Sermon Central
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Why I Believe In Heaven
Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Apr 22, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ON A FEW OCCASIONS TO HELP FRIENDS AND RELATIVES BUILD NEW HOMES. AS IT PROGRESSES SO TOO DOES THE ANTICIPATION OF THE DAY WHEN THEY MOVE IN. SHOULDN'T THE SAME BE TRUE ABOUT HEAVEN.
WHY I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN
I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY ON A FEW OCCASIONS TO HELP FRIENDS AND RELATIVES BUILD NEW HOMES. I HAVE NOTICED A COUPLE OF THINGS WHEN THESE OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES.
FIRST, THAT’S CLOSE ENOUGH IS A PHRASE THAT IS NEVER HEARD. IF MEASUREMENTS ARE NOT CORRECT AT THE BEGINNING, IT COULD CREATE GREATER PROBLEMS LATER. I THINK THE CURSE OF ANY WOODWORKER IS THAT WE SET HIGH STANDARDS FOR OUR WORK. I KNOW MANY WHO WOULD AGREE WITH ME THAT THE MOST FRUSTRATING STATEMENT IN WOODWORKING IS “NO ONE ELSE WILL KNOW, BUT I WILL KNOW.”
SECOND, THERE IS GREAT ANTICIPATION AND EXCITEMENT AS THE HOME IS BUILT AND PRIDE AS IT IS FINISHED. WHEN TALKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE BUILDING THEY WILL DESCRIBE WHAT WILL GO WHERE, “WE’RE PUTTING IN BIRCH CABINETRY”, “THIS ROOM IS THE LIVING ROOM”, “THIS IS WHERE I WANT MY MAN CAVE, IF MY WIFE SAYS IT’S ALL RIGHT”.
THE ANTICIPATION AND EXCITEMENT BUILDS AND REACHES A CLIMAX WHEN THE HOME IS READY AND THEY MOVE IN. EVERYTHING IS JUST RIGHT. THE FURNITURE IS PICKED WITH SPECIFIC PLACES IN MIND, THE COLORS ON THE WALLS ARE PERFECT. THERE ARE NO REPAIRS THAT NEED TO BE MADE. THE HOME IS READY TO BE LIVED IN.
MY QUESTION TO YOU TODAY IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU LOOK TOWARD YOUR HEAVENLY HOME WITH THE SAME ANTICIPATION?
I THINK SOMETIMES WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN THE CARES OF THIS WORLD, THAT IT BLINDS US TO THE FACT THAT THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME. THE SCRIPTURES ARE CLEAR ABOUT THIS. PAUL TEACHES:
“1 ¶ 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. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,”
I’M 55 YEARS OLD AND IN RELATIVELY HEALTHY, BUT I FIND THAT THE REALITY OF PAUL’S TEACHING IS BECOMING MORE PRESENT IN MY LIFE. THIS IS NOT A BAD THING AS I FIND IT HELPS ME TO FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT AND NOT TO SWEAT WHAT ARE REALLY MINOR AREAS OF LIFE IF WE THINK ABOUT IT.
SOMETHING THAT I ALLOW MYSELF TO DO EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE IS TO THINK ABOUT HEAVEN. I FIND THAT THERE IS NOT MUCH PREACHING ABOUT HEAVEN TODAY, AND USUALLY IT IS AT A FUNERAL. THERE ARE SOME GOOD BOOKS CONCERNING HEAVEN, ONE OF THE BEST THAT I’VE READ, AND ACTUALLY USED IN BIBLE STUDY WAS WRITTEN BY RANDY ALCORN ENTITLED “HEAVEN.”
THE BEST BOOK TO STUDY CONCERNING HEAVEN THOUGH IS THE BIBLE. THE BIBLE IS THE SOURCEBOOK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HEAVEN. IT IS GOD’S WORD, DESCRIBING THE PLACE THAT GOD CREATED.
THERE ARE THOSE WHO WOULD NOT HAVE US TO THINK ABOUT HEAVEN AS IF IT WERE A WASTE OF TIME. HOW CAN OUR MORTAL MINDS CONCEIVE OF SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE, IT’S IMPOSSIBLE. HOW SAD TO FEEL THIS WAY. HOW SAD NOT TO ALLOW GOD TO USE HIS WORD AND SPEAK TO OUR IMAGINATION AS TO WHAT HEAVEN IS LIKE.
YES THE BIBLE DOES SAY:
1 CORINTHIANS 2:9: “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" —”
THIS HOWEVER IS NOT A FINISHED THOUGHT. THERE IS NO PERIOD AT THE END OF THIS STATEMENT. THERE IS SOMETHING MORE. LISTEN!
1 CORINTHIANS 2:10: “but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”
IF WE DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ILLUMINE DEEP TRUTHS OF SCRIPTURE TO US CONCERNING LIVING FOR JESUS, AND SALVATION, JUST TO NAME TWO, WHY SHOULD WE NOT LOOK TO HIM TO ILLUMINE SOME OF THE GLORY OF HEAVEN TO US. THE SCRIPTURE WILL TEACH US A LOT ABOUT HEAVEN, IF WE ARE WILLING TO PUT THE TIME INTO IT.
STILL MORE SCARY THAN CHRISTIANS NOT WANTING TO THINK ABOUT HEAVEN, ARE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO DON’T BELIEVE THERE IS A HEAVEN. SOME PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF EITHER HEAVEN OR HELL. SOME SAY THEY ARE ON EARTH. SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IN HEAVEN, BUT IT IS A BELIEF OF THEIR OWN MAKING AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS ABOUT HEAVEN.
TODAY, I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY I BELIEVE IN HEAVEN. IT IS IN SOME WAYS A SERMON OF WHAT I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO IN HEAVEN, AND WHAT I THINK IT WILL BE LIKE. SO SIT BACK IN YOUR CHAIR AND DARE TO DREAM FOR A LITTLE WHILE AS I SHARE A VISION OF WHAT HEAVEN MEANS TO ME.
THERE ARE MANY POINTS THAT I COULD BRING OUT ABOUT HEAVEN TODAY BUT I WANT TO SHARE THESE WITH YOU:
