ONE MONTH TO LIVE

 

Psalm 90:12

 

“Leave Boldly-What is Heaven Like?”

Revelation 21:1-4

 

An 85-year-old couple that had been married for 60 years die and go to heaven.  Peter meets them at the pearly gates.  Peter offers to give them a personal tour of heaven. 

 

They pull up to a mansion and Peter says, “this is your home.  It comes with a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.”  The couple says, “it’s wonderful.  But how much does it cost?”  Peter says, “that’s the great thing about it.  This is heaven.  It’s free.”

 

Peter turns to the husband and asks, “do you like to play golf?”  “Boy, do I,” the man replies.  “Well, then, you’re going to love this.  Your home borders on a golf course and the course changes every day.  There are no green fees.  This is heaven.  You play for free.”

 

Peter then takes them to the clubhouse.  He tells the wife, “you’ll never have to cook again.”  He shows them a buffet with all sorts of gourmet food.  “This is where you will eat every day.”  The husband asks, “but where is the low-fat, low-cholesterol table?”  Peter says, “This is heaven.  You don’t have to worry about fat grams up here.”

 

At this point, the husband started throwing a fit.  The man’s wife and Peter try to calm him down.  “Don’t you want to be here?” they ask.  The man looks at his wife and says- “It’s all your fault.  If it wasn’t for those bran muffins you made me eat, I would have been here 10 years ago!”

 

Are you looking forward to heaven?   If you only had one month to live, would you look forward to going there?

 

The Bible tells us that we ought to set our hearts on heaven.  Whether we have a month to live or decades to live, we ought to be thinking about, planning for and anticipating going to heaven one day.

 

Looking forward to heaven will help make this life more meaningful.  That’s because a person is never ready to live until they are ready to leave.  Once you have the issue of death and heaven settled, then you can start living as God intended.

 

Are you ready to leave?  Are you living in anticipation of heaven?

Our expectations of heaven will affect our anticipation of wanting to go there.  Sometimes our idea of heaven isn’t all that exciting and desirable.

 

Gary Larson captured a common misperception of heaven in one of his Far Side cartoons.  In it a man with angel wings and a halo sits on a cloud, doing nothing, with no one nearby.  He has the expression of someone marooned on a desert island with absolutely nothing to do.  A caption shows his inner thoughts:  “Wish I’d brought a magazine.”

 

If we were honest, many of us probably don’t look forward to heaven with an intense level of anticipation.  Yes, it does beat the alternative, but we don’t look forward to it like we should.  That’s because our misconception about heaven is that it will be some type of boring existence, maybe where we’re drifting on a cloud and playing a harp for all eternity.

 

Whatever your expectation of heaven is, it will affect your anticipation about going there.  If your concept of heaven doesn’t appeal to you, then you probably aren’t longing for heaven.  But if your image of heaven is something wonderful, then there’s a part of you that can’t wait to get there.

 

What I want to do this morning is share with you some insights from the Bible about heaven.  I believe that what the Bible teaches about heaven tells us that heaven indeed is a wonderful and better place.  I think once we hear what heaven is really going to be like, we’ll look forward to it.

 

Some of what we will look at today will challenge your thinking about heaven, esp. if you have not studied much about what the Bible says about heaven.  But I also believe that what we will look at today will comfort us and encourage us to look forward to heaven.

 

In Revelation 21:1-4, we have as concise and yet complete picture of heaven as there is in the Bible.  Read Text.

 

From what the apostle John wrote about heaven in this passage, we learn that….

 

1. Heaven will be a physical place

 

Heaven is a real place.  It isn’t a figment of one’s imagination or simply a state of mind.  Heaven is a physical place.  In John 14, when Jesus spoke about heaven, he stated that he was going to prepare a place for us in our Heavenly Father’s house.

 

So, heaven is a physical place.  But what will this physical place be like?  What the Bible has to say about this really challenges our thinking about heaven.

 

If we think that heaven is going to be where we float around in some celestial city in the sky, we need to think again.  We need to understand what the Bible has to say about the physical place of heaven.

 

According to the Bible, “heaven” will include a physical earth on which we will live.  In Revelation 21, John’s vision of heaven included both a new heaven and a new earth.  He saw the Holy City of Jerusalem coming down out of heaven.  This Holy City, God’s dwelling, will be with us on this new earth, since it will come down out of heaven.

 

2 Peter 3:10-13

 

Peter also speaks of both a new heaven and a new earth.  This new earth will be our home of righteousness.  So, is this new earth, a brand new one, different from the one we live on now?

 

In the Bible, there are two words for new.  The first is new in that it never existed before.  The second is new in that it is renewed, it is made brand new.  Like a makeover

 

For example, if you invited me over to see your “new kitchen”, would that mean that you didn’t have a kitchen before?  No.  Your “new kitchen” would be a remodeled one with new appliances, new cupboards & cabinets, new flooring, new countertops.  It would be new in the sense that it had a makeover.

 

Likewise, when the Bible speaks about a “new earth”, the word new is new in the sense of renewal.  It’s talking about God’s remodeling job on this present earth.  It was never God’s design to do away with this earth.  But it does have to be made new again.

 

You and I don’t live on an earth that God originally designed.  Our world is cursed because of sin.  That’s why we have things like hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes and tsunamis.  But one day, God will redeem this world from its curse.

 

That’s why Peter wrote that God is going to destroy this earth with fire.  It won’t be completely burnt up as in it will no longer exist.

 

Fire has a purifying effect.  After the fire, the earth, as Peter stated, will be “laid bare” and God will make it perfect once again.

 

It will be on this “new earth” that we will get to live.  This new earth will be a part of the new heaven.

 

It will be like the Garden of Eden all over again.  The Garden was a perfect place.  The book of Genesis tells us that God came down and walked with man in the cool of the evening in the Garden.  That was until man sinned and was banished from the Garden.

 

But the Bible does not say that the Garden of Eden was ever destroyed.  Man’s ability, in a sinful state, to live there was destroyed.  But the Garden was not destroyed.  In fact, in Revelation 22, we read that the tree of life from the Garden of Eden will be in heaven.

 

Our new earth will be like the Garden of Eden in that it will be a perfect place where we will live and where we will dwell with God.  We have not dwelt on earth as God originally designed it, but we will.

 

Imagine a new earth where we can hike mountain trails.  A new earth where we can swim in ponds and lakes.  A new earth where we can take a stroll through beautiful gardens and woods.

 

When we understand that living on a new earth is what God has in store for us, then heaven becomes a very familiar place.  Heaven becomes something that we can relate to.  When I think of heaven in terms of a new earth, that is something I look forward to!

 

The second thing that heaven will be is that….

 

2. Heaven will be a place of love and relationships

 

The first and foremost relationship that we will enjoy in heaven is our relationship with the Lord.  John stated in Rev. 21 that “God will be with us and be our God.”  Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross, “Today, you will be with me in Paradise”.

 

“With Jesus”.  The presence of our Lord is what will make heaven, heaven.  In heaven we will enjoy a face-to-face relationship with God.

 

Even though the Lord has promised us that He is with us now, don’t you long for the day that you will be in his immediate presence?  Don’t you look forward to seeing God face-to-face?

 

When I am out-of-town and away from Dawn, we talk on the phone several times throughout the day.  But, those phone conversations do not compare to coming back home and being with her.

 

As wonderful as it is to have God’s presence with us now, I think it’s going to be even better when we are right there with him in heaven, in his immediate presence, face to face.  That will be glorious.  The apostle Paul talked about going to heaven and “being with Christ”, which Paul said would be better by far.

The other relationships that will make heaven wonderful are loved ones, family and friends who are Christians who will be in heaven.  All of us have loved ones who have gone on to heaven before us.  We miss them.  We can’t wait to see them again.

 

I can’t wait to see my parents and Dawn’s parents again. I had two brothers who preceded me in death that I look forward to seeing again. My dad’s father died when my dad was just 13 years old.  I hope to meet my grandfather for the first time in heaven.  My mother had a miscarriage before I came along.  I am looking forward to meeting my older brother or sister.

 

I am sure that you have loved ones that you are looking forward to seeing again when you get to heaven.  They will be waiting to greet you.

 

Some people wonder if we will recognize each other in heaven.  I believe that question is answered when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the Mt. of Transfiguration.  Peter, James and John were there.  Peter spoke up and said, “Lord, it’s good that we are here.  We can put up 3 shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  Now Peter had never met Moses and Elijah.  He just knew who they were.

 

Yes, we will recognize each other in heaven.  Our loved ones will be known to us and we to them.  We will even recognize people we’ve never met, like Moses and Elijah, just like Peter did.

 

My dad was suffering from Alzheimer’s when he died.  I still remember one time that I went to visit him.  When I walked into the house and went up to his chair to greet him, I could see that blank stare in his eyes.  He didn’t recognize me.  I am looking forward to the day I get to heaven and my dad knows who I am.

 

The fact that heaven is a place of love and relationships is good news for so many of us. For some of you, life has been hard when it comes to relationships.  Maybe you were not loved unconditionally.  Perhaps you were hurt in a relationship.

 

Heaven is going to open a whole new world for you relationally.  The book of Revelation speaks about there being multitudes from every tribe and nation so that no one can count them.  Relationships in heaven will be perfect.

 

Next…….

 

3. Heaven will be a place of praise

 

The book of Revelation is filled with references to worship in heaven.

 

Appropriately, there will be times of worship to our God and Savior who died for our sins so that we will be in that wonderful place we call heaven.  I love the verse of Amazing Grace that speaks to the worship that will go on in heaven:

 

When we’ve been there ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we first begun

 

We’ll never tire of singing praises to the Lord in heaven.  But heaven won’t be one continuous worship service.  This leads to the next thing that heaven will be:

 

4. Heaven will be a place of productivity and accomplishment

 

Not only will we worship in heaven, but we will also work in heaven as well.  Revelation 22:3 states that God’s servants will serve him in heaven.

 

We’re not going to pass eternity away floating on a cloud.  We will all have work to do on the new earth.  We will all have some activity to accomplish, some service to perform.

 

Now some of us here on earth don’t like work.  You may not like your job.  You may say that your job is boring.  You might even say that you hate your job.  For some people, their job is unfulfilling.  Some of us just can’t wait for retirement. Some of you retired early.  That’s because work, on earth, is under a curse.

 

When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden, it was Adam’s job to tend the Garden.  But after Adam sinned, work would become difficult.  As he worked the land, Adam would have to deal with thorns and weeds.  Work was cursed and that’s why sometimes your job is difficult and frustrating.

 

But one day in heaven, on the new earth, the curse will be lifted on work.  You’ll finally have the perfect job.  One that you’ll never get bored with.  One that you will enjoy and one that will give you a great deal of satisfaction.

 

Now, of course, some occupations will not be needed in heaven.  There will be no illness, so we won’t need doctors in heaven.  There will be no death, so we won’t need funeral directors in heaven.  No one will take another person to court to sue them, so we won’t need any lawyers in heaven.  There will be no problems, so there won’t be any counselors or therapists in heaven.  All those people will be re-trained for new jobs.

 

But heaven will be a place of employment.  Next….

 

5. Heaven will be a place of joy and laughter

 

In one of his parables that alluded to heaven, Jesus spoke about entering our Master’s happiness.

 

If you think heaven will be a boring existence, will you ever be surprised.

 

Hell, which is the opposite of heaven, is described in the Bible as a place where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Hell will be a place of eternal regret and agony.

 

Heaven, which is the opposite of hell, will then be a place of eternal happiness.  I believe there will be a lot of joy and laughter in heaven!  It will be great to be there.  Why wouldn’t we rejoice?  Heaven will be a happy place. 

 

6. Heaven will be a perfect place

 

Heaven will be a perfect place because of some things that won’t be in heaven.  Rev. 21 speaks of those things that will be absent in heaven: death, mourning over the dead, crying and pain.

 

There will be no more pain in heaven.  There will be no more physical pain in heaven.

1. no more physical aches & pains.  No more Advil
2. no more illness.  No more trips to the Pharmacy
3. no more disabilities.  People confined to wheelchairs here on earth will walk, and run and skip and jump on the new earth
4. no more failing eyesight or hearing loss
5. no more fading memories
6. no more anxious waiting rooms
7. no more bad news from the doctor

 

No more physical pain in heaven.  Neither will there be any emotional pain in heaven.  No more heartaches & disappointments.  No more tear-stained divorce papers.  No more sorrows to cry over.

 

There will be no more death in heaven.  No more growing old and dying.  We’ll have new bodies in heaven!  I’ll have hair again!

 

No more death.  No more standing at the graveside of a loved one.

 

There will be no more crying in heaven.  God will wipe every tear from our eyes.  The hands that carved out mt. ranges will brush back the tears from our eyes.  The tiny fingers in the manger will caress our cheeks.  The blood-stained hands pierced for our transgressions will stroke our faces.

 

The hope that we have of heaven being a perfect place is what keeps us going when this life gets difficult.  Paul wrote:

 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17

 

One day, in heaven, all our struggles will be behind us.  Heaven will make all our suffering here on earth worth it in the end.  The promise of that better life will help us to endure this life.

And the wonderful thing about our perfect life in heaven is that it is forever.  In this life, we might have a good day and then a bad day, especially where illness is concerned.  But, in heaven, we have nothing but good days, every day, forever and ever.

 

I heard about an elderly woman who was 95 years of age.  All her friends had died.  She said, “I hope that I die soon.  Otherwise, all my friends in heaven will think I didn’t make it.”

 

My friends, I hope that you are looking forward to heaven.  One day will be your last day here on earth.  If you are a Christian, death is nothing to be feared.  Death is the gateway to the life that is real life, the wonderful life God has in store for us in heaven.

 

We were made for heaven.  I love coming back home after a trip, don’t you?  I love walking through the door of my home, sleeping in my own bed and eating at my own table.   One day the journey of this life will be over.  We will finally go home.  Heaven is our home.

 

How can you be sure of going to heaven?  The apostle John tells us how we can be sure:

 

“And this is the testimony:  God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” – 1 John 5:11-12

 

The promise of eternal life in heaven is given to those who have received Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.  We invite you to receive Christ in faith; profess your faith in Christ and be baptized into Christ.

 

If you are a baptized believer, but in need of a church home, I invite you to come forward to join our church family this morning.