Question Card Session 4/26/26
Notes
Transcript
Turn to Revelation 21:1-5
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Question: Where will we as Christians spend eternity? In the New Heaven or the New Earth?
The new Heaven and new Earth are mentioned a few places in Scripture.
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For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: And the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
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For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, Shall remain before me, saith the Lord, So shall your seed and your name remain.
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Let’s look at one more passage of Scripture: Revelation 21.
Read Revelation 21:1-5
Judaism once taught that there were three heavens.
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the atmosphere surrounding earth
outer space
God’s dwelling place
Sidenote: Paul mentions the third heaven in 2 Cor. 12:2.
When God says He’s going to make a new heaven and a new earth, He’s not talking about His dwelling place - that doesn’t make sense. God is not going to remake something that is already perfect, but He will destroy this present universe and make it brand new with no sin curse!
This brings us to our question:
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Question: Where will we as Christians spend eternity? In the New Heaven or the New Earth?
The simple answer is “yes.” We will be with the Lord in the new Heaven and in the new Earth which will include the new Jerusalem!
But here’s what is more important: God doesn’t emphasize so much the “where” but more the “with whom!”
Read Revelation 21:3
Across the Scriptures, God emphasizes what is most important: the fact that we will be with Him!
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And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
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We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
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Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
I think you get the point: what matters is that we will be with the Lord! Some of the finer details, like when we’ll arrive or the address of our residence, will be sorted out in His timing.
Turn to Psalm 81:13-14
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Psalm 81 remembers the loving kindness of God despite the hard heartedness of Israel. God wanted to lead them, but they would not listen.
Read Psalm 81:13-14
I think I speak for all of our church family when I say I can’t wait to enjoy the blessings of living with the Lord in the new Heaven and the new Earth.
But you know what, in the mean time, I don’t want to miss out on all the blessings that God has for me here either!
Just about every day I see at least one of my kids experience a severe case of FOMO.
FOMO: Fear Of Missing Out
This is a pretty common phenomenon when we approach our afternoon nap time. I know that this is hard for us adults to relate to, but when we say its nap time, our younger kids are immediately struck with fear of what they might miss while they are sleeping and the older ones are playing. The horror!
What’s even worse is thinking of all of God’s blessings that I am missing out on because I would not walk in God’s ways.
Read Psalm 81:14 again
God is saying, “If only you had listened to Me! I would have soon humbled your enemies and vanquished them! If only!”
I wonder how many times God has said that of me.
I don’t know, but I do know that God desired to do something very specific for Israel: He wanted to give them peace in their land.
It’s rather humbling to think that you or I could be the reason that God’s greatest blessings are forfeited for yourself, your family, or your church.
Application: It’s great to look forward to the blessings of eternity, but don’t miss out on the ones that God has for you right now!
I want you to see the positive side of this also because God makes this certain: if we obey the Lord and happily follow His will, He will heap His blessings upon us!
I don’t know what each blessing will look like, but I know that His blessing is certain.
It may be the things we tend to think of the most: good health and a stable bank account.
It may be grace through trials.
It may be specific answers to prayer.
It may be that God will give you the greatest blessing of all: a greater intimacy with Himself.
As you listen to the Lord and walk in His ways, you can be sure that God desires to heap his richest blessings upon your life.
