HEAVEN IS…

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

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

It is found 256 times in 238 verses in the New Testament.

 

B.      The Bible speaks of there being three heavens (II Cor. 12:2).

 

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell:  God knoweth;) such a one caught up to the third heaven.

 

1.      The first heaven is where the birds fly.

2.      The second heaven is where the planets orbit.

3.      The third heaven is where God resides.

 

C.     In this lesson, we want to study about Heaven.  The title of our lesson is:  “Heaven Is…”

 

I.                   HEAVEN IS REAL FOR BELIEVERS

 

A.    In 1971, a song written and sung by John Lennon was released.  The title is:  “Imagine.”  The song begins with these words:  “Imagine there’s no heaven.  It’s easy if you try.”

 

B.      For the believer, it is not easy to imagine there’s no heaven.  We know heaven is real. 

1.      It is as real as the earth (Matt. 6:10).

 

…Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

 

2.      As Stephen was being stoned, he was privileged to look into heaven (Acts 7:55-56).

 

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

 

C.     Heaven is the place where

1.      God resides (Eccl. 5:2)

2.      Jesus sits on the right hand of God (Acts 1:11)

3.      The Holy Spirit makes His abode (I Pet. 1:12)

4.      God throne is established (Ps. 11:4)

5.      The angels of God abide (Mark 12:25)

 

II.                HEAVEN IS REST FOR THE WEARY

 

A.    The Christian life involves a lot of hard work if it is done right.

1.      As a person ages, he grows weary from his labors in the kingdom.

2.      He longs for the day when there is no more seed to be sown.

He longs for the day when there are no more battles to be fought.

He longs for the day when there are no more lost sheep to be found.

He longs for the day when there are no more classes to be taught.

He longs for the day when there are no more debates to be held.

He longs for the day where there is no more study into the dark of night.

B.      If the Christian perseveres unto the end, he knows that rest from all of these things awaits him.

1.      Hebrews 4:11-12

 

There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God.  For he that is entered into that rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

 

2.      Revelation 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 labours; and their works do follow them.

 

III.             HEAVEN IS REWARD FOR THE FAITHFUL

 

A.    God did not leave His people without incentives to be faithful.

1.      His love is an incentive (II Cor. 5:14).

2.      The punishment of hell is an incentive (II Cor. 5:11).

3.      And, Heaven is an incentive as well (Matt. 5:11-12)

 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:  for great is your reward in heaven:  for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 

B.      Hebrews 11:6 assures us that if we will possess a faith that diligently seeks God, we will obtain our heavenly reward.

 

But without faith it is impossible to please him:  for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

IV.             AN ASSEMBLY OF WORSHIP FOR THE GRATEFUL

 

A.    In the Revelation, we find different groups around the throne of God in Heaven.  Each group is worshiping Him who is worthy.

1.      The four beasts (Rev. 4:9-11)

2.      The four and twenty elders (Rev. 5:8-9)

3.      The voice of many angels (Rev. 5:11-12)

4.      “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea…” (Rev. 5:13).

5.      “…a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations and kindreds, and people, and tongues…” (Rev. 7:9-10).

 

B.      When we are in heaven,

1.      Our salvation is complete.

2.      Our victory is sure.

3.      Our deliverance can never be taken from us.

 

C.     Our hearts will be full of gratitude, and we, too, will cry out “with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:10). 

 

 

 

V.                HOPE FOR THE STRUGGLING

 

A.    There are many Christians who struggle in this life.

1.      They struggle with physical afflictions.

2.      They struggle in helping others who have afflictions.

3.      They struggle with their relationships.

4.      They struggle with many losses.

5.      They struggle with persecution.

6.      They struggle because there is one trauma after another that comes upon them.

7.      They struggle with disappointment.

 

B.      Life for these individuals is not filled with joy. 

 

C.     There is one word that keeps them going day after day:  HOPE!

1.      Part of that hope is heaven (Col. 1:5).

 

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.

 

2.      This hope anchors the struggling.  It motivates them to keep going (Heb. 6:19).

 

Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail.

 

VI.             LIFE FOR THOSE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR LIVES

 

A.    When a person becomes a Christian, he gives his life to the Lord (I Cor. 6:19-20).

 

What!  Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price:  therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

B.      Too, when a person becomes a Christian, he might be called upon to actually give his life for the cause of Christ.

1.      In Revelation 12:11, we read about some Christians in the first century who “loved not their lives unto the death.”

2.      Jesus told His disciples:  “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul…” (Matt. 10:28).

3.      Paul told his brethren:  “…for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).

 

C.     Those who have given their lives to the Lord and are willing to give up their lives for Him will have life in the hereafter.

1.      Titus 3:7

 

That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

2.      John 12:25

 

He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life.

 

 

VII.          HOME FOR THE CHILD OF GOD

 

A.    When we became Christians, we became children of God (Gal. 3:26-27).

 

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

 

B.      As children, we are heirs of God.  Part of our inheritance is a home in heaven in the hereafter (I Pet. 1:4).

 

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.

 

C.     As Christians, our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20).  Heaven is our home. 

1.      Our heavenly Father is there.

2.      Our elder brother, Jesus, is there.

3.      The Holy Spirit is there.

4.      The redeemed of the ages are there.

5.      Our brothers and sisters in Christ are there.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    We have seen many things about heaven.

1.      Heaven is real to the believer.

2.      Heaven is rest for the weary.

3.      Heaven is reward to the faithful.

4.      Heaven is an assembly of worship for the grateful.

5.      Heaven is hope for the struggling.

6.      Heaven is life for those who have given their lives.

7.      Heaven is home for the child of God.

 

B.      Another “Heaven is” statement has been said about heaven.  It goes like this:  “Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.”

1.      Jesus told His disciples:  “I go to prepare a place for you…” (John 14:2).

2.      He also said that not all will enter into the kingdom heaven, “but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).