Sermon Tone Analysis

John 14:1-3

Intro: Perhaps nothing revels man’s depravity quite like his views of the afterlife.

The majority of folk you talk to have a belief that there is a heaven and for the most part most if not all will tell you they are going to heaven.

Why is this?

Seeing that Jesus preached more on judgement and hell than heaven.

Its because as distorted as their view of heaven may be, its still the place they want to go to when they die.

I think I would be safe in saying that everyone in this room believes in Heaven.

I would imagine that you are all longing to go there some day.

The thought of there being a better place for the saints of God to live after their time on earth has ended has cheered the hearts of God’s people for thousands of years.

Abraham, Moses, John, Paul and Peter and many more longed for that place called heaven.

But why?

Why did they long for such a place?

Because it is the place to be if you are a born again child of God.

The fact is, we don’t have a whole lot of information about Heaven.

The Bible gives us just enough information to wet our appetites for that city.

God told Paul to not speak of those things saw when he was called up to the third heaven

John was told to write it down then chew it up and swallow it.

I will just insert this right here: I know this movie that I am about to describe has been out for a while, but do hear me, if God did not let Paul or John tell us about the glories of heaven, what makes you think He would allow a 5yo boy tell us.

I am sure its a good film but dont think for a second that its truth.

Take it for what it is, Hollywood is real good at acting and making something out to be something it is not.

So with that being said, I want to look at these familiar words from our Lord tonight.

I want to preach around the the thought: Heaven: It’s the place to be.

I would like to give you some reasons from this text why I think it is.

Let me share those reasons with you tonight.

I. V. 1-2 CONSIDER THE PLACE CALLED HEAVEN

A. It Is A Special Place

- Jesus calls Heaven “My Father’s house.”

Heaven is special because it is the place where God dwells.

A place like that would have to be holy.

It would have to be filled with glory.

It would have to be a place of peace, blessing, and joy.

It would have to be a place of love.

any place that is called the “Father’s house,” would have to be a place like our Heavenly Father.

Just thinking about a place like that is enough to make one want to go there.

After Paul saw that place, near the end of his life, he said this about his approaching death, Heaven, and his desire to go there.

The phrase “far better” in Phil.

1:23 literally means “very much better.”

It is the highest form of superlative.

Paul is saying that the best best day here will not be worthy to be compared to the worst day there, Rom.

8:18

That alone makes Heaven a special place.

B. It Is A Splendid Place

Jesus said that in His “Father’s house are many mansions.”

The word “mansions” refers to “a dwelling place, and abode, a staying place.”

It word can refer to “a room,” but the idea of a “dwelling place” in the “Father’s house,” bring to mind far more than a mere room.

A “mansion” in the “Father’s house” speaks of beauty and grandeur that nothing in this world can compare to.

Now I know that the descriptions that John gives in Rev. 21 is for the New Jeruselem, and its not “Heaven” per se but let me ask you, What makes Heaven Heaven?

God thats right.

So, if Jesus the Son of God, the Alpha and Omega the beginning and the Ending is sitting on the throne in the New Jeruselem, can we consider this to be the abode of God?

I believe so.

So lets look at a few things real quick that will hopefully give us a more yering to go to that wonderful place called heaven.

When John described the city he saw in Rev. 21, he wrote about a city so grand that it defies description.

The Distinctions Of That City v. 11-14

Heaven is lit by the glory of God Himself.

John described the city as being like a “jasper” stone.

The “jasper” stone is what we call a diamond today.

The city will be like a great diamond in appearance as it reflects and refracts the light of the glory of God.

The city is surrounded by a high wall, v. 12.

There are twelve gates in this wall, each gate attended by an angel, v. 12.

These gates have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel inscribed on them, v. 12.

The wall of this great city rests on twelve foundations named after the twelve Apostles, v. 14.

There are many more distinctions about this city that time will not allow us to talk about them.

The Dimensions Of That City v. 15-17

– This city measures “twelve thousand furlongs” on each side and that it is as tall is it is wide and long.

“Twelve thousand furlongs” translates to about 1,400 miles.

This city is astounding in its size!

If one edge was placed on the Atlantic Ocean, the opposite edge would sit near Denver, CO.

If the north edge of the city sat on the Canadian border, the other edge would sit somewhere around Miami, FL.

It is even more amazing to consider that it is also 1,400 miles high!

This city is surrounded by a wall that measures 144 cubits, v. 17.

This is 216 feet.

This could refer to the height, or it could refer to the thickness of the wall.

Imagine a city where there is room for all; where there are no ghettos; no mean streets; no wrong side of town.

Imagine a city of absolute beauty and sinless perfection.

If you can imagine that, then you can imagine home!

The Design Of That City v. 18-21

– In these next few verses, John describes the materials used to construct the city.

He tells us that the wall is made of a diamond and the city is made of pure, transparent gold, v. 18.

He also tells us that the city rests on a foundation of precious gemstones.

Jasper – Clear like a diamond Sapphire - Clear BlueChalcedony - Yellowish GreenEmerald - Deep GreenSardonyx - White with layers of red.

Sardius - Fiery Red Chrysolyte - Golden YellowBeryl - Sea GreenTopaz - Greenish Yellow Chrysopasus - Golden GreenJacinth - Violet Amethyst - Purple

Imagine, if you will, a city that gleams with the brilliance of God’s glory.

Imagine that pure light as it shines through the diamonds, the gold, and all the multi-colored precious stones of that Heavenly city.

It will be a glorious sight to behold!

The gates of that city are made of pearls, v. 21.

The pearl is formed out of pain.

A grain of sand is trapped in an oyster.

That sand irritates the oyster and the oyster begins to build up layer upon layer of calcium around that grain of sand.

After a long while a pearl is formed.

The pearl is the only gemstone made by a living organism.

The pearl is the oyster’s answer to its pain.

Those gates will remind that while salvation and the Heaven it provides are free, neither was cheap!

Everything we have was born out of the pain of our Savior on the cross of Calvary.

Every time we enter that city we will be reminded of the price He paid to redeem our souls.

Heaven is God’s answer to the pain His Son endured on His cross!

Even the street of Heaven will be glorious to behold.

We will walk about on a street that is paved with the purest gold.

What a city awaits the redeemed when this life is over.

C. It Is A Safe Place

- Jesus said to His men, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

This is just a reminder that Heaven will be a place of peace for the people of God.