Category: Heaven

A man’s perspective makes it difficult for him to understand the concept of eternity. We think in terms of seconds, minutes, hours, days, years and decades. The longer the time span, as it expands beyond our own lifetime, the more difficult it is to comprehend. Job had it right, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).

There is another word that is used when defining terms like eternal and eternity. It is perpetuity. The word perpetuity is defined by Webster, “a state or quality of lasting forever.” The British government has in the past issued bonds called “consols.” The person who bought these bonds is entitled to receive annual interest payments “in perpetuity” or forever. Actually, the bonds will only be good so long as the British government and economy continue to exist.

When Burt Reynolds starred in his movie, Smoky and the Bandit, he popularized Trans Ams to the extent that the Pontiac company promised him a new Trans Am each year in perpetuity. In reality, the promise was only kept for five years.

God has promised, to the faithful, life in perpetuity. Fortunately, He is the one who can and will make good on His promise. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). It may be hard for us to grasp, but we don’t have to fully understand to appreciate and strive for that reward!

God has promised a crown of life to those who obey Him. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

There are number of references to that crown, with it described as:

• An imperishable crown(1 Corinthians 9:25)
• A crown of joy/rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19)
• A crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4)

In the passage from Revelation 2:10, there is the implication that our crown may be taken away. Thus, the exhortation, “Be faithful until death.” May we all run the race of life in such a way as to obtain the “imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25).

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

In 2 Corinthians 5:7-11 Paul expressed his desire to be with Christ after death. As such, he determined to be well pleasing to Him.

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The phrase “blotted out” occurs on several occasions in scripture. Interesting lessons can be learned by examining its use. What God blots out remains obliterated for as long as He wills it.

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Debbie and I are in the process of shopping for a new mattress. Our old one is wearing out, and making it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. A few hours in the bed leads to aches and pains.

Of course, I see little children sleeping in such contorted poses, and wonder how they could possibly move when they wake up — positions I can’t even get into, and that if I tried would probably necessitate a month of traction. So, it may be that it is less the mattress wearing out, and more an indication that my body has seen better days!

The scriptures use both realities — that possessions and bodies wear out — to teach a lesson about eternity.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven” (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)

Put simply, this life is all temporary. Possessions and bodies are not designed to last. Eternity is reserved for the transformed spiritual bodies promised to the faithful, (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Praise be to God for the promise of eternal life!
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Man is a creature bound by time. His entire existence is measured by date and duration. Nine months in the womb. The first birthday. Becoming a teenager. Sweet sixteen. High School, then college graduation. Marriage, children, anniversaries, retirement, death. We celebrate the various milestones in our lives. Figures such as 1, 16, 18, 21, 40, 50, 65, 80, 90, 100 all bring immediate and sometimes visceral memories and emotions.

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The promises of God are wonderful and bountiful, but they are also conditional. the ultimate promise is that of heaven. May we have the patience and faith to receive it.

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Invitation delivered by: Joshua Jackson

John 17:1-ff. Jesus shows us the way to heaven.

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Sermon by Josh Cox.

Josh discusses the hope that we have as Christians for an eternity in heaven.

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Numerous passages in both the Old and New Testaments establish for us the rewards we will receive for our faithfulness in standing with God.

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The sermon begins in Daniel 3, and demonstrates that Our God is able to:

• Give and sustain life
• Save our souls
• Deliver us
• Reward us
• Punish the disobedient

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

When we look for the invisible rather than the visible, it gives us the ability to handle the despair and pressures of this life. “Our light affliction” is “but for a moment.”

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In my reading this week, I came across the account of James’ martyrdom at the hands of King Herod (cf. Acts 12:1-2). I was struck with the concise, matter-of-fact description of that tragedy, recorded by the Holy Spirit through Luke’s pen. “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”

As an apostle, James was one of the most important men of the first century. And yet, little is known of his life, character, and even his death. In our day, such an influential man would be profiled, biographied, eulogized and even idolized. His death would be portrayed as a tragedy of immense proportions. There is a lesson here for us. While men are focused on this life, the Holy Spirit is concerned with the life to come.

In His ministry, Jesus promised his disciples, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). While time may have obscured the influence and accomplishments of James while he lived on this earth, his faithfulness to His Lord secured for him a far greater and more lasting heritage. Because of his faith, he secured a mansion, (cf. John 14:1-3).

We too should live our lives for the eternal goal of a home with God in heaven. Living in such a way may not secure for us any lasting notoriety, but that is no great loss. What it will do is attract the attention of our Lord. May He say to us all, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:23).

Invitation delivered by: Ben Schmidt

Ben read from Matthew 25, Mark 9 and Revelation 20 to show the difference between everlasting destruction, and everlasting reward. He made the point that our obedience, or lack thereof will determine whether our names are written in the book of life, as he called for needed repentance and obedience to the gospel.

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The scriptures describe heaven (among other things) as a habitation, a homeland, an inheritance, a rest and a crown. Each of these descriptive terms reveal wonderful aspects of our eternal reward.

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