Hebrews 11:2-8
John 10:28
I believe many of us, if not all of us know the song “I can only imagine.”
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes would see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine
Yeah
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine
The story behind this music is the writer witnessing the power of God in transforming his father’s life from an abusive father to a believer. He wrote the song to celebrate the redemption and reconciliation between him and the father. And he imagined what life will be like in heaven.
When was the last time you ever set your mind on heaven, to think about heaven and to meditate upon it? I guess it’s not a practice for you. Neither is it for me. In fact, a member asked me, Pastor when are you going to teach us about heaven? That was a daunting question because I haven’t even studied the subject to have a grasp of it and teach it. But that’s what pastoring is, teach the whole counsel of God. What you know and don’t know. So we are here.
How many sermons have you heard about heaven? We are engrossed in this life we don’t take time to ever think of heavenly realities. There are bills to pay. There are children to take care of. There are work deadlines to complete. There are thoughts of how to take care of our bodies and be healthy. The only time perhaps we may think about heaven is when someone dies or when we attend a funeral. Or maybe when we ourselves are faced with a terminal disease, which I know at least for now, none of us is battling with such. But why is heaven not on our thoughts when the Scripture commands it? “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2).
If you read history, says C.S Lewis, you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.
This morning I want us to continue our subject on eternal life by attempting to speak about Heaven. I admit I am still studying the subject so this may appear shallow.
Last week I did indicate that I was leaving one of my points to be treated today, that is, The Place of Eternal Life. We saw what eternal life was. We say the source of eternal life – Jesus. We saw the nature of eternal life and looked at the opposite of eternal life. Today we will treat The Place of Eternal Life. Where will eternal life take place at? Let me rephrase: Where will you spend eternity? There are only two places the Bible assigns for eternity: Heaven or Hell. Everyone is heading towards one of these two places
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt (Daniel 12:2)
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. (Matthew 25:26)
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment (John 5:28-29)
Now our focus will be on eternal life; where will we spend all of eternity? Now though we can only imagine, because there is nothing of sort in our vocabulary that can define the place we will spend eternal life, the Bible doesn’t leave us clueless, it gives us glimpses to fuel our imagination. This will not be exhaustive, but will just serve as an introduction to set your mind on where you and I will spend eternity.
The Place of Eternal Life Is Heaven
It Is A City
Heaven is described as a city. A city not built with hands. When we read Hebrews Chapter 11 referred to as Heroes of Faith, a constant reference is made to a city. In verse 10, we were told of Abraham obeying God’s call because his future hope of a city: “For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God”
Now after verses 1-11 of Hebrews 11, the author tells us all the heroes of faith died without receiving the promise. This is intriguing. It means that the promises of God to them was not earthly and what motivated them on was an eternal future. A better experience than what they are used to
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city (vv.13-16).
Look carefully at what the text we read says: “they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one, Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city” Why a city to describe the place of eternal life or Heaven. Because in our human understanding, a city strikes familiar language. We make a distinction between cities and villages as of beauty, size, better opportunities, quality of life etc. The best hospitals are in the city. The best restaurants are in the city. The best schools are in the city. Our imagination can properly be fueled by a city. People migrate from what we call rural areas to the city to seek greener pastures. And those in the cities, some are seeking to move to other countries to seek greener pastures. For majority of us here, we are in Accra because our parents migrated to Accra for the seeking of better opportunities.
Cities are big. Cities are supposed to be beautiful. Cities are expected to have better infrastructure and all that. That is why the Bible uses City to describe heaven because it is what we can better appreciate if we are to let our imagination work. Think about other cities in the world. I have only experienced London and Dubai. Some of you have a wider experience of cities in the world and the beauty. In a Theological summary of the word city, a Greek Lexicon, says this
[City] in the New Testament embodies both concrete geography and profound theology. From the streets of Bethlehem and Nazareth to the apocalyptic vision of the New Jerusalem, the “city” frames God’s redemptive work, provides the arena for gospel advance, and anticipates the ultimate dwelling of God with His people.
What does this city look like?
It’s A Beautiful City
At least one of the striking things about City is beauty. And hence it’s use to describe heaven is appropriate. You remember earlier on God is described as “the designer and builder” of this city. Just look at the world around us with all it’s natural beauty; various plants, variety of birds, beautiful landscape. The world around us tells us something of what God builds. David celebrates the work of God as he looks at creation
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork (Psalm 19:1)
The most striking description of the beauty of this city is in
The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass (Rev.12:18-21)
These are precious minerals that seeks to give us a glimpse of heaven. And for most of us, I guess the common minerals we can identify with here is jewel and gold. But these, by the stretch of our imagination must be beautiful beyond comprehension. Maybe let me give us clues to stretch our imagination. Look out for a house with tiles all over the compound. Look out for a skyscraper with glass as much of it’s exterior. When Jesus was leaving, he promised to come back for his disciples because he goes to prepare a place for them.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also (John 14:1-3)
We can also think of rivers, plants and every beauty imaginable on this earth. Heaven will be nothing like earth. But the beauty of earth should give us some glimpses (Revelation 22:1-2)
It Is A City of Everlasting Joy
The Bible gives us another picture of heaven which should inform our anticipation.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
1. God himself shall be with the saints: In heaven, God will be amongst us. What greater joy to be in the very presence of God. It’s strikes an imagery of God walking in the garden in Eden (Genesis 3:8)
2. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. This is what we all look forward to. A life without pain, sorrow or death. A renewed life.
How do you enter this city?
It is not everybody who has access to this city and place of eternal life. In fact, just as you need a visa to enter another country or city; spiritually, you need a visa or access right to enter this city. Revelation 21:27 tells us
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.
Nothing unclean—that is no sinner will enter heaven. Aren’t we all sinners? Aren’t we all unclean? Yes we are, but there is one who makes us clean when we put our faith and trust in him. He died on the cross to save sinners from their sin and grant them eternal life. His name is Jesus. And he is the one speaking in our text: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”(John 10:28). Jesus is the one who gives entrance to this city we have described. He is the one who gives the joys of the city. He saves from eternal destruction. He said in John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Do you know of your eternal destination? You are either going to heaven or hell. If you haven’t believed in Jesus, I call on you to make that decision now.
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