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Our Hope of Heaven

Sermon by  Thomas Thornhill Jr

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CONCERNING FIRST PRINCIPLES

 

Today, being the first Sunday, I want to present another “first principle” lesson – lessons that foundational to our faith and of an encouragement to those who are seeking.  For most of us, these are simply reminders of what we need to do, to be and why.  For others, it can be the catalyst to surrender their lives to the King.

In this lesson, I want to address the subject of heaven.  Specifically, I want to focus on what heaven will be like.  After all, the reason we are here or searching is because we want to go to heaven when this life is over.   So let us pause and remind ourselves of some things associated with heaven in scripture.

 

1. Thoughts about heaven
   1. Heaven is a real place
      1. It is not a fictional place made up by preachers to amass a following and give false hope. Just as hell is not a fictional place invented to scare/bully people into submission.
         1. You cannot believe the Bible and deny the existence of heaven. While not part of this physical realm, it is just as real.
         2. Jesus described it as a real place. John 14:1-3 – “I go to prepare a place for you.”
         3. Hebrews 11:9-10, 13-16 describes the place Abraham waited for. A city, with foundations.
         4. 1 Peter 1:3-5 – speaks of an inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you…
   2. It is our motivation for faithful living – we live sacrificial, and perhaps troubled lives for our faith. We give up pleasures and continue to endure.  Why? Because we know something better is awaiting us on the other side of eternity.
      1. 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 – if our earthly house is destroyed, we have a building from God…
      2. Philippians 3:7-11 – Paul gave up all to gain Christ and “attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Phil. 3:20 notes that “our citizenship is in heaven”.
      3. Matthew 6:19-21 – Jesus noted that where your treasure is, there you heart will also be.
      4. Heaven is our goal – Philippians 3:12-14 – Paul pressed toward the goal for the prize. 2 Peter 3:13 – we are looking for “new heavens and a new earth” – our eternal dwelling place.
   3. It is our reward – 2 Timothy 4:7-8, Hebrews 11:26 – Moses “looked to the reward”.  1 Corinthians 9:24 – we run to obtain the prize (which is heaven).   Matthew 5:12 – as we suffer for His cause, we can rejoice “for great is your reward in heaven.”
2. How is heaven described?
   1. The nature of heaven is spiritual – In John 18:36, Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” When Jesus taught in parables about heaven, he was trying help people grasp its spiritual nature (e.g. Matthew 13: 24ff, 31, 33, 44, 45, 47 – the parable of wheat and tares, mustard seed and leaven, hidden treasure, pearl of great price & the dragnet).   In the parables, we find heaven’s intrinsic value, influence and inhabitants.
   2. Paradise – 2 Corinthians 12:4, Paul (likely) was caught up into paradise. The word (παράδεισος, paradeisos) is found 3x in the NT – Luke 23:43 – Jesus speaking to the penitent thief, our text and Revelation 2:7 – he who overcomes will eat of the “tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”  The LXX uses the word in Genesis 2:8-9 for the “garden” of Eden.  The word is found 27 times in the OT, 12x in Genesis 2&3.  The word has reference to a garden with trees, or a park – a place of natural beauty.  I appreciate parks for many reasons – their scenic beauty, places of relaxation and calm, etc.
   3. Better – heaven is described as a place “better” than anything on this earth. The book of Hebrews describes how everything about Jesus is better.  This includes a better reward.  Consider Hebrews 10:34, “a better and enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.”  Hebrews 11:16 – they desire a better, heavenly country.  Hebrews 11:40, God having provided something better for us…   As you dig deeper in your studies about heaven, you will find it is better than anything this world has to offer.
   4. Eternal reward – James 4:14 tells us that our lives are vapor. 2 Peter 3:10-11 tells us a day is coming when this world will be dissolved.  But heaven is described as everlasting – Matthew 25:46, 1 Petr 1:4 – it is an inheritance that is incorruptible and that does not fade away.  1 John 2:24-25, Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.    Romans 6:22, But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
   5. A place of rest and peace –our world is filled with troubles and unrest.
      1. Life itself can be tiresome, both physically and mentally. Ungodliness abounds and frustrates us.  God created our bodies to need rest for about 1/3 of our life (~8 hours a day) and still we are tired.
      2. While on this earth, we are called to work – including spiritually. Even Jesus noted that in John 9:4 where He noted, I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 
      3. Solomon in Ecclesiastes noted the vanity of work. Eccl. 2:17-23 records reasons why – his days are sorrowful and burdensome.  What he gains he cannot take with him.
      4. To me, rest is one of the great descriptions of heaven. Revelation 14:13 makes the point that those who die in the Lord may rest from their labors.  2 Thessalonians 1:7 speaks of that day when He will give those troubled rest.
   6. A place where there will be no:
      1. Revelation 21:4 – no tears, death, sorrow, nor crying, nor pain.
      2. Revelation 21:27 – nothing that causes an abomination or defiles. No lie.
      3. Revelation 22:3 – no more curse – likely a description of the curse of sin.
      4. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – those who live immoral and godless lives.
      5. Galatians 5:19-21 – the works of the flesh.
      6. In this world we face constant threats and evil. We lock our door and install security systems.  We put our valuables in a safe.  None of that will be needed in heaven.
   7. A place where God will be –
      1. One of the greatest descriptions of heaven is the presence of God and Jesus. On this earth, we know He is there, but we cannot see in.  In that day, we will always be with the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
      2. Revelation 21:22-23 – God and the Lamb are its temple.
      3. Revelation 22:3-4 – And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
      4. 1 John 3:2-3 notes that we shall see Jesus as He is. This is incentive to purify ourselves.
   8. A place where righteousness dwells –
      1. Finally, we be in that place where righteousness is an identifier.
      2. 2 Peter 3:13 – Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
      3. In heaven we will be with our righteous God and serve Him forever.

When some asks, “Why should I obey the gospel?”  There are many reasons we could give, but at the very core is the fact that our eternal destiny is at stake.  For those who do obey the gospel, they can anticipate a home in heaven when this life is over.  We may not, with our human minds, be able to fully grasp what it will be like.  But we do know based on how heaven is described, that it is the place we desire to be.  And it is prepared for those who obey His gospel.  For all others, their eternal destiny is condemnation in the fires of hell.   Years ago, I heard a preacher summarize the importance of heaven by saying, “If you miss heaven, you miss all there is.”  What about you? Are you living your life with heaven as your goal?  Think about it!