Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
Our text this week may seem out of place for the topic, but there are two words within the verses above that will bring this into focus: "in heaven". I wonder how many days pass that we fail to give thought to the place of our eternal destiny and to God, who loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die in our place? Many of you know that I have an appreciation for numbers. Review with me the chances of dying by: 1) A fireworks discharge is 1 in 1,884,832 2) Being struck by lightning is 1 in 81,949 3) Overexertion is 1 in 96,658 (I am sure this number is tripled among us Baptists! ;o)) 4) Drowning in a swimming pool is 1 in 6,031 While these are some interesting numbers to know, the greatest number concerning death is that the chance of us all dying will ultimately be 1 in 1. The odds are by far against us when it comes to death with the probability at 100%. Recent studies have revealed that 76% of Americans believe there is a Heaven with 64% of Americans believing they will go there when they die. Nearly one half of the 43% of those who believe they will go to Heaven, state they will do so because they have "confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour", while 15% believed that obeying the Ten Commandments or being a basically good person will allow them to gain entrance. Six percent believed they will go to Heaven "because God loves every one". Numbers and statistics are fun, beloved, especially when they work in our favor! We know that upon what the Bible teaches a person will only get to Heaven by fully trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and through repentance to Him and, by faith, believing on Christ to be saved.
Heaven is mentioned in the Bible over 550 times which is important because even though 76% of Americans claim to believe in Heaven, we need a trustworthy source of information concerning that which pertains to the Word of God. There is nothing better or more reliable than the BOOK which has been translated in over 1,200 languages, sells over 70 million copies per year and is still the best selling book in all history. It is the Bible, THE BOOK! There are three distinct heavens in the cosmic expanse above us: 1st heaven – speaks of the beautiful blue skies we see during the day comprised of the clouds and the atmosphere in which they are suspended. “And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.“ (James 5:18) 2nd heaven – speaks of outer space filled with constellations and galaxies where the stars and other planets exist. “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.” (Mark 13:24-25). 3rd Heaven – this is God’s abode which is found on the other side of the sea of glass beyond outer space which was spoken of by the Apostle John in Revelation 4. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:10 that, "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things".
What about Heaven? First we must understand that Heaven is a Place, a real, literal and physical place. Jesus Christ said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:1-2). Heaven is a physical place, a location, and not just some other ethereal dimension of spiritual existence. It is the place where Jesus Christ is and that we, as believers, will be one day soon. Heaven is a place, my friend, that has a Promise. Jesus continued on by saying: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3). Beloved, if Christ has told us that He is going to prepare a place FOR us, then He will come again to TAKE us there! That is a truth and a promise that must be accepted and believed by faith! Thirdly, we find that it is intimately Personal in Heaven. “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20). Jesus Christ states that your name is written in Heaven, recorded in the Book of Life. Have you ever received a catalog in the mail or online that offers personalized jerseys, stickers, books or other items that can be printed with your very own name on them? The advertisements always read, "your name" displayed colorfully in a picture. On the day we were saved, that is what Christ did for each of us in Heaven! With His own blood, He wrote your name in the Book of Life, inscribed forever throughout all eternity. That is a reason to rejoice ever more, to know that your name has been written in Heaven, recorded as redeemed…FOREVER!!!
In Heaven, God’s eternal abode is a Place that is Promised to be Personal for each and every one of us that knows Jesus Christ as their Saviour. Friend, if that doesn't encourage you to think on Heaven more and to look forward to being there, then I don't know what will.
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