Not Seen in Heaven

Not In Heaven – for the purpose of this message, heaven is God’s dwelling place outside the indwelling of us. Remember, HE is omnipresent.

People think Heaven is going to be a boring place. That’s because we view it through the eyes of the flesh. Believing that somehow, they will not be fulfilled by God. Paul teaches us that we should be striving for that fulness right now. “to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Ephesians 3:19.

John 14:1-3

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Therefore, Heaven is a real place.

· And in Heaven there are Angels, Seraphin, and Cherubim.

o Streets of gold, pearly gates, and other things beyond our imagination.

· Our loved ones, if they have professed faith in Jesus Christ, will be there.

· There are dwelling places there, be they rooms or mansions we will not be disappointed.

· God is also there as well as Jesus, and we shall see him face to face.

o Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.”

We know this place is in heaven but, what sort of place is prepared for us?

I concerned this morning with what won’t be in Heaven:

· No tears – at least not tears of pain and sorrow

· No fears – other than the reverential fear of GOD

· No medicine cabinet

o No pills

· No funeral homes

o No caskets

· No Hospitals

· No sin – we will be in the presence of God, in the presence of Righteousness

o Nor will there be any temptation to sin (Lucifer will be imprisoned)

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

But you know all of that, but what about these things? How many of you believe there will be…

· Cigarettes or other tobacco products

o Can you imagine smoking in heaven?

· Alcohol – Wine, Beer

o Can you imagine sitting around have a cold beer with Jesus?

· No Gluttony

· Mind-altering drugs

o I don’t think there will be any coffee, after all, it’s a stimulant. Moderation is key.

o The only thing we’ll need is God. Possibly only drink will be the purest water ever.

· Fornication, Adultery, Pornography, Profanity – name your sin.

Preacher, you already said there will be no sin. Why are you mentioning all of these things? Because people that believe they are going to Heaven are living in these very things, believing they are not sinning. OR that it’s a little sin, or that God forgives them. OR _____________ excuse.

We live in the sight of God. If we don’t learn to live without sin in the here and now, how shall we live without them in the hereafter?

You have to admit, that’s a fair question.

Some might answer, ‘but we will be in Heaven and in the presence of God and won’t have any desire for those things.’ Okay, great point but right now we live in the sight of God, in the presence of God, and with GOD living in us. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God?” Yet we sin on.

Do all those fleshly desires die with the flesh? I hope they do!

Now before I get accused of preaching a WORKS based salvation, what does the Bible say?

Ephesians 2:8-10

The Bible also says, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21.

Look at Luke 18:18+ Jesus is speaking about inheriting eternal life.

So now, are you still convinced that you will be there?

Some of you said YES in your heart just then. Maybe you said something like, ‘yes, I prayed a prayer of salvation.’ I made a confession of faith; I’m saved.

Jesus didn’t say for us to pray a sinner’s prayer. HE SAID, Repent ye, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. HE SAID, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Luke 9:23. (in all 3 synoptic gospels). Repentance leads to confession.

Look at Luke 13:1-5 – but you’re going to heaven! Taking your smoking, drinking, profanity speaking, fornicating, adulterous habits with you!?

Except ye repent you are not.

Here, let me help some of the rest of you. Your still going to heaven, taking your moaning, groaning, complaining, unforgiving, backbiting, self-centered, self-promoting, money chasing, profit seeking selves with you. (Same things Paul speaks about) Except ye repent, ye shall all perish.

How difficult would it be to do these sinful things while carrying your cross? Maybe that’s the problem, we haven’t take up our cross.

Repent means to turn away from. True repentance means to turn away from and never turn back to.

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. I Corinthians 6:9-12. Are you still under the power and bondage of your sins?

If you can’t do it there (Heaven) why would you do it here? The Kingdom of God is at hand. We are the Church, the very body of Christ. We were created to be imagers of God. CHRIST IN US!

The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.

Do you really think that just means to tell Jesus all about your sins? HE ALREADY KNOWS!

It means to CONFESS, REPENT, and DENY yourself and your sins, take up your cross and follow Him.

To follow Him is to walk in the Spirit, not fulfilling the lust of the flesh, being led by the Sprit, giving your life to the glorification of God.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

When Christ is FORMED in us (Galatians 4:19), when we are born-again – we walk in a Newness of Life. The born-again person should be RADICALLY different from the old person. “ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils” 1 Corinthians 10:21.

Now before some of you jump to say, ‘everything’s not a sin’ let me say ‘everything doesn’t edify you either’ (1 Corinthians 10:23.)

The New You that Christ created was never intended to desire the things of this world, or the things of the flesh, or to be self-centered, We were created to walk in a newness of life to HIS glory; to manifest the Love of God even.

Let me move on.

V.3 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. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Most everyone here believes that Christ will return to RECEIVE us unto Himself. But if HE returned RIGHT NOW! Are you ready to be received? Are you worthy to be received?

Is the YOU that HE is coming back for the YOU that He is expecting to see? Jesus asked, “when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8.

You see, if we believe in Him, we ought to live like we’re expecting Him. With a holy anticipation even.

Jesus is expecting to be presented a Bride without Blemish, one without spot or wrinkle – is that US?

If HE came back right now, would HE find someone who is dead in their trespasses and sin OR someone that has been born again, walking in the newness of life?

You can’t live in the joy of the Lord if you are living in bondage to sin.

He said be ye holy even as I am holy…

Let me ask you this; How did you become the person you are? Where did you learn to do the things that you do? Was it from Jesus or from the world? I ask because if it was from the world, it is probably an abomination before GOD.

If, however it was from Jesus then surely you are manifesting the love of God, which is your reasonable service.

Your identity (who you are) should be in Christ – Ephesians 1 explains who we are. Your lifestyle reveals who you are. More importantly, your lifestyle reveals WHOSE you are.

One last thing that we might not find in Heaven, and I’ll close.

Is it YOU? Will you be in heaven? Have you truly been born-again? Do you truly serve the Resurrected Son of God?

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:8-10.

“Except ye repent, ye shall all perish.”