Do I believe in Heaven?

Introduction

Good morning, last week we started a small series stepping away from the Psalms until after Easter. This series presents us with some dangerous questions. These questions are meant to help us evaluate our lives. When we truly take a look at these questions and give honest answers we will begin to see areas in our lives that need to be changed. Through these questions our world view will be challenged and some of the things that we believe will be put to the test. Each of us have our own assumptions and presuppositions that we bring with us everyday. And unfortunately those assumptions carry over to our spiritual beliefs. In our self importance and self centeredness we think that because it comes from our minds and we think we can make an argument that it must be true. Right because I cannot be wrong? i hear this all the time, I will bring up a spiritual reality to someone and they will tell me “pastor I don't believe that, I know the Bible say this but my heart says different” As if somehow that person is smarter than God. Or that they trust their feeling over truth. Yea because feelings are so trustworthy. Last week we looked at what would what happens when we cherry pick the Bible, take only what we want and reject the parts that make us “feel good”. We lived wrecked lives. Half truths is no truth. We asked what would seem to be a simple question “who is Jesus” but it wasn’ t, when we see what the Bible says about Jesus and then understand the implications, it is life changing. And should change our world view.

Well today we have another question that has immense implications for our lives and our worldview...

The question is “Do I believe in Heaven?” again you may say duh? that is a silly question, no it is a dangerous question, because when you look at the scriptures and compare that to you beliefs and behaviors, you will see that not so many folks really believe in heaven than you thought.

Common misconceptions about heaven (even among the church)

Everybody goes to heaven

folks who die become angels

That Christians who die will live in heaven forever (we were not created for heaven) we coming back!

That the way we live now does not affect the afterlife

That you can get to heaven by being good enough

But the question for today “Do you believe in heaven”? Do you really believe ? Does your life reflect that you do? Does your thoughts, actions, behaviors, attitudes really reflect that you believe in heaven?

Today we are going to explore that question -

Lets turn in our Bibles to the Book of Isaiah chapter 6

The Mamertine prison in Rome is a 10 x 20 cave where 20 or more prisoners were held until their trial. Dank and musty and just plain rotten conditions. wet and stinky with human excrement and sickness run rampant. There was no sanitary concerns and social distancing was not heard of. This is believed to be the prison where Paul and spent their last days before their execution. Under a dim light of an oil lamp Paul wrote words of encouragement to Timothy a young pastor writing these words

2 Tim 1:7 “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

2 Tim 1:8 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,”

2 Tim 2:9 “for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!”

2 Tim 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

2 Tim 4:2 “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

While being in prison Paul also wrote to the church in Philippi

Phil 1:12 “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,”

Phil 1:27 “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”

Phil 3:1 “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.”

Phil 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Phil 4:11 “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

How is this possible. That this man who is living and will be dying soon can write such words contradictory to his situation? I mean we fuss if the internet goes down. But who can Paul write the most profound words found in the Bible while experiencing such discomfort?

1. Phil 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

2. Phil 3:14 “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

3. Phil 3:20 “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,”

How because Paul believed in Heaven, he maintained his faith, his Joy, his perseverance because of his conviction for Jesus Christ and knew he would be with Him forever. Paul learned to be content in every situation because he knew it was just temporary. The issues he struggled with would not last in fact were very insignificant compared to eternity. He believed in heaven, and not some made up fairy tail version of heaven where angels are sitting on clouds playing harps, no the heaven that Paul believed in was the heaven of the Bible

I. Heaven is the residence of The Holy one, God Almighty - Isa 6 This may not come to a shock to you but heaven is His Dwelling. Of course to be in heaven means that we are in His very presence. Isaiah speaks of his vision of being in heaven, and others have given a description of this John in revelation and Paul himself, and others. But God is holy and his dwelling is holy, because of His nature. We know throughout the bible God implores His people to be holy because He is holy. No unholy thing can permanently abide in His presence.In Isaiah we are given what it is like being in God’s presence

1. Throne High and lifted up - This is a description of God’s preeminence, there is none like Him none that compare. He truly is the King of Kings , No wonder David sang “what is man that you are mindful of him”

2. Created angels Glorify Him - They sing of His holiness and glory. His magnificent splendor

3. His Nature demands we change ours - vs 5 woe is me

Heaven is not Just a place to hang out and chill no it is very active in the worship of our creator. It is the presence of God to allow us to enjoy Him forever

II. Heaven is also is temporary residence of those who accept God’s salvation. - Heaven was not made for us, earth was made for us and when God made it it was good and pleasing to the Lord. The bible reminds us in the Book of Revelation that after the great war of Armageddon that God will create a New Heaven and a New earth. 2 Pet 3:13 “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” So we have that to look forward to. But now heaven is the place of God and 2 Cor 5:8 “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be absent from the body and at home with the Lord.” This is for those who believe on the Lord Jesus and have recieved the gift of salvation. We know sin has cursed to world and all that is in it is corrupted, the only cure for this is Jesus Christ. What do we know about heaven?

1. Paradise - Luke 23:43 “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

2. Jesus is there - matt 25 reminds us that their are conditions...

3. We do not know - there are things in this world we cannot fathom - 1 Cor 2:9 “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—”

We cannot and should not try to fabricate what we think heaven is like because we fail. What we do know is my heavenly father is there. That day when I breath my last I wont have the worries of this life, my faith will be sight, i will be in the presence of my God, my creator and king.

III. Do I really believe in heaven? - Let me rephrase that, Is my belief in heaven reflected in the way I plan, the way I make choices, the priorities I live by? Its one thing to say “yea pastor Jay i believe in heaven” and its another thing to live by what you believe. The worldly view of heaven does not hold us accountable, oh if your a good person, if you have good karma, if we serve a “loving God” then we all go to heaven… That is a lie. The Bible tells us 1st off, without Jesus your on your way to hell eternal damnation, God intervenes and offers you salvation. 2nd you cannot be good enough to earn your way to heaven Isa64:6 “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” Rom 7:18 “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” Stop believing worldly lies its just gonna get you into hell. The biblical realities are far more pleasant. God gives us eternal perspective Matt 6:9-13 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Application

A biblical vision of heaven gives us hope in hardship Heb 11, heb 12

A biblical vision of heaven gives us motivation for great and sacrifical courage - no one knows theyre alive until they know what they would die for. Luke 9:23 “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

A biblical vision of heaven helps detach from our “stuff” 1 Tim 6:17-19 “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

Do you believe in heaven…if you do then you have hope