17-There’s a Beautiful Place called 17-There’s a Beautiful Place called HeavenHeaven

474- Sing to Me of Heaven474- Sing to Me of Heaven 225- In the Hour of Trial225- In the Hour of Trial

545- This World is Not My Home 545- This World is Not My Home 361- There’s a Great Day Coming361- There’s a Great Day Coming

25- Anywhere with Jesus25- Anywhere with Jesus

IntroductionIntroductionEveryone is motivated by a goal. Everyone is motivated by a goal.

Young child to get a sticker, the older Young child to get a sticker, the older student to graduate, the employer or student to graduate, the employer or employee to make more money, the employee to make more money, the athlete to win a championship or get athlete to win a championship or get

into the Hall of Fame. into the Hall of Fame.

But in the eternal scheme of things But in the eternal scheme of things whatever you might gain in this world whatever you might gain in this world

you will have to forfeit in the end. you will have to forfeit in the end.

Everybody should have heaven as their Everybody should have heaven as their goal but sadly only a few will find it. goal but sadly only a few will find it.

(Mt. 7:13-14)(Mt. 7:13-14)

IntroductionIntroductionThe problem is that most people are The problem is that most people are

expecting to go to heaven and don’t expecting to go to heaven and don’t realize that no sinners will enter there. realize that no sinners will enter there.

(Rom. 3:23; Rev. 21:27)(Rom. 3:23; Rev. 21:27)

The only alternative is the place of eternal The only alternative is the place of eternal punishment in hell. (Mark 9:43-48)punishment in hell. (Mark 9:43-48)

God’s love made it possible through the God’s love made it possible through the blood of Christ so that we can be saved blood of Christ so that we can be saved from the wrath to come. (Rom. 5:8-9)from the wrath to come. (Rom. 5:8-9)

We can be cleansed from our sins when we We can be cleansed from our sins when we are buried with Christ in baptism. (Rom. are buried with Christ in baptism. (Rom.

6:3-4)6:3-4)

Heaven is a Real PlaceHeaven is a Real PlaceSome people think heaven is a state of Some people think heaven is a state of

mind, being in a good mood, or a mind, being in a good mood, or a vacation destination on earth. It is not!vacation destination on earth. It is not!

Jesus said to His disciples, “I go to prepare Jesus said to His disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:3) a place for you” (John 14:3)

After His death, burial, and resurrection After His death, burial, and resurrection Jesus ascended into heaven and is going Jesus ascended into heaven and is going

to return the same way. (Acts 1:9-11; to return the same way. (Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 1:7) Rev. 1:7)

It is real just as Brenham, Texas is real but It is real just as Brenham, Texas is real but we will have a spiritual body (1 Cor. we will have a spiritual body (1 Cor.

15:42ff, 50)15:42ff, 50)

Heaven: ParadiseHeaven: ParadiseBecause of Adam and Eve’s sin they were Because of Adam and Eve’s sin they were

driven out of the Presence of God from driven out of the Presence of God from the perfect Garden of Eden. (Gen. 3:6, the perfect Garden of Eden. (Gen. 3:6,

24)24)

Paradise lost in Eden can be regained in Paradise lost in Eden can be regained in heaven as the Lord would grant them heaven as the Lord would grant them the right to eat of the tree of life and the right to eat of the tree of life and

live forever if they overcame and kept live forever if they overcame and kept his commands. (Rev. 2:7; 22:14)his commands. (Rev. 2:7; 22:14)

Any vacation that you have here on earth Any vacation that you have here on earth you will enjoy for a short time, but this you will enjoy for a short time, but this

Paradise will last forever. Which will you Paradise will last forever. Which will you choose?choose?

Heaven: RichesHeaven: RichesSome watch with envy when they see “The Some watch with envy when they see “The

Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” and wish they were in their place. wish they were in their place.

But even if they were good moral people it But even if they were good moral people it would be very unlikely that they would would be very unlikely that they would

give it up for treasures in heaven. (Matt. give it up for treasures in heaven. (Matt. 19:16ff)19:16ff)

While thieves can steal what the rich have While thieves can steal what the rich have and their possessions will eventually be and their possessions will eventually be corrupted, your eternal riches will never corrupted, your eternal riches will never

be taken away and won’t rust. (Matt. be taken away and won’t rust. (Matt. 6:19-21; Eph. 2:7)6:19-21; Eph. 2:7)

Heaven: BeautyHeaven: BeautyThere are many beautiful things that we There are many beautiful things that we

can see on earth: (our spouses on their can see on earth: (our spouses on their wedding day, gold, pearls, jewels, wedding day, gold, pearls, jewels,

rubies, gemstones, etc.)rubies, gemstones, etc.)

Jesus described the kingdom of heaven as Jesus described the kingdom of heaven as a merchant who was seeking fine pearls a merchant who was seeking fine pearls and finding one of great value he sold all and finding one of great value he sold all that he had to obtain it. (Matt. 13:45-46)that he had to obtain it. (Matt. 13:45-46)

We see heaven described as the holy city We see heaven described as the holy city coming down like a bride adorned for coming down like a bride adorned for her husband; a city of gold like clear her husband; a city of gold like clear glass; jasper walls; pearly gates; a glass; jasper walls; pearly gates; a

street of gold. (Rv. 21:2, 18ff)street of gold. (Rv. 21:2, 18ff)

Heaven: BlissfulHeaven: BlissfulIt is a place of extreme happiness because It is a place of extreme happiness because

there will be singing, rejoicing, and there will be singing, rejoicing, and praising God forever and ever around praising God forever and ever around the throne of God. (Rev. 4:8-11; 5:8-9; the throne of God. (Rev. 4:8-11; 5:8-9;

14:3; 15:3)14:3; 15:3)

There will be no more sorrow, suffering, There will be no more sorrow, suffering, crying, pain, death, as the former things crying, pain, death, as the former things

have passed away. (Rev. 21:4)have passed away. (Rev. 21:4)

We will never have to endure any more We will never have to endure any more temptations to sin, hear about temptations to sin, hear about

gruesome murders, go to any more gruesome murders, go to any more funerals, or see our loved ones suffer funerals, or see our loved ones suffer

ever again. ever again.

Heaven: Eternal SecurityHeaven: Eternal SecurityWhen the end of the world comes and Jesus When the end of the world comes and Jesus

delivers the Kingdom back to the Father, delivers the Kingdom back to the Father, we will be in the hands of God. (1 Cor. we will be in the hands of God. (1 Cor.

15:24)15:24)

Jesus said, “"My sheep hear My voice, and I Jesus said, “"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch never perish; and no one will snatch

them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28)them out of My hand” (John 10:27-28)

The city is surrounded by high walls so that The city is surrounded by high walls so that you never have to fear the devil again you never have to fear the devil again

(Rev. 21:12(Rev. 21:12

ConclusionConclusionMany either rebel or ignore God’s will and Many either rebel or ignore God’s will and

think somehow they will slip into think somehow they will slip into heaven. Not so!heaven. Not so!

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people whose goal in life is to put the people whose goal in life is to put the

Lord first in their lives in service to Him. Lord first in their lives in service to Him.

Heaven is a real place, Paradise restored, a Heaven is a real place, Paradise restored, a place of beauty, a place of spiritual place of beauty, a place of spiritual

riches; blissful; and a place of eternal riches; blissful; and a place of eternal security. security.

Do you have that burning desire to go Do you have that burning desire to go home to heaven and be with the Lord? home to heaven and be with the Lord?

(1 John 3:2-3)(1 John 3:2-3)