One Heartbeat Away

INTRODUCTION

I want to announce to you this morning, I am dying.

And so are you.

The Bible says we're all dying because we are sinners.

Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

And because of that…

Romans 6:23 says, "…the wages of sin is death…"

John adds in 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

“We have all become like one who is unclean,” says Isaiah 64:6.

Every day we're getting closer to eternity.

Are you prepared?

If it were today — even at this moment — would you be in heaven?

If yes, why?

What gives you the right to heaven?

The writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 9:27, "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment."

One heartbeat separates every one of us from eternity.

I have been thinking a lot about death and so I thought I would prepare us both for it.

1 Corinthians 15:55 says, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?””

For a child of God, death is the doorway that ushers us into heaven.

Since that is the case, I want to talk about heaven this morning.

We are “One Heartbeat Away.”

Have you ever asked yourself…

I. What Is Heaven?

That’s a good place to start since the word “heaven”, it’s Hebrew and Greek form, is mentioned approximately 700 times in Scripture.

That’s a lot of occurrences.

Since it occurs that many times, we should be able to get a grasp of what heaven is.

Some think, “Heaven is not a state of mind.”

That’s the exact words of the self-help author Wayne W. Dyer.

An article on “authentic living” says, “Heaven is not a time or a place. Heaven is a state of mind where you allow yourself to experience love and gratitude, and where you allow yourself to experience your connection with your Source.”

Well I am happy to report that both of those thoughts are false.

Heaven is not a state of mind.

It is not a feeling.

It is not a metaphor for peace or happiness.

Heaven is a real place.

The Evangelist John R. Rice said, “I tell you, Heaven is a real, literal, physical place, a city as material, as physical, as literal as Chicago or London or New York or Tokyo.”

He’s right.

But the authority on heaven is not me or you, it’s Jesus.

And He said in John 14:2–3, "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 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."

Notice the word “place”.

Three times in two verses.

Heaven is a location, not an illusion.

Charles Spurgeon said it simply “stated, “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people."

The Bible speaks of “three heavens”.

The First Heaven — The Atmospheric Heaven

This is the sky above us — the air we breathe, the clouds we see, the realm where the birds fly.

Genesis 1:20 says, "Then God said, 'Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.'"

When Scripture speaks of rain coming down from heaven or clouds covering the heavens, this is the heaven in view.

Isaiah 55:10 says, “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;”

But this is not the heaven where God dwells and where believers go…

The Bible also mentions…

The Second Heaven — The Planetary Heaven

This is the realm of the stars, the sun, the moon, the galaxies.

Genesis 1:14 says, "Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.'"

Psalm 8:3 says, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained;”

Job 9:8–9 says, “8 Who alone stretches out the heavens and tramples down the waves of the sea; 9 who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;”

Bear, Orion, Pleiades – The “Bear” is usually understood as the constellation associated with the Great Bear (Ursa Major), Orion is the prominent “giant” constellation, and Pleiades the compact star cluster. These three together cover the northern sky, southern sky, and eastern sky, so they stand for the whole starry host.

“Chambers of the south” – Likely refers to the remote, less visible southern constellations—the “inner chambers” or hidden rooms of the southern sky that Job cannot see clearly but knows God placed there.

But this is still not the heaven where God or believer’s dwells.

Next is…

The Third Heaven — The Dwelling Place of God

Psalm 103:19 says, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.”

This is the heaven Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 12:2–4, “2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.”

The word “paradise” (paradeisos) echos Eden’s perfection and is inaccessible to human senses except by divine rapture.

Since the word paradise is used synonymously with heaven, Revelation 2:7 says, “…To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’”

That means the tree of life that was in the garden of Eden, has been translated in heaven.

We will see it in the New Jerusalem according to Revelation 22:2.

The third heaven is the place Solomon referenced when he prayed in 1 Kings 8:30, "Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive."

This is the same heaven Stephen saw as the stones were falling.

Acts 7:55–56 says, "But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.'"

Notice what John saw “coming down out of heaven” in Revelation 21:1–4.”

It is the holy city, the new Jerusalem.

He said, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 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 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, 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.'"

Jonathan Edwards called heaven "a world of love." He wrote, *"The very light which shines in and fills that world is the light of love."

“Heaven is a real place — a prepared place — for a prepared people.”

That leads us to our second question…

II. Who Is In Heaven?

Heaven contains a diverse assembly of beings centered on the presence of God.

Everything precious to the believer is in heaven.

God the Father Is in Heaven

Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:9, "Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name."

The Father sits enthroned in heaven.

Psalm 11:4 says, "The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men."

God the Son Is in Heaven

After the resurrection, Christ ascended bodily to the right hand of the Father.

Acts 1:9 records, "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight."

Hebrews 1:3 says, "When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high."

Christ is there now — interceding for His people.

Romans 8:34 says, "Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us."

John Piper says, “The critical question for our generation — and for every generation — is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked… but Christ was not there, would you be satisfied?”

The Holy Angels Are in Heaven

Revelation 5:11 says, "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands."

Countless angels worship God day and night, crying "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6:3).

The Spirits of the Redeemed Are in Heaven

Hebrews 12:22–23 says believers have come "to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect."

Believer, when a loved one in Christ dies, they are not in the grave.

They are in heaven—the same place where Jesus told the thief on the cross he would be, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” (Lk.24:43)

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:8, "we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord."

Our Inheritance Is in Heaven

1 Peter 1:3–4 says God "has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you."

Our Names Are in Heaven

Jesus told His disciples in Luke 10:20, "Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."

Our Citizenship is in Heaven

Philippians 3:20 “20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;”

We are pilgrims and strangers, passing through this world.

Our Eternal Reward is in Heaven

Notice in Matthew 5:3-12 what is said at the end of each Beatitude: “Theirs and theirs alone is the kingdom of heaven” (emphasis on “theirs”)

He says in verse 12, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great (many).”

Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

Hebrews 11:24–26 says, “24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.”

We are told in 2 John 8 to “Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.”

Our Treasure Is in Heaven

Jesus commanded in Matthew 6:20–21, "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The parallel in Luke 12:32–34 says, “32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. 33 “Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. 34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Everything precious to the Christian is in heaven.

Our Father is there.

Our Savior is there.

The holy angels are there.

Our family in Christ are there.

Our inheritance is there.

Our names are there.

Our citizenship is there.

Our eternal reward is there.

Our treasure is there.

No wonder Paul said in Philippians 1:23, "But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better."

Richard Baxter said, “Yonder is He whose blood redeemed us, whose Spirit cleansed us, whose law governed us; in whom we trusted, and He hath not deceived our trust.”

III. Who Can Go To Heaven?

This is the most urgent question of all. And the answer is narrow, exclusive, and wonderful.

Only those who have been saved by Jesus can go to heaven.

Not the Merely Religious

Jesus said in Matthew 7:21–23, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'"

Many will stand before Him on that day — religious, respectable, church-attending — and hear, *"I never knew you."

Not the Self-Righteous

Isaiah 64:6 says, "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."

Your good works will not get you to heaven.

Ephesians 2:8–9 — "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Not the Undefiled

Revelation 21:27 says, "and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Heaven is a holy place.

And Hebrews 12:14 warns, "Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord."* Thomas Brooks put it piercingly:

Heaven would be a very hell to an unholy heart.

The company of heaven are all holy, the employments of heaven are all holy, the enjoyments of heaven are all holy — therefore heaven would be a most undesirable thing to unholy hearts."

Only Those Saved by Jesus

Jesus is not a way — He is the way.

John 14:6 — “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”

Acts 4:12 — "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

J.C. Ryle said it with conviction: "There is only one road to heaven, and only one Savior, and only one atonement for sin. I know no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved, than the name of Jesus Christ."

How are we saved? By grace, through faith, in Christ alone.

We must repent of our sin. Luke 13:3 — "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish."

We must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:16 — "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

We must be born again. John 3:3 — "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."

We must call upon Him. Romans 10:13 — “for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.””

Christ bore the wrath you deserved. 2 Corinthians 5:21 — "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

His righteousness becomes ours by faith. That — and that alone — is your ticket to heaven.

CONCLUSION

I am dying. So are you.

But for the Christian, death is not the end — it is the doorway.

Paul said in Philippians 1:21, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

If you are in Christ this morning, lift your eyes.

Your Father is in heaven.

Your Savior is in heaven.

Your home is in heaven.

Your name is in heaven.

Set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2).

But if you are not in Christ — hear me carefully.

Every breath is borrowed.

Every heartbeat is a gift.

2 Corinthians 6:2 says, "Behold, now is 'the acceptable time,' behold, now is 'the day of salvation.'"

Do not put it off.

Do not trust your religion, your goodness, or your intentions.

Trust Christ.

Repent and believe the gospel.

Jim Elliot, the missionary martyred for the gospel, wrote in his journal: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." 

Give your life to Christ today.

You cannot keep this life. B

ut you can gain the one that never ends.

Heaven is real. Hell is real. Eternity is real.

Are you prepared?

Let us pray.