DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN Someone once said (and I thought), “Whenever I think about Heaven, it makes me depressed. I’d rather just cease to exist when I die.” “Why?” I asked. “I can’t stand the thought of that endless tedium. To float around in the clouds with nothing to do but strum a harp...it is all so terribly boring. Heaven does not sound much better than Hell. I’d rather be annihilated than spend eternity in a place like that.” Gary Larson captured a common misperception of Heaven in one of his Far Side cartoons. In it, a man with angel wings and a halo sits on a cloud, doing nothing, with no one nearby. He has the expression of someone marooned on a desert island with absolutely nothing to do. A caption shows his inner thoughts: “Wish I’d brought a magazine”. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain portrays a similar view of Heaven. The Christian spinster Miss Watson takes a dim view of Huck’s fun-loving spirit. According to Huck, “She went on and told me all about the good place. She said all a body would have to do there was go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever. So I didn’t think much of it....I asked her if she reckoned Tom Sawyer would go there, and she said, not by a considerable sight. I was glad about that, because I wanted him and me to be together.” The pious Miss Watson had nothing to say about Heaven that appealed to Huck. (And nothing, if we’re honest, that appeals to us.) Most Americans are in Denial about Heaven “An overwhelming majority of Americans continue to believe that there is life after death and that heaven and hell exist,” according to a Barna Research Group poll. But what people actually believe about Heaven and Hell varies widely. A Barna spokesman said, “They’re cutting and pasting religious views from a variety of different sources, television, movies, conversations with their friends.” The result is a highly subjective theology of the afterlife, disconnected from the biblical doctrine of Heaven. Millions of Americans mix secular and various religious views to create their personal belief systems, said David Kinnaman, vice president of Barna Research Group. "Americans don't mind embracing contradictions," he said. "It's hyper individualism. They're cutting and pasting religious views from a variety of different sources - television, movies, conversations with their friends. Rather than simply embrace one particular viewpoint, and then trying to follow all the specific precepts or teachings of that particular viewpoint, what Americans are saying is, 'Listen, I can probably put together a philosophy of life for myself that is just as accurate, just as helpful as any particular faith might provide.' " Many Christians who’ve gone to church all their adult lives (especially those under fifty) can’t recall having heard a single sermon on Heaven. It’s occasionally mentioned, but rarely emphasized, and almost never is it developed as a topic. We’re told how to get to Heaven, and that it’s a better destination than Hell, but we’re taught remarkably little about Heaven itself. Where Do We Get Our Misconceptions? I believe there is one central explanation for why so many of God’s children have such a vague, negative, and uninspired view of Heaven. Jesus Christ said of the devil, “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). Some of Satan’s favorite lies are about Heaven. Revelation 13:6 tells us the satanic beast “opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven.” Our enemy slanders three things: God’s person, God’s people, and God’s place, namely, Heaven. Satan was forcibly evicted from Heaven “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit”. Isaiah 14:12-15), The devil became bitter not only toward God, but also toward mankind and toward Heaven itself, the place that was no longer his. It must be maddening for him that we’re now entitled to the home he was kicked out of. What better way for the devil and his demons to attack us than to whisper lies about the very place on which God tells us to set our hearts and minds? IS IT POSSIBLE TO IMAGINE HEAVEN? Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. 2 Timothy 2:7 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalms 119:18 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. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29 PAUL DID NOT REVEAL WHAT HE SAW. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 God simply did not want Paul talking about his visit. JOHN WAS COMMANDED TO REVEAL WHAT HE SAW. Set your hearts on things above… If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set (Zeteo) your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:1-2 Zeteo-to diligently seek after and pursue The Son of man came to seek…a shepherd seeks for lost sheep…a merchant searches for a fine pearl… It is a diligent, active, single-minded investigation. “Diligently, actively, single-mindedly pursue the things above” Zeteo is present tense, “keep on seeking heaven”. CS LEWIS: If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought the most of the next”. Aim at heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither. IS HEAVEN OUR DEFAULT DESTINATION? Narrow is the way “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 For every American who believes he’s going to hell, there are 120 who believe they are going to heaven. HEAVEN IS NOT OUR DEFAULT DESTINATION. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. We are sinners. We cannot enter heaven as we are. Jesus assures us that most people are not going to heaven. Do not cross your fingers and hope to fly. WHAT IS HELL? Hell is a Place of Judgment Hell will be occupied by people who have not received God’s gift of redemption in Christ And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:12-15 Hell is for those who reject Christ: “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:41 Hell is a place of everlasting punishment: Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 13:40-43 Hell is a place of utter misery: Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 22:13 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:30 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. Luke 13:28 Dante: The Inferno - “Abandon every hope you who enter” TS Eliot “I would rather walk, as I do, in daily terror of eternity, than feel that this was only a children’s game in which all the contestants would get equally worthless prizes in the end”. Satan has obvious motives for fueling our denial of eternal punishment. He wants unbelievers to reject Christ without fear; he wants Christians to be unmotivated to share Christ. Jesus describes Hell as a real literal place of torment. HOW LONG IS HELL? And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:46 Is it Unloving to Speak of Hell? Directions to KC, and you knew that one road led there but another road led to a cliff, would you only tell them about the good road? No, you would want to make sure they knew the wrong road to take! It would be unloving not to tell them. WHAT WILL PEOPLE DO IN HELL? This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9 Hell is dull, with utter inactivity and insignificance. People will be in isolation, like the Rich man in Luke 16:22-23). There will be no partying or camaraderie. For Christians, this life is the closest you will get to hell, for unbelievers, it is the closest they will get to heaven. THE PRICE OF HEAVEN The price to get into heaven must be exorbitant. Such a place is worth every cent. However, the price has already been paid. WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE TO GAIN HEAVEN? For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? Mark 8:36-37 You must surrender your will. CAN YOU KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO HEAVEN? Soon you will read in the newspaper that I am dead. Do not believe it for a moment. I will be more alive than ever before. DL Moody But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27 A Matter of Need and Faith I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”Romans 10:9-11 NOT ON THE LIST Ruthanna Metzger, a professional singer, tells a story that illustrates the importance of having our names written in the book. Several years ago, she was asked to sing at a wedding of a very wealthy man. According to the invitation, the reception would be held on the top two floors of Seattle’s Columbia tower, the northwest’s tallest skyscraper. She and her husband, Roy, were excited about attending. At the reception, waiters in tuxedos offered luscious hors d’oeuvres and exotic beverages. The bride and groom approached a beautiful glass and brass staircase that led to the top floor. Someone ceremoniously cut a satin ribbon draped across the bottom of the stairs. They announced the wedding feast was about to begin. Bride and groom ascended the stairs, followed by their guests. At the top of the stairs, a maitre d’ with a bound book greeted the guest outside the doors. May I have your name please? I am Ruthanna Metzger and this is my husband, Roy. He searched the M’s. I am not finding it. Would you spell it please? Ruthanna spelled her name slowly. After searching the book, the maitre d’ looked up and said, “I’m sorry, but your name isn’t here”. “There must be some mistake”, Ruthanna replied. “I’m the singer. I sang for this wedding!” The man answered, “It doesn’t matter who you are or what you did. Without your name in the book you cannot attend the banquet”. He motioned to a waiter and said, “Show these people to the service elevator, please”. The Metzgars followed the waiter past beautiful decorated tables laden with shrimp, whole smoked salmon, and magnificent carved ice sculptures. Adjacent to the banquet area, an orchestra was preparing to perform, the musicians all dressed in dazzling white tuxedos. The waiter led Ruthanna and Roy to the service elevator, ushered them in, and push G for the parking garage. After locating their car and driving several miles in silence, Roy reached over and put his hand on Ruthann’s arm. Sweetheart, what happened? When the invitations arrived, I was busy, Ruthanna replied. I never bothered to RSVP. Besides, I was the singer. Surely, I could go to the reception without returning the RSVP! Ruthanna started to weep----not only because she had missed the most lavish banquet she’d ever been invited to, but also because she suddenly had a small taste of what it will be like someday for people as they stand before Christ and find their names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. An Indiana tombstone says this: Pause, stranger, when you pass me by, For as you are, so once was I. As I am now, so will you be. Then prepare unto death, and follow me. Scratched underneath were these words: To follow you I’m not content, Until I know which way you went Throughout the ages, countless people have been too busy to response to Christ’s invitation to his wedding banquet. Many have assume that the good they’ve done, perhaps attending church, being baptized, singing in the choir, or helping in a soup kitchen---- will be enough to gain entry to Heaven. However, people who do not respond to Christ’s invitation to forgive their sins are people whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. To be denied entrance to Heaven’s wedding banquet will not just mean going down the service elevator to the garage. It will mean being cast outside into Hell, forever. REVELATION REVEALS And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. Revelation 21:6 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” In addition, let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:17 Is your name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life? Do you know it without the shadow of doubt?
