Sermon - November 1, 2009
The Gospel: Frame 1
The Word of the Lord
2
3 The Afterlife: For All the Saints
Isaiah Revelation 21:1-8 John 14:1-3
Last Sunday we embarked on a new sermon series: The
Afterlife. It’s called that instead of Eternal Life because eternal life is not
just everlasting –it is the very quality of God’s own life: that quality which
we see most distinctly in Jesus, God’s Son. 4
In His intimate discourse with the Father, Jesus clearly defines eternal life.
On the last night His life on earth, Jesus prays, “And this is eternal life,
that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent.”.
John 17:3
By Jesus’ own definition, eternal life does not begin at the point of death,
in the afterlife. Eternal life begins at the point of knowing God, of believing
and receiving Jesus Christ as God’s Son as Lord and Savior. All who know Jesus
already have eternal life dwelling in them. 5
This is what the psalmist prophesied when he sang to God, “For You have
delivered my soul from death.’ Ps 56:13
Last Sunday we saw that the afterlife for the soul bereft of God, who has
rejected or forfeited the quality of the life of God, is a dark dread-filled,
tormented eternity. This morning we are going to peer into the promised destiny
of every believer. What does every soul who in Christ already has eternal life,
have to look forward to? What is heaven like?
6 Many people who have survived near death experiences
speak of the indescribable beauty of what they saw. For numerous reasons we
should not discredit their reports – particularly because when they return from
death’s door, they no longer fear death and the lead changed lives. However,
even though these reports may be fascinating and comforting, our first and final
authority must be the Word of God which contains many assurances about eternal
life and heaven. Take for example, what Jesus is teaching us this morning.
It was the Passover meal. 7
What should have been a joyous feast celebrating the Hebrews deliverance
from Egypt, the event that forever elevated the Jews as the chosen people of
God, was somber and cheerless. There were shadows of gloom and doom in the
upper room. It was the night that Jesus knew He would be arrested, put on trial,
suffer, and be crucified. He knew what was coming. He foretold His death on
three prior occasions. Yet Jesus’ first concern was not Himself, but His
disciples. How would they fare through the tragic and overwhelming injustice of
their beloved leader’s death?
Jesus comforts them with these words. 8 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God,
believe in Me also. John 14:1 His disciples are about to lose everything
they thought they had gained over the past three years. But Jesus assures them,
“don’t believe in what you see. Believe in Me.”
9 How much we need that assurance
in our lives today, as we face critical financial problems, problems in the
moral structure of our society, problems in our homes and families, health
problems: things that trouble our minds and hearts. Against all the things we
see in our world that are wrong, unjust, immoral, and evil, Jesus reminds us to
believe in Him.
10 He qualifies His right to our belief, and His longing for our
love. “In my Father’s House are many mansions. If it were not so, would I
tell you I go to prepare a place for you? Jesus assures us Himself of the
reality and glories of heaven.
First of all, heaven is a real place. Jesus did not say I go and prepare
for you a state of mind, or a mental trick, or a lovely dream from which you
will never awaken. No. 11 He says
“I go [leave this world] and prepare a place for you.” In other
words, His exit from this world by way of death on the cross was necessary for
our own entrance into heaven by way of His blood. Heaven is an actual place to
which the believer will go in the afterlife through the eternal life in Christ
which is already in the believer’s heart. Heaven is a place as real as the home
you left to come here this morning. We have Jesus’ word for it. If this were
not so, He would have told us.
Secondly, heaven is huge! 12 In
My Father’s House are many mansions. The word “mansions” really means
“dwellings”. A colleague and long time friend of mine shared a fresh insight on
this passage. Last winter, she had visited Capernaum in Israel where you can
see foundations of homes from the time of Jesus. We usually think the bigger
the house, the wealthier the owner. 13
She said her tour guide told their group that when a son of a poor family
married, a new house wasn’t affordable, so he and his bride moved in with the
relates. They just picked up some rocks from out back and built on another room
for the newly weds. Consequently over time, the homes of the poor had many
rooms. 14 Jesus tells us that He has
prepared a place in the family of God we ourselves could never afford!
15 Heaven is real. Heaven is huge. Heaven is permanent. As
a pastor, my family has moved quite a little. I always considered myself a
sojourner among my congregations and in the towns I served. I had never owned
my own home. So you can imagine my joy when we built our home three years ago.
16 Because it was the first, and the last,
the only home I will ever own, I spent 18 years dreaming, designing, and
planning every detail: the rooms, the colors, the flooring, window treatment,
even the type and placement of furnishings: grandfather’s clock, sofas, coffee
tables – everything. I love our home. I love it because it is a reflection of
God’s love for John and I and our family. It is a symbol of His faithfulness,
the fulfillment of promise made long ago when we barely had enough to eat
shivering in a house we could not afford to keep warm. As much as I thank and
praise God for His gift of our beautiful home, I know that it is only
temporary. Someday it will be given up, sold to some else to make it their own.
Our home in heaven is permanent. It’s for keeps – forever, it will not be
foreclosed, traded or sold. 17 Look at
this: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , who according
to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible
and undefiled that does not fade away, Reserved in heaven for you. I
Peter 1:3.4
Heaven is real. Heaven is huge. Heaven is permanent. Heaven is a personal
place. There will be people there.18
Elijah was taken up in a chariot. In the Spirit, Paul was taken up to third
heaven. He called it paradise. Last week we say Abraham hanging out with
Lazarus. Jesus is there along the thief on the cross beside Him.19
In his last moments of life, Steven, the first Christian martyr saw the heavens
opened with Jesus sitting at the right Hand of God the Father. Heaven has
people.
Heaven is a holy place. 20 Rev.
21:4 assures us God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain, for the former things are passed away. Heaven is holy because of what
is not there: no sin, no sickness, no sorrow, no pain, and no more death. Only
life, only goodness. only joy, only peace is in God’s dwelling place. God won’t
have it any other way.
21 Heaven is real. Heaven is huge, Heaven is
permanent. Heaven is a personal place. Heaven is a holy place. Heaven is
resplendent. 22 Revelation 21
describes the foundations of the New Jerusalem as adorned with all kinds of
precious stones, walls of jasper, the city itself shining like gold. Twelve
gates of pearl, and streets of pure gold transparent of glass. Years ago I was
on a plane heading South at the time of sunset. Below I saw what looked like
meandering streets of gold. The winding rivers reflected the rays of the sun.
Are the streets of heaven pure gold? They were to John as He beheld the vision.
The Glory of God illumines all of heaven; that glorious light of His presence.
Heaven is resplendent and heaven is rapture. Unencumbered by sin, guilt and
shame, we will see everything in God’s perfect intended beauty. We will
experience everything in His perfect joy. We will feel everything in His perfect
love.
Finally, Heaven is a place of reunion. 23
We will see again our friends and loved ones who have died in the Lord. I will
meet for the first time my great grandfather, who died before I was born. I
have been to only two reunions in my life, and I have always been a little
envious of you Iowa folks: Every summer you gather with members from all sides
of the family tree, or classmates at reunions. 24
Then just two weeks ago I was reunited with two friends from college I had not
seen in nearly thirty five years. Visiting with Pam restored and reclaimed a
chunk of the most formative years of my life. This summer, I plan on going my
sorority reunion! Imagine being reunited with loved ones you have not seen for
decades!
Think of the all the people there.25 Imagine asking Noah about the great flood, what was it
like? Or the Apostle Paul tell about the early days of the Church. Or listen to
Abraham Lincoln talk about His experiences in office.
26 But best of all, the very best is we
will see Jesus – just as He is, in all His glory All who have ever lived and
died in the love of God and Christ Jesus are there, living in heaven. This is
the great mystery of the Communion of saints. Through Christ, we are joined to
every believer who lives on the earth, and every believer who lives in heaven.
When the day comes, that this body of flesh too weary to go on, commits this
spirit to the Lord, my eyes will close upon the world and open to see His
glorious countenance. 27 For that is
His promise. For I will come again and receive to Myself; that where I am,
there you may be also. John 14:3
28 That’s heaven
- for all the saints.
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