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November 27, 2021 3:00 am
Originally preached at the SoCal Harvest on August 17, 2014 Pastor Greg points out in this message that many people get their notion of Heaven from television or the movies. He calls that “cartoon heaven.” He points out the biblical truth about our heavenly home.
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Let's all pray together. Lord we just sung your praises and really worship his verse of the song because you've given us a new song. I prefer the people that have joined us tonight there, wondering what exactly they walked into. I pray building with a new song to. I pray that they will leave with joy like they've never known before. Over the whole like they've never had before.
I pray Lord that they will leave with you that they leave with Jesus Christ in their heart. So speak to each one of us now as we open your word. We ask it in Jesus name, amen and amen.
What a great guy. All right, title, my messages see you in the morning you have GPS rate. Yet GPS pattern about you but I am not occasionally challenged. I lost all the time so mom and to take a drive somewhere punch in the address on GPS and then you start driving and I don't know about your GPS, but mine talks to me. It'll say turn right at the next off, turn right at the next conference and then if I don't turn right at the next I'll probably keep going at this. Why did you not turn right at the last Opera then it will actually think I told you to turn right at the last Opera and Cybex to go to settings and take out the net features would stop doing that, but sometimes I bet my GPS actually take me to the one way because it not doing its job well here we have the sophisticated technology working with satellite think about this God put a GPS system inside of a lot of bird birds have a homing instinct. One of them is called the Golden plover made of total why the plover migrates during the summer to the Aleutian Islands. No listen, the Aleutian Islands are 1200 miles away from why so these little birds make the truck over there.
They lay their eggs in our little fledglings are born in the Golden plover just wait and they leave the little baby birds to figure it out. I wonder if they get a hotel and let me just tell you you go by Krakatoa, which is east of job you hang a right go straight though they don't tell them anything. The little birds are born and without ever having been to Hawaii before. Amazingly, they fly there on their own because God put a homing instinct inside of Solis and the next time someone called you a bird brain take it as a compliment.
I believe God is put a homing instinct inside of us a homing instinct to go to a place we've never been to before. That place is called heaven. The Bible says that God displays eternity in our hearts we long for this from the really that they were born. By the way heaven is not the default destination of every person. You'll get to just go to heaven because you're an American. It's only the destination of those will put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and I wanted to tell you how to do that tonight so you could go will go to heaven when you die, but see we start our lives out on the search. It starts in our childhood we just little kids we think of. I just got that toy I saw advertised on TV.
I know it would be happy. I remember what I was a little kid I I got a pretty good haul for Christmas are pretty happy about about a friend that he got his gifts and for some reason he got something I wish I had received. It was a little plastic skin diver toy. No understand this is the 60s. All things are relatively primitive back then a little plastic skin diver. You put two batteries in them. You drop them in the pool and he sunk to the bottom little bubbles came out of I thought I don't like anything that I have.
I know I would be happy if I got that plastic skin. The paper stupid. What's that saying the only difference between the men and the boys is the price of their toys then we get a little bit older, we say well maybe if I could just find a girlfriend or boyfriend, then I would be happy for you get that boyfriend girlfriend then you say I could just be caged to them that I would be happy so you get engaged when you say we got married then we would be happy so you get married. Anything will just have children.
We know we would be happy so you are children, then you say it, we could just find a way to get rid of these children. We know we would be happy then you start looking around is a all man up. I was just single again. I know I would be happy and on and on it goes. You might say I'd be happy if I had this sexual experience right be happy if I tried this drug right would be happy if I got this possession and on it goes. You know what it is you're longing for God deep down inside that's what you're looking for God, you have a desire to go to heaven because, listen were celebrating 25 years or up to say that it's hard to believe, and then we are looking back at 40 years in our church and I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by. The Bible says in the book of first Chronicles were only here for a moment, visitors and strangers in the land as our ancestors were before us. Our days are like a shadow gone so soon without a trace.
Before you know it your all. You know we always look at those old people in one day you look in the mirror and you're one of those old people heard about three guys that were buddies wanted to discover that they all share the same birthday.
So they decided they would go out and do something fun. They were talking about where the get go. One of the guys in here. I hear there's a amazing restaurant down by the water. These guys are in there all 50 at this point is an amazing restaurant down by the water. One of them says they have really pretty waitresses.
Let's go. So they go down. They celebrate together. They live another 10 years passed another 61 of them to say let's go back to the restaurant, the water there really great food and then another 10 years go by and there are 71 of them says let's celebrate out of the restaurant by the water again, great wheelchair ramp and then they had 80 and are trying to figure where they should go there amazed are still around it and what them says I heard about a restaurant dump of the water.
Let's go there. We've never been there before. Before you know of life's going to end. Then comes eternity. Only a few years ago my friend Frank has story was here he would lead us in prayer.
Now he's in heaven last year. Pastor Chuck Smith was still with us.
Now he's in heaven six years ago.
I've already mentioned my son Christopher was here with us now he to is in heaven. And it's hard. Especially with my son because I still miss him. People say after six years. Are you over it. Listen, don't ever ask a person who's lost a child. If they're over it. There never over it.
You just get through it day by day. I grieved still believe it or not, but I do not grieve hopelessly. I grieved hopefully because I know I will see him again. That is the hope of the Christian that is the whole of heaven. Christian never says goodbye we say see you later, I heard the story about Christian man who was dying. He was terminally ill so we called his three boys to his bedside. Two of them were believers.
So he said to them goodbye poison I'll see you in the morning, then turning to his third son was not a Christian with sadness in his voice. The father said goodbye son. The boy said that why did you say, I'll see you in the morning to my brothers and not say that to me and the father said son because you cannot ask Jesus Christ into your life to be your savior. What breaks my heart is all never see you again.
The boy began to weep and said father I want to see you again then you need to trust in Christ right out. The boy prayed an acceptable Lords of the father could say to him as well. I'll see you in the morning. That's our whole life. See you in the morning you put your faith in Jesus.
You know we talked about heaven. Kind of hard to wrap our mind around this place. We've never been to.
The problem is is our our minds a bit filled with all of these caricatures of heaven from Hollywood and cartoons and in other sources and so it's hard for us to imagine what heaven is really like. We wonder, is heaven real.
What will we do in heaven what we know one another in heaven.
What will our new bodies be like. Let's attribute those questions.
Number one. What is heaven like simple answer. Heaven is an actual place.
Jesus said, I have gone to prepare a place for you. Heaven is a real place for real people to do real thing is he. We often think of heaven in a mystical way sitting around on clouds clucking hearts with fat little baby angels order hovering above us. That's not biblical heaven. That's cartoony heaven.
No listen. Heaven is a real place. It science fiction writer Isaac Asimov once made this statement, quote I don't believe in an afterlife, so I don't have to spend my whole life during health or fearing heaven even more for whatever the tortures of hell. I think the boredom of heaven would even be worse."
What a stupid statement.
Heaven is not a boring place.
The Bible describes heaven as a paradise.
Remember when Jesus died on the cross next to him was that the probably worse than the thief. He was a hard-core criminal because he was being crucified by Rome.
So it probably was a murder and insurrectionist we would probably call him a terrorist came to his senses hanging there on the cross, he said, Lord, remember me when you come in your kingdom that Jesus turned his face of that man that said truly, truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. Heaven is a paradise.
Paul writes about dying and going to heaven Jesse apostle Paul was stone not back in the stone. He was pummeled with rocks and left for dead and he went to heaven.
I wonder what happened when he got there.
One of the Lord, said Paul. Welcome. I have some good news and some bad news. But what's a good news about is what, what's the good news follow the good news is you're coming back again fall within say what's the bad news drug is safe there some Christians down there praying that you will be raised from the dead poets they don't listen to their prayers floor their sinners lesson.
Trust me when I tell you, there's no one in heaven if given the choice, would ever want to come back to earth again because it's paradise. Paul talking about that experience said I knew a man who 14 years ago was seized by Christ, swept into ecstasy to the heights of heaven.
I don't know if this was in his body rot of it, but I know this much. He was hijacked in the paradise that he heard the unspeakable spoken was forbidden to tell what he heard. Heaven's a paradise number two. Heaven is a city of more than one occasion, the Bible describes heaven as a city he was 1110 says God is the architect and builder of this city. Hebrews 13 says we have a city that is to come. Now think of a real city you been to cities, outbuildings, cities have culture. They have art the music they have good Seo services.
They have events, don't think of sitting around in a cloud. Think about the best cities you've ever visited and then think of heaven because whatever you've experienced. It's great on earth will be so much better when you get to heaven because heaven is the original earth is the imitation using heaven as a paradigm.
Heaven is a city. The Bible describes heaven as a country in Hebrews 11 we desire a heavenly country that God has prepared for us heaven, a country a city garden paradise, a place no listen. Earth's wonderful God made this earth we live on and I don't think anyone enjoys life on earth more than a Christian.
No one enjoys the beauty of a sunset more than a follower of Jesus Christ.
Because we see the signature of our father. There we know the God did that no one appreciates the love of family and friends more than a follower of Jesus Christ.
The Bible says that the earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof.
Even Jesus took time to admire a simple flower and he picked one up and he said, consider the lilies of the field. They don't toil nor do they spin, yet Solomon in all his glory was not as beautiful as one the here's the great thing you need to know for the Christian living on this earth. This is as bad as it will ever get.
So if you're saying to me tonight for Greg my life pretty good then that's fantastic is losing Christian princes is bad is it ever going to get. Listen, if you're a nonbeliever. This is as good as it's ever going to get. This is as good is able. Greg, my life sucked about the problem it's going to get worse, way worse.
And I'll tell you what I mean about that in a moment. We have a whole is a Christian that is good is like this on this earth better things are coming because the best is yet to come. That's good for God to give you a new body to become another person. You're going to still be you and Kevin here just to be the radically upgraded version the blueprints for your glorified body or in the body. You know, process heaven is the earthly life of the believer glorified and perfected. On the other side were given no more because were going to become like him. Sometimes people ask what we know one another when we get to heaven you think you're going to be more stupid in heaven than you are on earth. Of course you'll know more, God will give you that ability and will be reunited with friends and family know when Jesus died and rose again from the dead. He appeared to his disciples, he was popular practically everywhere. He's there with Mary at the two he's there with the two disciples on the Emmaus Road, then he's there with the fisherman apostles down there by the sea of Galilee. Then we see him appear to 500 people at once. It's like he picked up for a last left off so pupil loved one in heaven. Let me just ask you how many of you have a loved one in heaven razor again. Since almost everyone. You'll see them again. You'll be with your family again. Saving Craig I have a weird family that doesn't excite me. Good deals they will be weird anymore. Best of all, you will be weird anymore, will lead to any heaven heaven sounds boring or going to be worshiping the Lord to be serving the Lord. Here's another thing working to be eating in heaven yes you heard me right. How many of you like seafood razor again. I thought so. You look like a hungry bunch to me tonight.
The Bible says in Revelation, the angel said blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. These are the true words of God. I love that word supper a lot of friends in the South and when you get to go have dinner with them. This he want to have supper here in California we call it dinner. I was raised for a number of years by my grandparents. I called the mama Stella and daddy Charles. There were from Arkansas or Jack Graham is from as well live in prayer. So every night. My grandmother would make a meal from scratch were talking the best fried chicken you've ever had were talking black-eyed peas, mashed potatoes, collard green German tricolor green amazing cornbread, but the crowning achievement of my grandmother's cooking. What's her biscuit I've never got up this just like it or it we came out it almost radiated with light: I just think I will be getting heaven, surely the Lord would employ the abilities of my grandmother to make biscuits for us as we sit down and we eat together. Can you imagine not only be reunited with friends and family, but meeting the great patriarchs and matriarchs of Scripture. Matthew 11 says people come from the East and the West and take the place of the fees with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Can you imagine sitting down and having a meal. These great men and women of God say to Moses. Moses, would you mind passing the manna. Thank you, tali, Jim, I need to little underdone. Could you give a little more fire a lot to surpass assault.
All lots are so sensitive get over it. If there was only a heaven it would be enough. But as they say in those commercials, but wait there's more. Listen to this as a Christian you will not stay in heaven forever. The Bible tells us one day heaven will come to earth. This will not be a sequel or remake God is gonna remake all things in Revelation anyone cuts as a wipe away every tear from her eyes will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, no more pain for the former things have passed away behold I make all things new. That's a cognitive will make all things new.
Think about it this world that is coming it out with the old and in with the new no more terminal diseases. No more hospitals, no more wheelchair no more funeral, no suffering, no separation, no accident, no court, no present, no divorces, no breakdowns or breakup, no suicide note rate. No missing children, no drug problems no more heart attacks or strokes or Alzheimer's or cancer. No more damage or disasters because God is to make all things new. Will like new stuff other people excited about the new iPhone that's coming out what's it going to be like the fan boys are trolling and what the new technology that new outfits all my news TV shows, my favorite shows coming on soon. I can hardly wait. We like to stop, listen, God likes new stuff to make all things new. God is not only going to give you a new body as a Christian is not only to make a new word but right now, tonight he can make a new you change one the inside. The Bible says if any man be in Christ, he is an altogether different kind of person the old things are passed away.
Behold everything becomes fresh and new guy can do that for you tonight.
I'll tell you how that can happen just a few moments to listen.
This is fantastic. This is the hope of the believer. That's all we can uphold in this crazy world. My hope is not impolitic. Since my hope is not in government. I hope is not in man-made solutions are hope is in God tonight. He's the only one that keeps us going is a better world, this is for the Christian, only for members only. Remember those jackets for members only. There were big in the 80s. Did any of you have one of those.
Some of you I see you're still wearing little applets member for members only. We weren't for members only what we members of I don't know but it's for members only what I just shared with you is for believers only. Now what happens to the nonbeliever reminisced to be straight with you what happens to a non-Christian when they die. We have to go with John the heaven to find the answer in Revelation 20.
John says I saw a great white throne and him that sounded up from his face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was no place for them and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and the books were open and another book was opened, which is the book of life and the dead were judged according to their works, by what that was written in the books and the sea gave up the dead that there were in it, death and Hades delivered up the dead that were in them and they were judged one according to his works.
Then death and Hades was constant of the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. This is an ominous scene. It's serious. It's sobering. Maybe the most tragic passage in the Bible abandon hope all you who enter here are the famous words about the gates of hell. Dante's poem inferno who will be there that day that we just read about. Listen, everyone who was rejected God's offer of forgiveness through Jesus Christ's will be there will be sinners. There let me explain. There's a lot of sinners and there's variations of sin person will be the out and out sinners. All you know them. They hate God. They go out of their way to mock Christian. They have no belief at all. They may be an atheist, but they have no place for God in their life.
They even mock God to find out the truth of the statement of Scripture that says don't be deceived, God is not mocked whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. So out it out.
Sinners will be there for sure. But listen to this one now self righteous people will be there to see these people think they're too good to face judgment. They may be kindly maybe considerate, then maybe volunteers but they don't think they need God and being that this judgment comes as a shock to the because they thought they could work their way to heaven. The Bible says it's not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to his mercy he has saved us. The Bible says not see by works but by the grace of God number three procrastinators will be there. These other people may have been closer than the other two groups. But they weren't close enough they were necessarily antagonistic toward the gospel that they would say things like, you know, I would like to believe in Jesus and one of these days I think I will believe in Jesus, but that day never came. W there because they effectively resisted God's offer. Listen to this one. Church people will be there by church people.
I mean people that went to church with didn't know God, that you know it's possible to go to church but up your Christian going to a church doesn't make you a Christian any more than going to a donut shop make you a call.
Don't get upset because I like what I'm just kidding. Okay, going to a church doesn't mean you're necessarily a Christian you can be baptized. You can be receiving communion made you even walk on an island, prayed a little prayer but if you never really put your faith in Christ. You could be there in this day because you knew about God, but you didn't know God. I think Jesus has a lot of followers like people of followers on twitter. You know you're not really a follower, you just an observer. Church people will be there.
They lived double lives. Thinking they're pulling people they put on an act and go to church and act like a Christian within they live.
Another way they talk about heaven and they live like hell. Let me tell you something you're not fooling God.
You can full all of the people some of the time you can full some of the people all of the time but you can't fool God. Any of the time. You must receive five figure all these people, everyone will get there as a matter of your king or queen or an emperor or president or a rock star or a billionaire or an actor you don't put your faith in Christ. There you will stand even Rolling Stone Keith Richard will be there but I bring up Steve Richards because he made a statement in an interview. I like to do it in his voice which you wouldn't understand what I'm saying. He said the devil doesn't bother me. It's that God that blinks me off. I won't use the word Keith. You him in his reign you wait until I need that blankety-blank speaking of God.
Then he says doesn't he know what we are where the Rolling Stone bill for years. Rolling Stone's inventories are still singing that song time is still on my side.
Have you look to keep Richard slightly or Mick Jagger let somebody time is still not on your side.
The Bible says the books will be open. The books are open.
What's in these books.
One of them is probably a book of God's law or the commandments of God, the Bible says God gave the commandments that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world will be found guilty before God. Effectively, the 10 Commandments open her eyes and shut him out. Some people say boiler by the 10 Commandments that's all the religion I mean, I love it when people say that they really will tell me the 10 Commandments they don't know. Let me tell you if you think a manager shall not take the Lord's name in vain.
You shall not yield, you shall not live, you shall not commit adultery. Have you ever done any of those things though I've ever done your lien right now, check this out if you broken one single commandment.
That's enough to keep you out of heaven because the Bible says that we have been in one point of the law were guilty of all of it. So one of those books may be the 10 Commandments, maybe another book will be a record of every time you heard the gospel so you'll say hold on now, no one ever told me about this final judgment. I never heard about Jesus Christ. No, I'm sorry.
They'll have a record here in earth. We have a record of so many think the be a record of every time you for the gospel most likely, maybe even a little replay over there you are in Sunday school as a child. You are as a teenager walking on the street that someone engaged in a conversation about Jesus.
You are a little later going to a church service. You are at the harvest to say and you're just looking at your watch, wondering how to get out of here. You'll be held accountable. As you've heard the gospel and knowledge brings responsibility. So we revisit. We think it's not fair. How could a God of love, send people to hell send me know this God of love he doesn't send anyone to hell. The last thing God wants to do business in any manner woman uniquely made in his image to this place called hell. How was it made for people always made according to Jesus, for the devil and his angels, God wants you to go to heaven. That's why he sent his son on a rescue mission to this planet to die on the cross in our place and absorb God's wrath in our place and to suffer and die and arise again. You don't have to go to God doesn't want you to go there. You want you to join him in heaven, so here's your choice. You decide your eternal address.
You decide by the decision you make about Jesus Christ. Whether you will go to heaven that paradigms the place to that city to that country and be reunited with loved ones who died in faith, and receive that new body and then see heaven come down to earth again one day, or you can go to this place called hell. We'll be separated from God for all eternity. It's either goodbye or see you in the morning. Listen to this. You don't go to heaven to find Christ you go to Christ defined heaven. You can do that tonight Sarah Greg, I want to go to heaven.
Tell me how he lists, number one, you have to admit you're a sinner that's hard for some people. The Bible says all of us in the fallen short of the glory of God.
Every one of us have broken God's commandments everyone of us fall short of the standards commitment to good people. For a moment. Listen, I will concede there are good people out there or not Christiansen to be really honest with you I bet some non-Christians that are nicer people than some Christians I've met. But being a good person doesn't get you to heaven heaven is not for good people. It's for forgiving people using but even if you're a good person, relatively speaking lesson. You're not good enough because you're not perfect. Jesus said be perfect as my father in heaven is perfect. So you fall short. You're a sinner recognize that number to realize that Jesus Christ, the son of God died on the cross for your sins.
Jesse died for the world when he died for you. I love the way the apostle Paul personalizes that he says he loved me and he gave himself for me.
Listen, Christ died for you.
It wasn't nails, and held Jesus to the cross. 2000 years ago.
It was love for you. For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Christ died number three you need to repent of your sin. What is that mean it means you realize that the things you've done are wrong and you're going to turn from the and turn to Christ instead.
The Bible says repentance and be converted in times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord and then you must receive Christ into your life. Being a Christian is not merely believing a creed.
It's not merely going to a church being a Christian is Evie. Jesus Christ lived inside of you as Savior is God best friend of US dominion you'll know if he is there. Jesus says behold I stand at the door and I knock it if you'll hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in only you can open the door of your life. The doorknob of your heart, so to speak is on the inside.
The Bible says, for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God, you must receive Christ one last thing you need to do it now. Now, not tomorrow, not in a week. None of them up now listen, this could be your last opportunity to get right. You do not know when life will in but God does.
Don't clothing. Don't miss this, you will never regret making this decision to follow Jesus, let me add one last thing, and I'm done. Jesus said here for me or against me. That means either you believe in him or you don't believe in him and if you say yes to him now. Tell St. enter into you then if you say no to him now will save the part from me then you decide make the right decision were praying you well. Let's all pray together. Father now. I pray for every person here every person listening were ever they are.
You see them as individuals. You love them sent Jesus to die for them. I pray now that they will see their need for you and that they will come view and receive the forgiveness that only you can offer Lord working mightily in our midst. Now we pray and bring many people to yourself. We ask all of this in Jesus name, amen, amen