Everyone, even unbelievers, perk up their ears and pay attention when heaven is mentioned. And everyone wants to go there, or they should want to. Most Americans believe in heaven, and most of them hope to go there when they die. The truth is, man, having an immortal soul, was made to live forever somewhere.
"Those who go to heaven ride on a pass and enter into blessings that they never earned, but all who go to hell pay their own way." - John R. Rice
We will only concentrate on heaven in this post, and how glorious it will be. The most wonderful part of heaven for believers is the fact that we will be with Jesus there for all of eternity. He is our Savior and our Redeemer, and we love Him with all of our being.
Following is a cheerful discussion on what heaven will be like from prophecywatchers.com, featuring Gary Stearman and his guest, pastor Tom Hughes :
They speculate what heaven will be like, such as will there be grass in heaven, will there be baseball, and the like. But it is not all fanciful wishing; there are some good nuggets of truth in this video.
Concerning our journey in this life, I enjoyed what Tom Hughes said, "The Bible is our travel guide, and Jesus is our tour guide." Jesus is now in heaven preparing a place for true believers:
" In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." - John 14:2-3
In the above verses, Jesus tells us that He will come again and receive us to Himself to be with Him in heaven. He is referring to the Rapture of the Church, the body of true believers. Jesus could return at any moment to take believers with Him to their eternal home.
Are you ready?
At the end, after the 7 year Tribulation and the antichrist and the false prophet and satan are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 19 and Revelation 20), the Bible book of Revelation 21 tells us:
"(1) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. (4) And God shall 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."
The above verses are among the most beautiful and comforting in the Bible. We need to dwell on such beautiful verses to counteract all the negativity in today's world of evil and violence and wars. God's Holy Word gives us comfort and hope and a reason for living, that reason being to glorify God; to worship Him and to do His will and to live for Him and to bring lost souls to Jesus.
"For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ;" - Philippians 3:20
"Life, if properly viewed in any aspect, is great, but mainly great when viewed in its relation to the world to come." - Albert Barnes
"Life, if properly viewed in any aspect, is great, but mainly great when viewed in its relation to the world to come." - Albert Barnes
Following is a sermon on heaven by Charles Spurgeon. It is excellent and is only 37 minutes in length.
In the above sermon, Spurgeon stresses that our imagination cannot truly picture heaven. He says, "To know more of heaven, spend more time in prayer."
There is only one way to heaven !
Jesus !!
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - John 14:6
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12
Please read all of John 3. Most all of you are no doubt familiar with John 3:16 , "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
John the Baptist said, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." - John 3:36
To be saved, you need to admit that you are a sinner and that you need a Savior. Repent and pray for forgiveness. Believe in faith that Jesus died for you and that His death on the cross paid for your sins in full; His shed blood redeems you. All you need to do is to have faith and believe in Him and in His resurrection.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ...... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" - Romans 10:9,10, 13
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
