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“THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME”
By Pastor Mark Taylor
There are many things we do not know about what heaven will be like, because it is beyond our ability to comprehend. But one thing we can be sure of is that it will fulfill our greatest longings, it will dazzle us with its beauty, it will obliterate our greatest problems with its power and splendor, it will be greater than anything we could imagine or dream, it will be a place where love and joy will reign unspoiled. God is busy preparing all of this for us. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Hm” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Heaven will be real. Heaven will not be some existence where we float about as spirits without bodies. Why would God take the trouble to create a new earth if there was not going to be anyone to live on it? "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." (Revelation 21:1). Why would we be given new bodies if we were not going to live in a material world? Jesus rose from the dead in His glorified body. He could pass thru walls, but yet he could touch people, sit down and eat. "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. 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.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
if we make preparations for our grandchildren’s visit or guests coming to our home for a meal, how much more does a God of love prepare for the time His children will come to His eternal home. The Bible says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11). Jesus said, “I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3). If this fallen world in all of its brokenness can be so wonderful, what must heaven be like?
Heaven is the residence of God. The greatest reward of heaven will be God Himself. Nothing we see or experience will be greater than the fact that we are with God and see him face to face. We sing “O how I love Jesus”, “Amazing Grace”, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. When we get to Heaven, we will see that Friend and enjoy His company forever. “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).
How wonderful it will be to be in the presence of God where we will perfectly know him and know that we are perfectly known and loved. John writes in the book of Revelation: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God’” (Revelation 21:3). We will have no greater reward or relationship than being with our wonderful God and seeing Him face to face.
Christians can be certain of their future in Heaven because Jesus prays for us. “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” (John 17: 9-11).
Christians can be certain of their future in heaven because God is for us and not against us. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8: 31-32). In other words, how can we lose if God is on our side? How can we be kept from future glory if God is for us? Obviously we can’t. We can be certain that He will bring His work to a fulfillment. God is not investing in a losing cause! He proved His love for us on Calvary so we can be certain that nothing, absolutely nothing will keep him from completing His loving plans. Even when you struggle and fail, God still loves you and is still for you.
Christians can be certain of their future in heaven because there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 38-39).
There is nothing in this world worth missing Heaven for. There are temptations from Satan to be selfish, to mistreat others, to be actively involved in worldly pleasures that we know go against God’s principles. But I would ask everyone to consider if this wonderful place God has prepared for them that love Him, is worth missing. Our time on Earth is brief and we can do many valuable and good things for the Lord Jesus while we are here. He wants to bless us while we are here and then for Eternity. At the end of your life you cannot take your wealth, your popularity, or your accomplishments with you. Heaven is all about new things for those who love God and will serve Him in this life time. “Behold, I make all things new” (Revelations 21:5).
There are many things we do not know about Heaven because it is so much better than Earth, that there are no human words to explain how great it is. We will be reunited with our loved ones who loved God and accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior. We will be rewarded for all of our service and sacrifices in our service for God to meet the needs of others. Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12).
I would encourage all of those who have not decided to accept the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior to make that decision and give their lives to Him so that you might receive the gift of eternal life. “Jesus said to him: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6). Heaven is a real place that has been prepared for those that Love God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 14: 1-3).
