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Matthew 6:19-21  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT HEAVEN

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT HEAVEN? The bible class was asked, “How many of you want to go to heaven?” Imagine that there is a button right in front of you and if I were to tell you that by pressing that button, you would immediately be transported to Heaven, how many of you would press that button right now? Why is there a hesitance on our part to want to make that journey to heaven right now? Paul seemed to face the same conflict. Philippians 1:21-23  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22  But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23  For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT HEAVEN? Sometime ago a young man was asked, “Don’t you want to go to heaven?” and he replied, “Why? What’s so great about heaven? I have everything I need right here. I have my wife and my children and a nice home and a good job.” SONG 836 - HEAVEN HOLDS ALL TO ME

I. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE IT IS A PLACE John 14:1-3  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. There may be some who think of heaven as a state of mind or a dream or an idea or an abstraction or a sentiment or a wishful thought but our Lord declared heaven to be a home as real as the home in which you live.... a place as real as the city in which you live. SONG 829 - ABOVE THE BRIGHT BLUE

II. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE OF WHO IS THERE Heaven is a place where God dwells - a place where angels walk - a place where our Lord sits at the right hand of the Father. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8  So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7  For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. An old man’s picture of heaven

II. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE OF WHO IS THERE 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18  Therefore comfort one another with these words.

II. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE OF WHO IS THERE Won’t it be wonderful to be in eternity with all the people of God who have ever lived. Next week we will look at “Where Christians go when they die.” SONG 958 - I’M JUST A POOR WAYFARING STRANGER

III. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE FIND THERE Revelation 21:18-21  The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. 19  The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, 20  the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. 21  The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

III. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE OF WHAT WE FIND THERE Revelation 22:1-5  And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2  In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3  And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. 4  They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. 5  There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. Heaven is more beautiful that anything we could ever imagine. SONG – 801 HOW BEAUTIFUL HEAVEN MUST BE

IV. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE OF ALL THAT WILL NOT BE FOUND THERE Revelation 21:4  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:27  But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Sin... that terrible scourge that afflicts us.... Sin, that unholy disease that mars all that is lovely about mankind and smothers us and separates us from a righteous God, will be barred forever from Heaven. There will be no lying or cheating or rape or murder or disease or death. There will be no need for courts in heaven.

IV. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE OF ALL THAT WILL NOT BE FOUND THERE There will be no terrorists, no war, no prejudice.... there will be no division by race or by culture.... There will be no homeless, no poverty, no hungry children. There will be no hospitals or nursing facilities. Won’t it be wonderful to be where there is no more problems caused by sin. SONG 845 - BEYOND THIS LAND OF PARTING

V. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE IT IS MY TRUE HOME My name is written in heaven. Jesus said, Luke 10:19-20  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20  Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." Heaven is my inheritance. 1 Peter 1:3-4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4  to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

V. HEAVEN IS GREAT BECAUSE IT IS MY TRUE HOME I have a mansion prepared for me there. John 14:1-3  "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2  In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. My treasure is in heaven. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal.” (Matthew 6:20) SONG 795 - THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME

WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT HEAVEN? It is a real place. The people who are there. What will be there. What will not be there. It is my true home. SONG 839 - BEAUTIFUL ISLE OF SOMEWHERE

TONIGHT’S SERMON NO FEAR