Christmas Story
Point 1: Jesus is the reason for the season.
I. THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN HEAVEN
A. No Sea (v. 1). Three-quarters of our present globe is sea. The sea affords us great pleasure by way of vacations spent by it and cruises taken on it. Great business (imports and exports) is conducted by way of the sea. But we cannot easily live on or under the sea. And the whole of heaven is to be habitable, for it must be able to accommodate us in the “many mansions” or abiding places.
B. No Death (v. 4). Man’s last enemy, which has invaded every family for generations and has brought sorrow and solitude in its train, will be no more.
C. No Sorrow (v. 4). The sorrow brought in death’s train, the sorrow caused by life’s hardships and setbacks, the sorrow caused by broken friendships and marriages will be no more.
D. No Crying (v. 4). “… God shall wipe away all tears.” The Greek word for crying implies uncontrolled sobbing. Perhaps the idea of bereavement is still in John’s mind, for when “Jesus wept” the Greek implies “He burst into tears” at the graveside of Lazarus. God will be like a mother to us and wipe away all tears, for whatever reason they are flowing.
E. No Pain (v. 4). The pain that precedes death, the pain of dread diseases, the pain that follows an accident, the pains that are really heartaches—all will be dispersed without resource to modern pain-killing drugs.
F. No Temple (v. 22). There will be no specific religious structure for worship. Everywhere in heaven will be suitable for worship. Heaven will be one great temple of praise with nothing “icily regular or coldly formal” about it.
G. No Sun (v. 23). We are coming to rely on the sun more and more for heat as our other sources of fuel begin to diminish. We love its light, bathing the world in gold. But in heaven God’s glory will be sufficient.
H. No Moon (v. 23). The moon reflects light from the sun. So Jesus, when on earth, came to reflect the Father. But in heaven we shall bask in the direct light of the Lamb.
I. No Night (v. 25). Eternity will be one eternal day. November reminds us of long winter nights closing in with shorter days. So our nights of ignorance, superstition and doubt will come to an end in the land of “endless day.”
J. No Sin (v. 27). John says that there will be nothing that “defiles” in heaven. Think of today’s pornography, immorality, greed, violence, and vice. Heaven, in contrast, will be a place of perfect purity.