Is There A Heaven to Gain?

Is There A Heaven to Gain? 

 John 14:1–6 Introduction Man naturally is inquisitive about the future. He craves knowledge not only of tomorrow, but also of the life that lies beyond “that last tomorrow.” Even this materialistic age does not seem to affect man’s hope of heaven. 

Thomas Carlyle once said, “He who has no vision of eternity will never get a true hold of time.” 

I. The Certainty of Heaven 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). If you examine these words in their context and in light of other Scriptures, you will find that they teach that the certainty of heaven is: 

A. Implicit in the Need of Man  “Let not your heart be troubled” (14:1). The heart trouble that the Savior speaks about here is homesickness. The Lord Jesus had been telling the disciples, “I shall be with you a little while longer” (John 13:33), and the thought of His departure had made their hearts sink. They just could not imagine what life without Him would be like. He was their heaven, for “where Jesus is, ‘tis heaven.” 

These men were witnessing to the fact that heaven alone could satisfy their longing souls. And so it always has been. Man was made for heaven and will never rest until he finds his rest in the Christ of heaven. 

Thousands upon thousands have expressed this restlessness or homesickness in many ways, but none has ever risen to the simplicity and certainty of the apostle Paul. Listen to his words, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil. 1:21, 23). 

Most people find it very difficult to want “Heaven” at all – except that “Heaven” means meeting again our friends who have died. One reason for this difficulty is that our whole education tends to fix our minds on this world. 

Another reason is that when the real want for Heaven is present in us, we do not recognize it. If people really learned to look into their own hearts, they would know that they do want something that cannot be found in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give you some sort of “heaven,” but it never happens. 

The certainty of heaven is implicit in the need of man. That certainty of Heaven is also: 

B. Inherent in the Fact of God 

“You believe in God,” says Christ, “believe also in Me” (14:1). In effect, the Lord Jesus was saying, “Belief in God, means belief in me; and belief in me, means belief in heaven.” Speaking as Son over the Father’s house (Heb. 3:6) He surely could talk with authority on the certainty of heaven. So He adds, “If it were not so [that heaven were not a certainty], I would have told you” (14:2). 

Remember, also, that the Lord Jesus was speaking those words in the shadow of the Cross. What weight would His teaching have carried if death were but the end? No, Jesus saw heaven through the gates of death and, therefore, steadfastly set His face to lead the way to the glory land, leaving us this assurance: “Where I am, there you may be also” (14:3). 

Illustration 

Billy Graham has said, “I believe that out there in space where there are one thousand million galaxies, each a hundred thousand light years or more in diameter, God can find some place to put us in heaven. I’m not worried about where it is. I know it is going to be where Jesus is.”

So we see that the certainty of heaven is not only implicit in the need of man, but is also inherent in the fact of God. 

I. The Certainty of Heaven 14:1 Now 

II. The Concept of Heaven 

“In my Father’s house are many mansions” (14:2). What a glimpse of Heaven in a single phrase! “Home” is one of the tenderest words in our English tongue, and I know why! It is the word which best describes Heaven. 

A. Home is the Place of Reunion 

That is just what heaven is going to mean. For next to the unutterable joy of seeing our Savior, heaven is going to include the happy reunion with, and the recognition of, loved ones and friends who have gone before. 

Paul sums up the anticipation of reunion and recognition in heaven in words that were first addressed to his precious converts at Thessalonica, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thess. 2:19). 

B. Home is the Place of Restfulness 

This will not mean inertia or inactivity, but the blessed and eternal: 

1. Rest from Sin “But there shall by no means enter it [Heaven] anything that defiles” (Rev. 21:27). 

2. Rest from Sorrow “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more . . . sorrow” (Rev. 21:4). 

3. Rest from separation “There shall be no more death” (Rev. 21:4). 

4. Rest from starvation “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore” (Rev. 7:16). 

5. Rest from shadow “And there shall be no night there” (Rev. 22:5). 

The story is told of the great Richard Baxter, author of the “Saints Everlasting Rest,” that as he lay dying, he was heard to whisper in response to an inquiry as to how he felt, “I am almost well.” How true are those words written to the Hebrew believers long ago, “There remains, therefore, a rest for the people of God” (Heb. 4:9). 

Reunion, Restfulness and now --- 

C. Home is the Place of Rejoicing 

Someone has called it “the place of laughter,” and so it is, for remember that heaven is the place where there are thousands of little children; and where children are there is laughter. But even in a deeper way we are told that for the believer heaven is the place of “exceeding joy” (Jude 24). 

What a home heaven is! Paul described departure for heaven as, “Absent from the body . . . present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).

Look again at our Scripture text 

I. The Certainty of Heaven - 14:1 

II. The Concept of Heaven – 14:2

Now — 

III. The Completeness of Heaven- 

“I go to prepare a place for you” (14:2). A little reflection makes it clear that the preparations for heaven had to do with: When Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you” (14:2), He had before Him the road to the cross where he would pay the infinite cost of introducing sinful men and women to His Father, God.

• He died that we might be forgiven, 

• He died to make us good,

• That we might go at last to Heaven, 

• Saved by His precious blood.

There was no other good enough

To pay the price of sin,

He only could unlock the gate

Of Heaven and let us in. Cecil F. Alexander 

By virtue of His own blood He entered “into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24). Thank God that the introductions have been completed for all whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life! 

“I go to prepare a place for you” (14:2). For every redeemed soul there is room in Heaven. It is a place of “extensive mansions,” and therefore it has room for all. 

There’s a land that is fairer than day, 

And by faith we can see it afar; 

For the Father waits over the way, 

To prepare us a dwelling place there. 

The believer will enjoy unfettered service. For it is written, “His servants shall serve Him” (Rev. 22:3). Such service will include sharing in the governmental judgment of the new earth and of angels: “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? Do you not know that we shall judge angels?” (1 Cor. 6:2–3).

So we see something of the completeness of heaven. 

I. The Certainty of Heaven - 14:1 

II. The Concept of Heaven – 14:2  

III. The Completeness of Heaven - 14:2 Now -- 

IV. The Community of Heaven 14:3 

“I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (14:3). When the Savior says “I”, He speaks of himself but there is a community in heaven. There are ----- 

A. The Father Indeed it is the “Father’s House” (John 14:2). 

B. The Son “No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven” (John 3:13). 

C. The Spirit For John bare record saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove” (John 1:32). 

D. The Angels Speaking of heaven, the writer to the Hebrews declares, “Let all the angels of God worship Him” (1:6). 

E. The Saints When John was permitted in vision to look into heaven he beheld “a great multitude which no one could number, of all the nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” (Rev. 7:9). 

Friends will be there I have loved long ago; 

Joy like a river around me will flow;

Yet, just a smile from my Savior, I know,

Will through the ages be glory for me. Charles Gabriel 

Conclusion,

I. The Certainty of Heaven - 14:1 

II. The Concept of Heaven – 14:2 

III. The Completeness of Heaven - 14:2 

IV. The Community of Heaven 14:3 Now — 

V. The Commendation of Heaven 14: 5-6 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (14:6). Such a glimpse of heaven had called forth the most natural and crucial question from Thomas: “Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?” (14:5). In reply, the Savior offers Himself as being the three indispensable requirements for an entrance into heaven: 

A. The Way to Escort Us to Heaven For Christ is not only the path, but also the guide to the realms of bliss. Without Him we are most certainly lost. He says, “No one comes to the Father except through Me” (14:6). 

B. The Truth to Educate Us for Heaven No man ever had an audience with an earthly king without being carefully informed as to what was expected of him. How then can a sinner of Adam’s race ever hope to stand before the King of the universe without the truth? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth” (14:6). Get to know Him before it is too late. Remember that heaven is “a prepared place for a prepared people.” The third essential is: 

C. The Life to Equip Us for Heaven Jesus declared, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3). How can a man who has lived without God on earth, be introduced suddenly into a realm of perfect life and holiness? Would he care for it? Could he live in it? The answer is in the negative; no more could he live in heaven than a fish taken from the depths of the sea could live in the pure light and beauty of the sunshine above. It would be out of its element and all around would be contrary to every instinct of its nature. 

The same is true of you and me. In our fallen nature, we could not subsist in the realms of glory without “life from above” experienced now! No wonder Jesus insists, “I am the life” (14:6). Paul's writing of the mystery of the gospel which takes sinners to heaven, urges that the guarantee of reaching the Father’s house is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). 

Conclusion Summary 

Can you say that Christ is in you? May the certainty, the concept, the completeness, the community and the commendation of heaven lead you to say: 

To Christ the Way, the Truth, the Life,

I come, no more to roam;

He’ll guide me to my “Father’s house,”

To my eternal home. 

By CovenantMedia