“Two men were dying across town from one another. One was a very wealthy man who had amassed and enjoyed a fortune. His Victorian house was lavishly furnished with antiques and expensive paintings. A stylish car sat outside the door, and a boat was on the nearby lake. The second man had never flourished financially, but he had loved the Lord and worked faithfully in the…church. The first, as he died, moaned, ‘I’m leaving home…I’m leaving home.’ The second died with a glow on his face, saying, ‘I’m going home. I’m going home.”[1]
Heaven is the expectation of the righteous, the home of the saved, and the joy of the downtrodden. It is a relief to the sick, a comfort to the persecuted, and the only true hope in this life. Although an important Biblical subject, the Bible does not record many specifics about Heaven. In fact, Jesus spoke more about Hell than Heaven. While Revelation 21-22 illustrates it with physical pictures, since heaven will be a spiritual place (cf. Matthew 22:30), we do not have a precise picture as to what it will be like. We are left to imagine with our finite minds what it will be like.
Salespersons are in the process of selling their produce to potential buyers. One tactic they use is absolute appreciation of their product. No salesman will say “you might like this,” or “you probably will enjoy it.” Instead, they say “You will love our product.” Allow me to sell heaven to you and give you a few reasons why you WILL surely enjoy heaven if you decide to go.
You Will Never Feel Emotional, Physical, or Social Pain Ever Again. Pain is real on earth, but in heaven it will be a distant memory. Revelation 21:4[2] reads, “no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” If you had cancer, expect to be cancer free. If you were paralyzed, expect to walk again. If you experienced emotional trauma, expect to be filled with endless joy (cf. Matthew 25:21). Although the physical body groans and complains, the redemption of the body will come (Romans 8:19-23). Paul wrote that only spiritual bodies can inhabit heaven: “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption…For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:50, 53). This body will be improved (Philippians 3:21) and like Jesus’ (1 John 3:2). Doesn’t this make you excited for heaven?
You Will Get to Go Live with God. Ever thought about what it would be like to live with Buckingham Palace? What about the White House? Ever lived in a mansion? Heaven surpasses these residences; it is a special mansion (cf. John 14:1-3). No man has been in the actual presence of God; heaven will be a new experience. Everyone lives in the presence of God to some degree now (Psalm 139:7-8), but heaven will be different. This is God’s house (Acts 7:49) and it is made for us (John 14:1-2). The wish of “O I want to see Him” will be real, for residents will be like the “four and twenty elders” who fell “down before him that sat on the throne” (Revelation 4:10). There will be no more prayer because we will talk with Him face to face. There will be no more faith, because we will be able to look Him in the eye. Maybe we will get to hug Him too! We will be where He is (John 14:3) and it will be forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Paul anticipated being with Christ when he said, “For I am in a strait betwixt the two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:23; see 2 Corinthians 5:8 too). This experience will be real, awe-inspiring, and unlike meeting any other being in the universe! If God created earth’s beauty for us to live in (mountains, sunsets, oceans) imagine how much better heaven will be. Muslims want 72 virgins, Jehovah Witnesses’ look forward to the new earth, but Christians get excited for heaven for they will get to meet God for the first time. Doesn’t this make you excited for heaven?
Endnotes
[1]Robert J. Morgan, Preacher’s Sourcebook of Creative Sermon Illustrations, Thomas Nelson, 2007, p. 421.
[2]Some say that this verse is talking about the church. Nonetheless the application can be made to heaven.
Comments