Are You Sure You Want To Go To Heaven?

Temple Baptist Church - 6-8-2008

Revelation 5:1-14

Introduction: As eternity nears, it behooves each of us to ponder our eternal destination. Satan has deceived the world into believing that they will go on forever and, if they do die, everything will turn out all right in the end. What a deception!

A. Eternity is nearing and that is a biblical fact.

1. Either eternity by the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

2. Or eternity by the way of the grave. Either way, life is certainly short and eternity somewhere a certainty.

B. There are only two possible eternal destinations as we well know:

1. There is a literal, burning, and eternal Hell!

a. Hell is a prepared place for Satan and his angels - Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

b. Hell is a certain place for those who reject Jesus Christ - John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Romans 9:22 [What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

2. There is a literal, wonderful, and eternal Heaven!

a. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people - Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

b. Heaven is a wonderful place - 1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

c. So many people have both a deceived concept of their salvation and God’s Heaven. I heard a man, not long ago, say that a certain two men who had died were sitting in Heaven, drinking scotch and looking down on what was going here on earth. My Friend, that is neither salvation nor Heaven!

d. Even among the saved, there are jokes told about Saint Peter and entering the gate along with golfing and etc. In Heaven. I know that these are told in jest, but it still gives to others a wrong meaning and description of that wonderful place.

e. I guess I said all of that to say this: “Most people who think that they will be in Heaven would hate it!” And, if they hated it, they would not be thee anyway because God’s people—the truly born again believers—are looking for a place that has nothing to do with this world of the things thereof!

1. We are longing for a pure, holy city!
2. We are longing for a place of wonderful, spiritual rest!
3. We are longing for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
4. We are longing for HOME!

ARE YOU REALLY SURE THAT YOU WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN?

1. Are you really sure that you want to go to Heaven because Heaven is a Place of Holiness! Revelation 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

A. There’s no liquor stores there!
B. There’s no pornography there!
C. There’s no drugs, prescription or otherwise there!
D. There’s no cursing there!
E. There’s no dirty jokes there!

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed [are] they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without [are] dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (A young man once told me that he did not want to go to Heaven because it would be a boring place! Unless he changes his mind, he will certainly get his wish. A life of holiness is boring to this world but very wonderful to the child of God. What a deception!)

2. Are you really sure that you want to go to Heaven because Heaven is a Place of Worship! (There will be praise, honor, glory, shouting, singing, and testifying in that city forever!)

Isaiah 6:1-4 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Revelation 4:8-11 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about [him]; and [they were] full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. 9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Revelation 7:9-12 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and [about] the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, [be] unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. (What a worship service! The world wants no public displays of joy and praise. They enjoy the dead, liturgical services where no testimony or praise is offered. They look down on shouting and praise—and yet, the Bible is full of it! What a deception!)

3. Are you really sure that you want to go to Heaven because Heaven is a Place of Service! (There will be no 80/20, 85/15, 90/10 rules there in Heaven. Every saint of God will serve God on an eternal basis!)

Revelation 7:15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.

Revelation 22:3 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: (The world has no time for Christ in their daily walk. They are consumed with this world while the child of God wants Christ to be a vital part of his daily walk and make a difference in this present evil world.)

4. Are you really sure that you want to go to Heaven because Heaven is a Place of Assembly! (As we go farther in this world, there is less and less assembly taking place. In the days of the early church, they assembled every day. Now, churches are cutting down on their services during the week and cutting short what they do have because of lack of interest! Thee is an old question that goes like this: “If everyone went to church as often as you go to church, how often would the doors of the church be open?”)

Psalms 27:4 One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Psalms 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (The world looks at their watches and wishes for church to be over while the saint looks forward to the services and wishes that they would never end. What a deception!)

Conclusion: Are you sure that you really want to go to Heaven or do you just want to go to a heaven of your own imagination? If you do not enjoy these things that will be a vital part of Heaven, you will probably be bored stiff if you get there!