95

Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

when he says it's done, it's done

this is the end of redemptive history

this is that moment that Paul talks about in 1st Corinthians 15

when God becomes all in all

he says

and he said to me it's done I am the Alpha and the Omega

I am A to Z

the first letter of the Greek alphabet

the last letter of the Greek alphabet

and everything in between

I'm the beginning and I am the end

to him who is thirsty

I will give from the spring of water of life

without payment

you say “what's that mean”

absolute satisfaction

in heaven, anything or everything that you could righteously desire

will be yours

immediately and abundantly

in heaven you only want right things

so you'll have them

people at times will say

what will we do in heaven

will I be able to do my hobby in heaven

if you need or desire that

it'll be there for you

people ask will my pets be there in heaven

and the answer to that is

dogs yes

cats No

in heaven you will not be missing anything you need for your complete happiness

there'll be none of

when can we have more of this

or when do we get to do that

in heaven it's absolute satisfaction

all the time amazing

it's a fifth fact

it's simply this

5 Not everyone will be there

Revelation 21:8 NASB95

“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

so why does he put that in there

because John wants to make sure that people don't start rejoicing in a heaven they'll never see

and so he gives a list of characteristics of people who are not going to heaven

because not everyone is going to heaven

but only those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior

When Jesus is talking to the disciples about going and preparing a place

he says this

John 14:6 NASB95

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

so I want to ask you a question

have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior

has there been a moment that you put your faith in him

and as a result of that

you became in that moment a new person in him

because Paul says if anyone's in Christ

he is a new creation

the old things have become new

the old has passed away

has that happened in your life

you say

well I think it has

I think I have

you don't want to roll the dice on that decision

you don't want to be there and say

I thought I did line

honestly if if you are unsure then it's because you probably haven't

and I'm just simply saying to you

that nothing nothing nothing nothing

in this life compares even closely or remotely

to the importance and the priority

of giving your heart to Jesus Christ today

and having your name written in the Lamb's Book of Life

and your place reserved in heaven

it's something you decide today

and to those who are going through a difficult time

life has challenges

life has difficulties

and some of them last for quite a while

but you don't have to lose courage

because you can fix your eyes on Jesus

2 Corinthians 4:18 NASB95

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

so we fix our eyes not on what is seen

but what is unseen

for what is seen is temporary

what is unseen is eternal

and Paul says I know there's a day

when I'm gonna have a new body

and I'm gonna have a new home

and if that weren't enough

God has a wonderful surprise for every single believer

you say

what is that

come back next week

and I'll tell you

let's pray