OceanSide church of Christ

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HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLACE

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   The word “heaven” is found 583 times in 551 verses in our Bible.

1.     The OT speaks of heaven 327 times.

2.    The NT speaks of heaven 256 times.

 

B.   Heaven should be very important to the Christian.

1.     Our reward involves heaven (Matt. 5:12).

2.    Our conversation is in heaven (Phil. 3:20).

3.     Our hope is in heaven (Col. 1:5).

 

C.   Often we sing songs about heaven:

1.     Heaven Holds All to Me

2.    How Beautiful Heaven Must Be

3.     No Tears in Heaven

4.    Sing to Me of Heaven

 

D.   One of the songs sung by young people is entitled, “Heaven Is A Wonderful Place.”  This will be the title of our lesson tonight.

 

I.          HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLACE BECAUSE DEITY DWELLS THERE

 

A.   There are three Beings in the Godhead:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

B.   Each one of these Beings dwells in heaven.

1.     God the Father (Matt. 6:9)

 

After this manner therefore pray ye:  Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 

2.    God the Son (Act 1:11)

 

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?  This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

3.     God the Holy Spirit (John 1:32)

 

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

 

 

 

II.        HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLACE BECAUSE THERE WE REST

 

A.   Hebrews 4:9

 

There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God.

 

B.   The rest follows death (Rev. 14:13).

 

And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth:  Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works to follow them.

 

C.   Life can be a difficult place to traverse.  Straining and toiling both physically and emotionally cause us to grow tired.  As individuals grow older, the burdens of their daily walk increase.  The spirit of man often cries out for rest.

 

D.   God has given us rest in our home beyond the vale. 

1.     It requires due diligence on our part to acquire it (Heb. 4:11).

 

Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

 

2.    It will be worth it.  We will have comfort plus that lasts throughout eternity (See Luke 16:25).

 

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things:  but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

 

III.      HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLACE BECAUSE OF ITS BEAUTY/SPELNDOR

 

A.   Revelation 21:10

 

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.

 

B.   Six beautiful aspects of the heavenly city:

1.     Garnished foundations to the wall of the city (Rev. 21:19)

 

And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones.

2.    And the twelve gates were twelve pearls (Rev. 21:21a)

3.     …and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass (Rev. 21:21b).

 

 

4.    Lit by the glory of God and of the Lamb (Rev. 21:23).

 

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it:  for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

 

5.    A river as clear as crystal (Rev. 22:1)

 

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

 

6.    The tree of life (Rev. 22:2)

 

In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month:  and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

 

C.   Most folks like to retire in a beautiful area of the country.  What better place to settle for eternity than in the splendors of the heavenly abode?

 

IV.       HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLACE BECAUSE IT HAS NO PAIN/ANGUISH

 

A.   This past week I was reminded on a small scale of the pain that man seems always to be suffering:  a blister, a splinter, and poison ivy were all on my right hand.

 

B.   These are minor pains compared to those experienced by many individuals:

1.     Physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual

2.    Sickness, disease, death, economic, family, friends, church, war, etc.

 

C.   Revelation 21:4

 

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.

 

V.        HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLCE BECAUSE NOTHING SINFUL IS THERE

 

A.   We live in a world controlled by Satan.

1.     He is called “the prince of this world” (John 12:31).

2.    He is called “the god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4).

3.     He is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2).

 

B.   With Satan as its ruler, it is not surprising that this world is filled with corruption, sin, and violence:  nation, community, family, churches, and within our personal lives.

C.   Heaven will not have any of the abominable things found in this world (Rev. 21:27).

 

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie:  but they that are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 

VI.       HEAVEN IS A WONDERFUL PLACE BECAUSE THE REDEEMED ARE THERE

 

A.   The redeemed are those who have been purchased with the precious blood of Christ (I Pet. 1:18-19).

 

B.   The redeemed are those who have lived in faithful service to God (Rev. 2:10).

 

C.   Revelation 14:1, 4

 

And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads….These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins.  These are they which follow the Lamb wither-soever he goeth.  These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

 

D.   What a joy to be able to associate with the Bible greats and faithful of all ages.

1.     Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and Jeremiah

2.    Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, Esther, Mary, and Phebe

3.     The apostles of Christ

4.    Great preachers of the gospel

5.    Loved ones and members of the church who passed before us

 

CONCLUSIION

 

A.   The song that titles our lesson has these lyrics:

 

Heaven is a wonderful place.

Filled with glory and grace.

I want to see my Savior’s face.

Heaven is a wonderful place….I wanta go there.

 

B.   All want to go, but not all will go to heaven.  Obedience to God is essential if one expects to enter that wonderful place.

1.     Matthew 7:21

 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

 

2.    Revelation 22:14

 

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.