1. Heaven Is Worth It

2. We live in a world corrupted by sin
and the works
of Satan.

3. We’ve all heard of a place called Heaven.
It’s a place everyone wants to go, but not any time soon.

4. Christians live by faith anticipating an eternal reward in Heaven.
Matthew 5: 11–12
Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

5. I. Heaven is a real place.

6. II Corinthians 12: 2-4
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago —whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows — such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows — 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

7. Heaven is not just a N.T. concept.
Deuteronomy 30: 11-12
For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. 12  It is not in Heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to Heaven for us to get it for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?’

8. Jesus ascended from this earth to prepare a place for us.
John 14: 2-3
In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 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.

9. I Peter 1: 3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

10. Heaven will be a place with physical substance.

11. Revelation 21: 1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

12. II Peter 3: 12-13
... looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13  But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
( a tangible mass with an atmosphere )

13. The new earth has a new city.
Revelation 21: 2
And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

14. We are but sojourners passing through earth on our way home to Heaven.

15. Hebrews 11: 13
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
I Peter 1: 17
... conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

16. II. There are some things
that will NOT be in
Heaven.

17. There will be no evil people there.
(You’ll never have a bad neighbor. )
Revelation 21: 8
But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and, all liars their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

18. I Corinthians 6: 9-10
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
( Cf. – Isa. 5: 20 )

19. Galatians 5: 16-21
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which
... continued

20. Galatians 5: 16-21 ... continued
are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

21. There will be absolutely NO unbelievers in Heaven.
II Thessalonians 1: 7-9
... when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

22. There will be no hypocrites who practice religion, but do not surrender to Jesus.
Matthew 7: 21
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

23. None of the consequences of sin will be there because there will be no sin there.
Revelation 21: 4
and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

24. As in the garden, we will again be eating of the tree of life.
Revelation 22: 2
On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

25. III. There are some things
we can look forward
to enjoying in Heaven.

26. Heaven will be a beautiful place.
Revelation 21: 2
... made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
( woman’s most beautiful day )

27. It is a huge place. 21: 12 ... It has mountains and rivers.
21: The city is a 1500 mile cube.
The city is laid out as a square, and its length
is as great as the width; and he measured
the city with the rod, fifteen hundred miles;
its length and width and height are equal.

28. IV. In Heaven Christians
will dwell in the very
presence of God.

29. In this life people go to extreme measures to escape pain, suffering and death.

30. The emptiness that we feel is the longing for our creator.

31. God walked among men in the person of Jesus, but He was rejected.
John 1: 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1: 14
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

32. I Peter 1: 8
though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
The ultimate glory of Heaven is to be in the presence of our savior God.

33. V. There are two prerequisites
to entering Heaven.

34. There are many false beliefs about who will go to Heaven.
1. Shooting stars are people getting wings.
2. “I guess God needed another angel.”
3. Everyone goes to Heaven, esp. if good.
4. Peter will interview at the pearly gates
5. Just keep the Ten Commandments
7. Believe on Jesus and pray
( Remember ... Matt. 7: )

35. One must actually be IN Christ.

36. Salvation is IN and only in Christ Jesus. II Tim. 2: 10
For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is IN Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

37. One who has faith is placed INTO Christ by God when he is baptized.
Galatians 2: 26-27
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

38. One must keep his faith in Jesus until the end of his journey on earth.
Matthew 10: 22
You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

39. Revelation 2: 10
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

40. Revelation 21: 7 I Corinthians 15: 1-2
He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
I Corinthians 15: 1-2
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, IF you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

41. While we are in this body and on this earth Satan will do his best to destroy our faith.

42. Heaven will be worth whatever we must withstand to get there.
Romans 8: 18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

43. Are you living in anticipation of
Heaven or
in fear and doubt ?