Heaven

Thesis: As horrible as Hell is, Heaven is incomparably better, and so it makes sense that it must be an exclusive realm where only the righteous are allowed to worship.

Objective: Challenge people to NOT take their entrance into heaven for granted, but to recognize it as an invaluable gift from God for which we must be constantly striving.

1. Intro. 84% of Americans believe in heaven, but there are piles of misconceptions about it.
   1. 21% don't believe in angels
   2. Majority think angels have wings, but the only heavenly creatures depicted in Scripture with wings are the cherubim (Ezekiel 1:8)
   3. How many believe that, when we die, we become angels? Scripture is very clear that, while for now, angels are higher than us in splendor and ability, we were designed to be higher than them – God paraded the creatures, including angels, past who in Genesis 2? - and will ultimately be invited to sit on God's throne and wear a crown in heaven – as humans (Revelation 3:21).
2. Heaven will be awesome.
   1. It's of immeasurable worth (Matthew 13:44-46; The kingdom is heaven is so great that, upon receiving it, we will think that giving our everything for it was still a tremendous bargain.).
   2. It's spectacular (Ezekiel 1:4-9, 22, 26-28; Revelation 4:5-6; Revelation 21:16-23; In splendor and magnitude, nothing matches the visions of heaven recorded in Scripture. What is important to know is that, as amazing as these are, they are consistent, awesome, and they left the writers speechless. They tried to describe what they saw, but words simply failed them, so they resorted to simile and descriptions which are almost impossible to fathom. And the crazy thing is that heaven itself will be even better!).
   3. It's paradise (Luke 23:43; The Jews understood heaven to be an eternal Garden of Eden, lush, fertile, absolute paradise, and Jesus affirmed this notion, notably when speaking with the second criminal crucified with him.).
   4. It's life (Revelation 22:1-3a; The new Jerusalem/heaven will have at its heart the river of the water of life, flanked by the tree of life. Nations will be healed, meaning that everything from poverty to war will be eliminated, and the curse which was placed upon Adam and Eve in Gen 3 will be removed, eliminating disease and death once and for all.).
   5. It's fellowship with Jesus (Revelation 22:3b-5; As exciting as the everlasting supreme life of heaven will be, the defining factor of heaven will be the very presence of Jesus. From His throne to His grace which illuminates and warms the whole city, this is what will make heaven heaven. QUOTE: “The tremendous blessing of a restored heaven and earth will be cause for extravagant praise, but the greatest blessing will be the glorious presence of God himself, and of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Fellowship with Jesus, it has been said, is what makes heaven to be heaven, and that is something that Christian people will be proving true for all eternity” (ESV Study Bible).).
3. Heaven will be worship.
   1. The hosts of heaven worship (Isaiah 6:3-4; Revelation 4:8, 11-12; From the cherubim to the angelic host, all of the heavenly creatures will be engaged in worship, all the time.).
   2. The whole creation worships (Revelation 4:13; Ultimately, all of the renewed and restored creation will cry out in worship of the Lord.).
   3. We worship (Revelation 4:9-11; 5:8, 14; Every human who enters heaven will spend the rest of eternity in worship of the Lord Most High. And this will be the only, most important thing on all of our agendas.).
4. Heaven will be exclusive.
   1. Nothing impure will be allowed (Revelation 21:27; Nothing and no one that is less than absolutely pure in God's eyes will be allowed to enter heaven.).
   2. We must be holy to get in (Hebrews 12:14; The author of Hebrews is pretty succinct: we must be holy – that is, without sin – to enter into God's presence, which will dominate Heaven.).
   3. We must believe to be made holy (Genesis 15:6; Ephesians 2:8-10; Acts 13:38-39; Hebrews 10:14, 19-25; Isaiah 61:10; Our life-driving belief in the power and authority of God and of Jesus are key to us being justified – that is, declared innocent despite guilt, forgiven – that is, having a restored relationship with God, and perfect – that is, holy before the Lord. We can't make ourselves holy. But God makes us holy when we draw near to Him with sincere heart and sure faith; ask to be cleansed, body and mind, of our sin; hold unswervingly to the hope that God will save us through the blood of Jesus Christ; work together toward love and good deeds; and meet together as a fellowship of believers. When – and only when – we do all of that, God will clothe us with the holiness that we need to enter into heave – His holiness.).