INTRODUCTION:
A Sunday School teacher asked his class, “If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into Heaven?”
“NO!” the children all answered.
“If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?”
Again, the answer was, “NO!”
Again the teacher asked, “Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my wife, would that get me into Heaven?”
Again, they all answered, "NO!"
“Well then how can I get into Heaven?”
A five-year-old boy shouted out, “YOU GOTTA BE DEAD!” Good insight for a five-year old!
Some of us might say, “We’re one step closer to heaven because life is murder!” The routine of life with its many activities sometimes drains the life right out of us. We need strength for daily living.
This morning we’re going to discover how knowing our destiny can give us renewed strength for living life.
•Ephesians 3:16-19 (MsgB)
[16] I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength— [17] that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, [18] you’ll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! [19] Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
God will answer our prayer for strength. We have looked at four ways we can have our strength renewed. More than just keys or principles to live by, we have been looking at five one word answers to five basic questions. When answered properly these are five questions will rejuvenate our spirits through the power of God within us.
Here again are the five answers; IDENTITY, INTEGRITY, CAPACITY, TENACITY and DESTINY.
Identity answers the question “Who am I?” Your identity is not determined by what you do or how other people see you. The answer to the question “who am I?” is found in knowing WHOSE I AM. God establishes your identity! When you remember who you are in Christ, your identity strengthens you in your inner being.
Integrity answers the question “Whose am I?” or another way to put it “Who controls how I live my life?” Your God given identity as a child of God establishes your integrity—whose are you? I am God’s, therefore the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and I will live my life to please God and not myself. You cannot live a holy life—a life of integrity—apart from your relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Integrity is not worked into us by what we do—integrity comes from within us because of who we are.
Capacity answers the question, “Why am I here?” For what purpose will I use the capacity or ability God has given to me? We can either choose to use our capacity to fulfill our own purpose or to achieve God’s highest purpose—to bring Him glory as we leave “God marks” in the lives of others. The imprint or impression we leave in the lives of others will be determined by whose capacity we use. We lack the strength or ability to glorify God on our own—we need to let God be the “hammer” to leave His impression.
Tenacity answers the question “What will I choose?” We have been given the power to choose. Our choice is critical, continual and convincing. With tenacity to follow Jesus we know “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength;” that’s real strength for daily living.
Destiny answers the question “What’s my future?” In other words, “What happens after I die?”
Death has a perfect ratio—1:1; one out of every one person born dies. It’s a fact of life; one day your life will come to end here on this earth. None of us can avoid it; death comes to us all. We can eat healthy, exercise, and do the right things to extend our lives but there is nothing that we can do to keep from dying.
One of the saddest things about life is many people have no clue as to what awaits them after they die. Many people today believe in one of three primary un-Biblical perspectives on death.
1. Reincarnation: This belief states that once your life ends you immediately start another life and you will climb the stairs to attain oneness with the universe.
2. Annihilation: This belief states that there is nothing beyond this life and once it is over there is no more existence.
3. Universalism: This belief states that God will allow everyone into heaven no matter how they have lived their lives because He is good.
•Hebrews 9:27
Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.
The Bible is clear in its teaching. Each man and woman is given one life to live, and how their life is lived will determine their eternal destiny—life, death, judgment.
C.S. Lewis wrote about a tombstone epitaph he had once read: “Here lies an atheist all dressed up and nowhere to go!” The man had these words added to his tombstone as his final declaration of his view of eternity—a sad joke about the futility of faith. Lewis commented: “I’ll bet now he wishes that were so!” The truth of the matter is that you will go somewhere to spend your eternity but which place is up to you.
Can we be sure of our eternal destiny? Can we know what our future holds? Can we know what will happen after we die?
The Bible says we can know. God has given us a glimpse of eternity. He has shown us what eternity will be like and how we can be sure of our final destination.
When we have a certainty of our ultimate destiny we find strength for daily living. As we stop to remember the future God has planned for us we are renewed in our inner being. Regardless of how bad a day may be God renews our spirit with the knowledge “the best is yet to come!”
In the days of Alexander the Great, the Greeks originated the first group of “Seven Wonders of the World.”
o Pyramids of Egypt
o Hanging Gardens of Babylon
o Temple of Diana at Ephesus
o Statue of Jupiter in Athens
o Mausoleum of Artemisia in Asia Minor
o Colossus of Rhodes—bronze statue of the sun god—105 feet high
o The Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt
Today we’ve revised, and extended the list. We have the seven wonders of the modern world, and the seven natural wonders of the world. We could go on and on with the seven wonders of technology, science, medicine, communication. The list of wonders could go on and on.
This morning I want us to think about “The Seven Wonders of Heaven.” C.S. Lewis said, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” As we pause each day to think about heaven—to remember our destiny—we will find strength for daily living.
1. The Wonder of Heaven’s REALITY. (Advance)
Heaven is not like Peter Pan’s “Neverland.” Heaven is not a place of make-believe and fairy tales. Heaven is beyond your imagination, greater than your wildest dreams, and best of all—HEAVEN IS REAL!
Through out the Bible heaven is spoken of as a real place. Here are just a few of the hundreds of references to heaven found in scripture.
•Genesis 22:15 (NIV)
The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven.
•Colossians 1:16 (NIV)
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
•Hebrews 9:24 (NLT)
For Christ has entered into heaven itself.
•Revelation 19:11 (MsgB)
Then I saw Heaven open wide.
Jesus spoke of heave as a real place.
•Matthew 18:18 (MsgB)
“A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven.”
•Luke 15:7 (NIV)
“. . . there will be more rejoicing in heaven..”
•John 6:38 (MsgB)
“I came down from heaven.”
Heaven is real! God has made the wonder of heaven’s reality know to us. We can live in the midst of the reality of our world with strength for daily living because heaven is real! The wonder of heaven’s reality—that’s strength for daily living!
2. The Wonder of Heaven’s FRAMEWORK. (Advance)
What is the makeup and structure of heaven? Heaven is a real utopia—a perfection we can only begin to imagine in this world.
•1 Corinthians 2:9 (NIV)
However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”
Heaven is a place of absolute purity, free from evil and sin.
•Revelation 21:27 (NIV)
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Not only is heaven free from sin, but it is also free from the consequences and penalty for sin. In heaven there will be no pain, sickness or death. Heaven will be free of war, crime, poverty, and accidents. All the things that make us say, “Life’s not fair” will be gone forever!
•Revelation 21:4 (NIV)
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
Nothing this world has to offer compares with heaven. Heaven is unlike anything we have ever known in this life—oh the wonder of heaven’s framework—that’s strength for daily living!
3. The Wonder of Heaven’s PERMANENCE. (Advance)
Someone has said “All good things must come to an end.” Someone has never thought of heaven! Heaven will endure without end.
•2 Peter 3:13 (NIV)
But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
•2 Corinthians 5:1 (NIV)
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
Has life got you down? Do you grow tired and weary at the end of the day? Take a moment and consider the wonder of heaven’s permanence. God will renew you with strength for daily living—today, and one day our strength will not fail for we will be in heaven with our God. The wonder of heaven’s permanence—that’s strength for daily living!
4. The Wonder of Heaven’s ATTENTION. (Advance)
What would those living in a place like heaven think about? What has captured heaven’s attention?
Heaven has focused its attention on you and me—upon all humanity. It is amazing to think how such a perfect place as heaven would have any interest in a place as messed up as where we live. Oh the wonder of heaven’s attention upon those lost in sin!
•Luke 19:10 (MsgB)
For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost.
Jesus, God’s only Son, left the glory and wonder of heaven to make it possible for us to have a relationship with God. Jesus could have stayed in heaven; He could have seen our sin and turned the other way, but He didn’t. Heaven’s attention is focused upon us so that our relationship with God can be made new.
•John 6:38-40 (NLT)
[38] For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do what I want. [39] And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day. [40] For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life—that I should raise them at the last day."
•Luke 15:7 (MsgB)
Count on it—there’s more joy in heaven over one sinner’s rescued life than over ninety-nine good people in no need of rescue.
So do you ever feel like giving up—throwing in the towel? Has life got you down and you don’t have the desire or energy to even want to get up? Heaven has noticed! God’s attention is focused upon you!
When you think about your destiny—when you remember heaven—you can be renewed with strength for daily living because heaven will not ignore you. The wonder of heaven’s attention—that’s strength for daily living!
5. The Wonder of Heaven’s OPEN INVITATION. (Advance)
Heaven is a members only club—a prepared place for a prepared people. But the membership fee has been paid for you; God has opened the door of heaven to all who would come in through faith in His Son Jesus.
•John 3:16 (MsgB)
This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
•Romans 10:9 (NLT)
For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
No one can buy their way into heaven; you can’t earn the right to be admitted. God has given an open invitation for anyone to be admitted into heaven—through Christ.
Years ago a man was searching his family roots and visited several cemeteries and read many inscriptions on the tombstones. There was one tombstone on which was engraved "Pause now stranger as you pass by; as you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so soon you will be. Prepare yourself to follow me!"
Next to the tombstone someone placed a piece of wood engaged with this note: "To follow you I am not content, until I know which way you went."
Remember the story of the little boy who answered his Sunday School teacher’s question about how we to enter heaven? If you are going to be in heaven YOU HAVE TO BE DEAD. Well there’s more to it than just dying. Everyone will one day die, but not everyone who dies will go to heaven. Only those who die with faith in Christ will enter heaven.
•1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)
[3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
God has offered an open invitation to heaven. When we remember God’s promise to give us entrance into His heaven we are strengthened within our inner being. The wonder of heaven’s open invitation—that’s strength for daily living!
6. The Wonder of Heaven’s INHABITANTS. (Advance)
God has made it possible for you and me to be among the inhabitants of heaven. The redeemed from all the ages will be there. We’ll meet the heroes of the faith of whom we have read through the pages of the Bible. We’ll meet those down through the ages who have lived—and died for Christ. Loved ones who have died before us will be there—family, friends, pastors, and Sunday School teachers—they will all be there.
And the angels will be there too! We will join the angelic hosts before the throne to worship our Lord!
•Revelation 5:11-12 (NIV)
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. [12] In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"
I’m looking forward to one day being with the inhabitants of heaven—the saints of old, the angels, BUT THERE IS ONE INHABITANT OF HEAVEN I WANT TO SEE MORE THAN ALL THE OTHERS COMBINED. I WANT TO SEE THE LORD! JESUS WILL BE WITH US IN HEAVEN.
•1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NIV)
[16] For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. [18] Therefore encourage each other with these words.
The wonder of heaven’s inhabitants—that’s strength for daily living!
7. The Wonder of Heaven’s PRAISE! (Advance)
•Revelation 19:1 (NIV)
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.”
The song Amazing Grace says:
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’ve first begun.
Ten Thousand years to sing God’s praise? And we think thirty minutes is a long worship service! Folks this is just choir practice. We are preparing for an awesome time of praise in heaven to sing of God’s goodness—His mercy and His grace. The praise of heaven is not about us—OUR PRAISE IS FOR AN AUDIENCE OF ONE!
Perhaps you have a difficult time imagining the wonder of heaven’s praise. If I were to tell you we were going to spend eternity giving praise and honor to the Lord you’re likely to think that would get boring after awhile. Doesn’t God have anything else for us to do?
You may struggle to offer praise to God now. You may wonder, “Why do they spend so much time singing these songs in church?” Let me suggest two possible reasons for your difficulty—now and thinking about offering God endless praise in heaven.
o First, it’s hard to lift up dirty hands in praise to God. Worship isn’t real when we have sin in our lives. God knows it, and deep down we know it too. Don’t hold on to your sin; confess it. You will find worship is much easier when your hands are clean.
o Second, you may have a hard time worshiping God simply because you don’t know Jesus. The more you know about the Lord, the easier it is to offer Him the worship He alone is worthy of. We are designed to worship. Hundreds of thousand of people will gather in football stadiums this afternoon—to worship. Real fans can tell you all about the game and its players. How much time are you spending getting to know Jesus? In heaven we will know Him in ever increasing ways—each day will be a discovery of His glory with a new opportunity to worship Him.
Destiny—What’s my future? The seven wonders of heaven: REALITY, FRAMEWORK, PERMENENCE, ATTENTION, OPEN INVITATION, INHABITANTS, and PRAISE.
Think about your destiny—what’s my future? When you have accepted Christ as your Savior heaven is your home—that’s strength for daily living!
