SF601 - THE LAND OF ETERNAL NO MORES ( Proverbs 21 1-22 5)
SF601
THE LAND OF ETERNAL “NO MORES”
Revelation 21:1-22:5
INTRODUCTION
Heaven is a Wonderful Place!
Charles H. Spurgeon in training young ministers said to his students, "When you talk about heaven let your face light up with a heavenly glory. When you tell about hell, your everyday face will do."
I cannot imagine anyone not wanting to go there!
The Question How do we get there... And what will it be like?
A little boy, caught in mischief, was asked by his mother: "How do you expect to get into heaven?"
He thought a minute and then said: "Well, I'll just run in and out and in and keep slamming the door until they say, 'For goodness sake, come in or stay out.' Then I'll go in."
A little boy was offered the opportunity to select a dog for his birthday present. At the pet store, he was shown a number of puppies. From them he picked one whose tail was wagging furiously. When he was asked why he selected that particular dog, the little boy said, "I wanted the one with the happy ending."
Heaven is Not for Everyone....
Heaven is a place of Eternal No Mores....
1A. NO MORE (SEA) SEPARATION (21:1-3; 25; 22:4)
1B. From Our Loved Ones (21:1)
Eric Barker, a missionary from Great Britain, spent over 50 years in Portugal preaching the Gospel, often under adverse conditions. During World War II, the situation became so critical that he was advised to send his wife and eight children to England for safety. His sister and her three children were also evacuated on the same ship. Although his beloved relatives were forced to leave, he remained behind to carry on the work. On the Lord's Day following their departure, Pastor Barker stood before his congregation and said, "I've just received word that all my family have arrived safely home!"
He then proceeded with the service as usual. Later, the full meaning of his words became known to his people. He had been handed a wire just before the meeting informing him that a submarine had torpedoed the ship, and everyone on board had drowned. He knew that because all were believers they had reached a more "desired haven."
2B. From Our Lord (21:25; 22:4)
Mr. Standfast, one of the great characters of John Bunyan in Pilgrim's Progress, said these words as he was dying: "I am now going to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and see the face that was spit upon for me. I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith, but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with Him in whose company I delight myself."
Did you know that's the anticipation of God? Psalm 116:15 states, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Do you know why? Because God wants to bring men to Himself.
No longer will we feel the pain of loneliness and separation. We will be with Him forever and ever.
2A. NO MORE SORROW (21:4-5)
1B. Due to Sickness (4a)
A child of God who was seriously ill and lacked assurance of salvation said to his physician, "Doctor, although I'm a Christian, I'm afraid to die. Exactly what happens to us in the hour of death?"
The surgeon, who was also a believer, thought for a moment and then replied, "I'm afraid I can't give you an exact answer to that question!" As he walked across the room to leave, he desperately wished he could say something comforting. Pausing briefly before opening the door, he heard the sound of scratching and whining on the other side. Suddenly he realized that he had left his car window open and his little dog had jumped out. With the patient's permission he let in his pet poodle who leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.
In a flash the doctor's mind was awakened to a scriptural truth he had never before put into words. Turning to the sick man, he said, "Did you see how my dog acted? He's never been in this room before. He had no idea what was inside; yet when I opened the door, he sprang in without fear, for he knew his master was here!
As Christians we have not been told about the glories that await us on the other side of death. But one thing we do know; our Master is there, and that is enough!
2B. Due to Sinfulness (4b-5)
(2 Corinthians 5:17) "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
Revelation 22:1-3
3A. NO MORE SINNERS (21:6-8; 27)
1B. Who They Are (21:6-7)
They are thirsty but they refuse to drink
2B. Why They Are Not There (21:8)
Because of their sins (21:8)
Because of their sin (21:27)
4A. NO MORE SPECULATION (21:9-21)
1B. The Mystery of Heaven (9-10)
In his book Dare to Believe, Dan Baumann illustrates the unique experience of knowing that something is ours, yet longing to enjoy it more fully. He explained that at Christmas time he would always do a lot of snooping, trying to find the gift ‑‑wrapped presents and figure out what was in them. One year he discovered a package with his name on it that was easy to identify. There was no way to disguise the golf clubs inside. Baumann then made this observation: "When Mom wasn't around, I would go and feel the package, and pretend that I was on the golf course. The point is, I was already enjoying the pleasures of a future event; namely, the unveiling. It had my name on it. I knew what it was."
2B. The Majesty of Heaven (11-14)
A little girl was walking with her father in the country. As she looked into the deep blue velvet sky, studded with an array of diamonds ...she said, "Daddy, if the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful, what do you think the right side will be like?"
3B. The Measure of Heaven (15-17)
1500 mile cube =From the tip of Florida to the top of Maine. It's 250 million square miles. Hold 30 times the current population of the world.
4B. The Magnificence of Heaven (18-21)
5A. NO MORE SANCTUARY (21:22)
(John 4:21‑23) "Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. {22} You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. {23} Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."
6A. NO MORE SHADOW (21:23-26; 22:5)
(Isaiah 60:19‑20) "The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. {20} Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end."
1B. Speaks of God’s Presence (23)
2B. Speaks of God’s Purpose (24)
3B. Speaks of God’s Promise (22:5)
APPLICATION
A little girl was born blind. She'd never seen anything. Her mother tried to describe to her the flowers and would let her pet the dog and describe a cat and the Mother would try to describe the sun and the moon and the stars, the trees, the grass. The little girl would feel her way along. Her mother would talk and talk, trying to picture for that little blind girl born blind this beautiful world.
The girl was examined one day by a surgeon who said, "You know, I believe I can bring sight to that little girl." The family said, "Yes," they performed the surgery.
And then one day when the bandages were removed, she could see. She went outside and she saw the sky for the first time, she saw the flowers for the first time, she saw the dog and the cat and the grass and the trees and the beauty of God's creation of the mountains and everything that was about.
And she looked at her mama, almost at anger, after a couple of days and said, "Mama, why didn't you tell me it was so beautiful?"She said, "Honey, I tried to, but I just ran out of words."
I know how she felt...
Do you know you are going to this Wonderful Land of “NO MORE?”...