Opening Text Ps.16

Reading Jn.17.

This subject is possibly one of the most appreciated of all subjects. Generally folk assume that they are going to go there – try suggesting to relatives of a cantankerous old so&so at his funeral that his destiny might not be heaven and see what kind of reaction you get. Most folk not only assume that they’ll be in heaven but that they will be happy there. Why is this so? Why such an interest?

It is maybe straightforward enough to answer the question as to why the subject evokes a quasi-universal response. Eccl. 3:11 tells us very plainly that God “has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”

It is far less easy to explain why so few take any interest in the subject – upon what grounds do folk assume that they will be in heaven? Is the road to heaven an easy, well–travelled one? If I know so little about it why should I imagine I’ll be happy there let alone want to be there? Perhaps the reason for this is that we each of tend to think in exceedingly egocentric terms – if heaven exists is must come up to my criteria – so for the golfer heaven is pictured as the perfect golf-course in the skies; to he partygoer heaven is just one long never-ending celestial party. While such thinking is perhaps understandable it is nevertheless highly distorted and does not reflect the reality as the Bible portrays these things.

The Bible has a considerable amount to say about heaven and this morning all we can attempt is a brief, totally insufficient overview. May the Lord Himself give us a desire to know more, to increase our understanding of this wonderful subject and enable us so to meditate on what find in Scripture that our enjoyment of heaven begin and increase here and now!

1Cor.2:9-10 “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”–– these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”

A variety of words are used to describe heaven – the use of these words at times approaches that of synonymes. Luke for example speaks of the Kingdom of God but Matthew refers to this same thing as the Kingdom of Heaven – so we must conclude a super close link between the idea of heaven and the idea of God. The same can be said of Christ and Heaven – the thief on the cross is promised the prospect of being with Christ in paradise that very day. Paul is speaking of departing this life speaks not of going to heaven but of going to be with Christ! We speak sometimes too of the Christian going home to glory – another synonym for heaven! See Ps.73:24 “You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.”

I want us to take a whistle stop trip through the Scriptures considering all too briefly the glory motif – after all according to Paul:

Eph 1:6  “to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”

Eph 1:12  “so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.”

Eph 1:14  “who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”

The motivating principle in all that God does is the promotion of His own glory : this indeed the highest good imaginable and thus a totally worthy goal of our glorious Lord!

In Creation He made “the heavens and the earth” the heavens – the sky, space and what we might call “heaven itself” – that is the spiritual domain where God Himself dwells. Cf. Heb.9:24 “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”

At the outset all was perfect but with the Fall sin entered the world and the glory was hidden.

But God did not give up on His plan to show forth His glory – He didn’t abandon His Creation now spoiled by sin but organised a rescue plan from “glory” the only place that had remained untrammelled and untouched by sin. Cf. the cry in Is.63:15 “Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.”

I want to suggest a way of reading our Bibles – the idea does not originate with me – I’m indebted to Ted Donnelly for this one:

Read the Bible all the while saying to yourself “the glory is coming, the glory is coming”.

Little flashes emerge here and there as the Bible story unfolds:

             Shekinah glory – the pillar of fire and the cloud

             Shekinah glory – the tabernacle

             Shekinah glory – the dedication of the Temple

(The story does not always advance in a straight line sometimes there is a backward tep due to Israel’s unfaithfulness “Ichabod” the glory has departed as the ark of the covenant which symbolised God’s presence with His people is captured by the Philistine armies.)

Isaiah’s vision – Is.6:1-3 “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Haggai prophesying concerning the future could speak of the latter glory of the house of God as being greater than the former. Ha.2:9 Of course he was speaking of the coming of Christ and this glory theme continues – “the glory is coming, the glory is coming”

And turning to the NT the same unfolds:

Lk.2:13-14 the angel choir sings to announce the Lord’s birth: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

John opens his gospel declaring that Jesus is no ordinary person: Jn.1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

             Then a mere glimpse of His glory breaks through at the moment of His transfiguration: Lk.9.

Jesus Himself prays in His High Priestly prayer concerning His own glory and He returns frequently to the theme of glory – even declaring His desire that His disciples should be with Him to see His glory! Jn.17:24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

This glory would soon prove to be the lot of the thief on the cross to whom Jesus will shortly declare: ““Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Lk.22:43

In this last verse we come to probably the favourite Bible description of Heaven – to be with Jesus!

Mr Steadfastin PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – these words were read out during the Funeral Service of the Queen Mother in April 2002.

I SEE myself now at the end of my journey, my toilsome days are ended. I am going now to see that head that was crowned with thorns, and that face that was spit upon for me.

I have formerly lived by hearsay and faith but now I go where I shall live by sight, and shall be with him in whose company I delight myself.

I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and wherever I have seen the print of his shoe in the earth, there I have coveted to set my foot to.
 
His name to me has been as a civet-box; yea, sweeter than all perfume. His voice to me has been most sweet; and his countenance I have more desired than they that have most desired the light of the sun. His word I did use to gather for my food, and for antidotes against my faintings. 'He has held me, and hath kept me from mine iniquities; yea, my steps hath he strengthened in his way.'

Glorious it was to see how the open region was filled with horses and chariots, with trumpeters and pipers, with singers and players on stringed instruments, to welcome the Pilgrims as they went up, and followed one another in at the beautiful gate of the city.
John Bunyan (1628-88)

Jesus told His disciples He was going to prepare a place in His Fathers house for His disciples. Heaven is indeed God’s home – that is the place where He can best be known and where the manifestations of His glory are the most evident. In Heaven Christ will continue to make the glories of the Father to us and we will increasingly appreciate our Lord Jesus.

The Book of Revelation speaks much of Heaven and it speaks also much of Christ – it is impossible to conceive of heaven apart from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Heaven will indeed be heaven because He is there and will clearly be seen there!!

Do you find any stirrings in your own heart? Will such a heaven be a place where you will be happy? It will only if Jesus becomes precious to you here on earth. Do you see how ludicrous it is for those who ignore and reject the Lord Jesus in this life to imagine that they will be happy in the presence of Him they have long spurned?

For the Christian Heaven and Christ are truly inseparable:

             He takes us there;

             He makes us fit to be there

We’ll be all taken up with Him there! The apostle John knew much about the Lord – he walked with him on the earth, he met the risen Lord but when he had a vision of the glorified Lord he fell at His feet as one dead!! Meeting Christ will be truly awesome!

The very heart of Heaven’s Glory is the redemption that Christ has secured for us – Holy unsinning angels long to plunge their adoring gaze into this glory!

Heaven’s glory will be completed with the creation of the new heavens and the new earth – no longer really separate but conjoint. Rev.21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”

We won’t sit around all day long being bored on damp clouds. The images that speak of Heaven are just that images – descriptions are not to be taken too literally – pearly gates etc. but rather understood to speak of the preciousness and the worth of the place.

We’ll have resurrection/spiritual bodies well equipped to the new glorious environment in which God will place us. Tasks to be accomplished will allow us to discover new depths of talent – we’ll be able to rejoice in jobs well-done. Sin will no longer plague us; weakness and frailty caused by the effect of sin and corruption on our bodies will no longer hinder us. We’ll have powerful new bodies, glorious themselves yet retaining recognisable identifiable traits.

All wrong attitudes will have been removed – we’ll thrill to learn of how the Lord has dealt with others there – each will have a different tale to tell of how the Lord had mercy on them and brought them safely home to glory.

Perhaps one of the most amazing things that is taught in Holy Scripture is that our Lord Himself will look upon us in Heaven and be satisfied!!! Cf. Is.53:11 “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;” Heb 12:2  “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

My friend this is yours in Christ but in Christ alone. If you don’t love Him now you won’t have the opportunity to love Him then nor will you want to but you’d rather the mountains fall upon you as He comes to judge! If you’re not a Christian heaven is not your home nor your destination – oh repent and trust Him today!

If you are a believer take heed to some words uttered by Matthew Henry “grace is glory begun”. You’re on route for heaven! Make every effort then to prepare yourself for such a destination – find out more about it, stay awake on the journey, don’t allow others to sidetrack you. Fight against sin, spend time with the Lord in communion with Him now – we can love Him even though we don’t yet see Him and spending time with Him delighting in His company will only serve to increase our anticipation of meeting with Him there just as for dear old Mr Steadfast!

To God be the glory.