Heaven
John 14:1-3,
I think you could say when it comes to godliness and growth in grace, one of the most important principles is that we need to imitate Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.” But not just in terms of how we live, but how we think. Philippians 2:5, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” And if we are thinking like Jesus, surely we should be thinking a lot about heaven. Jesus spoke more about heaven than anybody else. Just in terms of that word heaven in the gospel of Matthew, thirty times he uses that phrase, “the kingdom of heaven.” Think of the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5, he mentions heaven, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And then back again in the same chapter, verse 12, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” And then you think of the Lord's Prayer, twice he mentions heaven, “Our Father which art in heaven,” and then, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Then he ends the Sermon on the Mount on a double note of heaven as well, Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
If you go back again to the final part of his life when he's on the cross, he mentions heaven. Speaking to that thief on the cross he assures him of his entrance into heaven, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Now, someone has actually counted 7,000 plus verses in the New Testament and 5% of them are about the hope of heaven.
It's something we should be thinking about; but how often do we think about heaven? Not as much as we should. Let me tell you five things that should excite us and energize our hope.
And I think that explains to some degree why the Puritans were the Puritans. They suffered a lot, but they thought a lot about heaven, they did a lot of thinking about heaven. It helped strengthen them, it helped them persevere in the midst of their heavy burdens and trials. The apostle Paul could say in Romans 8, “Eagerly wait for the adoption of sons and redemption of our bodies, for in this hope we are saved.”
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
I think you could say when it comes to godliness and growth in grace, one of the most important principles is that we need to imitate Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.” But not just in terms of how we live, but how we think. Philippians 2:5, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” And if we are thinking like Jesus, surely we should be thinking a lot about heaven. Jesus spoke more about heaven than anybody else. Just in terms of that word heaven in the gospel of Matthew, thirty times he uses that phrase, “the kingdom of heaven.” Think of the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5, he mentions heaven, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” And then back again in the same chapter, verse 12, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.” And then you think of the Lord's Prayer, twice he mentions heaven, “Our Father which art in heaven,” and then, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Then he ends the Sermon on the Mount on a double note of heaven as well, Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
If you go back again to the final part of his life when he's on the cross, he mentions heaven. Speaking to that thief on the cross he assures him of his entrance into heaven, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Now, someone has actually counted 7,000 plus verses in the New Testament and 5% of them are about the hope of heaven.
It's something we should be thinking about; but how often do we think about heaven? Not as much as we should. Let me tell you five things that should excite us and energize our hope.
- Heaven is a place of perfect security and safety. No risks, no danger in heaven. This world is a dangerous place, physical dangers, spiritual dangers abound, but heaven is perfectly safe.
- Heaven will be full of divine glory. We will witness the full glory and majesty of God in heaven. And not only will we witness it, but we will share in Christ's glory. I think John Newton had that in mind when he wrote that wonderful hymn, Amazing Grace, “When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining like the sun.”.
- We will enjoy the most enriching, delightful fellowship we've ever experienced. Sin will not mar or scar our relationships in heaven. No relational pains and hurts in heaven. Perfect unity and peace.
- It is that place described by Jesus in terms of a place of many mansions, we will never have to be afraid again. In this present life, we are plagued with one fear after another. Not a day goes by where we're not troubled or confronted with past fear, present fear and future fear or tomorrow's fears, and the greatest fear is death. Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more. Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore for the former things have passed away.” And then we can think of loved ones that have gone. We should think of them in terms of the hope of the resurrection, but also the hope of heaven.
- One more thing which makes heaven, heaven. This is the best of the best, Christ is there, Christ is there. He will be there. That's what makes heaven the most glorious, delightful place, he will be there. We will see him face to face and we know that we will be like him. And wasn't that what Jesus said to the thief, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
And I think that explains to some degree why the Puritans were the Puritans. They suffered a lot, but they thought a lot about heaven, they did a lot of thinking about heaven. It helped strengthen them, it helped them persevere in the midst of their heavy burdens and trials. The apostle Paul could say in Romans 8, “Eagerly wait for the adoption of sons and redemption of our bodies, for in this hope we are saved.”
Posted in Pastor Devotional