Ecclesiastes 3:11 B (NLT)
He (God) has planted eternity in the human heart...
You can just feel inside your heart that you'll be around forever somewhere.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NLT)
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what
will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like
people who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus
died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God
will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still
living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
16 For
the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the
voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers
who have died will rise
from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are
still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
18 So
encourage each other with these words.
Luke 23:42-43 (NLT)
42 Then he (the thief on the cross) said, “Jesus, remember me
when you come into your Kingdom.”
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with
me in paradise.
This is the first heaven. It is like a resort vacation.
Revelation 21:1 (NLT)
Then I (the Apostle John) saw a new heaven and a
new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea
was also gone.
What is Heaven?
1. Heaven is a real place not a state of being.
Revelation 21:14 (NLT)
14 The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on
them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
2. Heaven is the place where paradise is
regained.
Revelation 21:4 (NLT)
4 He (God) will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no
more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
3. Heaven is a relational place where you'll
recognize your loved ones.
1 Corinthians 13:12 (NKJV)
12 For now (on earth) we see in a mirror, dimly, but then (in heaven) face to
face. Now I know (on earth)in part, but then (in heaven) I shall know just as I also am
known.
God created you to be His family.
1 John 3:1 A (NKJV)
Behold what manner of love the Father has
bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!
4. Heaven is a place where we are rewarded.
Revelation 22:12 (NLT)
12 “Look, I (Jesus) am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay
all people according to their deeds.
Matthew 16:27 (NIV)
27 For the Son of Man (Jesus) is going to come in his Father’s
glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what
they have done.
Living for Eternity
Titus 2:11-13 (NLT)
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to
all people.
12 And we are instructed to turn from godless
living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom,
righteousness, and devotion to God,
13 while we look forward
with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior,
Jesus Christ, will be revealed.
1. We must refocus our energies on eternity.
Think about everything through the lens of eternity.
Matthew 6:19-20 (NLT)
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them
and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 Store
your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do
not break in and steal.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT)
18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we
fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon
be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2. We must reach people to join us in heaven. Everything
passes away except people. People last forever.
Jude 22-23 (NLT)
22 And you must show mercy to those whose faith is
wavering.
23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of
judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating
the sins that contaminate their lives.
Revelation 22:17 (NLT)
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears
this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink
freely from the water of life.
Reach the lost at any cost because people last forever
somewhere.
3. We must renew our relationship with God.
2 Peter 3:13-14 (NLT)
13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth
he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.
14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things
to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure
and blameless in his sight.
You can go to heaven if you want too. Tell the Lord Jesus. Please take my life
and be in control of it. Please save me. You're the only one who
can.
Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands
https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/what-about-heaven
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