When God Wipes Away Our Tears

Paul said heaven is inexpressible with words.  In addition, he said that those who have been there were legally prevented from repeating their experience. 

2 Corinthians 12  (NKJV)

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago...such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 

3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—

4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 

Moses was told that if a human were to actually see God's face, they'd die...

Exodus 33:20-23  (NKJV)

20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”

21 And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 

22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.

23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.” 

How can a mortal describe heaven?

Paul talked about it again in...

1 Corinthians 2:9-10  (NKJV)

9 But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

  

10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

There is a language of the soul that we can experience, but is inexpressible in a human language.

But this is the message...  God Himself is planning on moving in with us. 

Revelation 21:3  (NKJV)

3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

Cam you imagine it?   How do you describe it?  God in a tent among us. 

In the beginning, God walked with Adam and Eve. 

Abraham was God's friend.

In the Book of Exodus, God traveled with the Hebrews in a cloud by day and pillar of fire by night.   

The God dwelt between the two angels on the Ark of the Covenant. 

John 1:14 (NKJV)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

   

The Son of God and the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, took on human flesh to dwell among us.

  

The Lord tabernacles with believers today by the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts.

  

How did the Disciple John describe it when God Himself moves in?  

Revelation 21:1  (NKJV)

21 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.

Is John saying that the earth will no longer be covered by the sea characterized by hurricanes and undrinkable salt water?

Or is he saying that the earth will be covered by a calm fresh water global lake?

The sea as we know it with it's hurricanes and destructive waters will be gone.

Revelation 21:4-7 (NKJV)

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

As long as we are in this life, there will be tears in our eyes.  We may forget how to laugh, but not to cry.  

We are in a journey in this present time to God's heavenly kingdom if we follow Him. 

Sorrow follows us like a shadow.  How many tear drops drench our pillows?  Only God knows.  Sorrow and crying will be no more. For God will wipe them away. 

5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” 

All the death and destruction will be no more.  

And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

6 And He said to me, “It is done! I (Jesus) am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

Revelation 3:20  (NKJV)

20 Behold, I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

W. A. Criswell, First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas

https://www.wacriswell.com/sermons/1963/when-god-wipes-away-our-tears1/

How can I go to Heaven?

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