Nearly all the wisdom we posses, that is to say sound and true wisdom, consists of two parts; the knowledge of God and ourselves. The first few verses of John are among the most popular in the "Bible." They speak of heaven. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. (the promise). He was in the beginning with God, but the reason for their popularity is not that they reveal details of heaven or life beyond the grave. They do not. Nor is it that other, more extensive passages on the subject of "Heaven" are lacking The book of revelation describes heaven as a glorious city, a country, God's Kingdom, paradise It abounds in walls, thrones, precious jewels, choir, angels. So why is John 14 so popular? The answer is probably because of the warm image that is found there: Heaven is "home" We need a final home. Jesus calmly told his troubled disciples that we have one. Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my
Father's house are may rooms, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, when you are ready, I will come again and take you to myself. That where I am you may be also (John 14:1-3). Whoever does not believe that is calling Jesus a liar! Our need for a home arises from the fact that we lost a home. We had a home once in Eden. But sin caused the loss of that home. and ever since, the human race has been wandering. We think of Cain, who killed his brother and was condemned to a life of drifting. He had no home. In Genesis 11, we find men trying to create a city in which homes would be established But the men of Babel were in opposition to God, and God scattered them. They were made homeless.
With the coming of Abraham we find a new heartening element. To be sure, God's first dealings with Abraham was to take him from his home- it was a sinful place filled with idols, and idol worshipers. But in place of the home he lost, God promised Abraham a new place: the land I will show you (Gen 12:1). But even though Abraham was brought into the promise land, even though Abraham, even though his descendants settle their large numbers, it was ultimately inadequate, because he looked forward to a heavenly home.
We don't know much about heaven except that it is where we shall be with Jesus. When we talk to children, they want to know where heaven fits in. Was it between the stars? Was it beyond the them ? The only valid answer, was that heaven is where God is, and where Jesus has gone to prepare a place which He has promised us. ( Plays right into John 14: 1-3).
This is the focal point of Revelation 5. It speaks of the four-and twenty-elders, the angels and a vast amount of other creatures from everywhere, in the universe. These being mention, not for descriptive purposes, but because each bore testimony to Christ nd thus served to show how he is prominent.
The four and twenty elders praised him with this song. ' worthy are you to take the scroll and to pen its seals, for you were slain and by thy blood, didst ransom men for God from every tribe and nation and tongue and, has made them a kingdom and priests to out god., and they shall reign on earth. (vv 9-10). Then the angels gave their testimony: " worthy is the lamb who was slain (Jesus), to receive
power and might and honor and glory and blessing!" (v12). At last the remaining creatures joined in-
" to him who sits upon the throne and to the lamb be blessing honor glory and might, Forever and ever! that is a Christian destiny. Remember heaven id where God is. It is the presence ( and not some high concentration of golden streets or jewels) that makes it heaven.
The words of Jesus were a great comfort to the disciples and are precious to us.
They were going to lose the presence of Jesus for a time, But He told them one day they would be united with him in his father's house. Heaven would be their home for they would be with Jesus.
[story]. This mother became very sick. While the mother was sick, one of the neighbors took the child away to stay with her. until her mother got well. But the mother grew worse and died. The neighbors would take the child home after the funeral, but would not tell her that her mother had died. After a while they brought the little girl home. At once she went to find her mother. First she went into the parlor, then the sitting room to find her mother; he went from one end of the house to the other. At last she asked, " Where is my mama?" When they told her that her mother was gone, the little girl wanted to go back to the neighbor's house again. Home had lost its attraction for her since her mother was not there any longer. "No its not the jasper walls and the pearly gates that are going to make heaven attractive. It is being with God." Will there be a reunion in heaven with the ones who went before us? Many Christian people are anxious about whether they will recognize family, friends, in heaven. They have no doubt that they will be in heaven; to be absent from the body [is] to be present with the Lord. ( 2 Cor. 5:8 KJV). Still they are confused about what is to happen in the life to come. If we could not recognize our friends or family, then like the little girl who couldn't find her Mother, then heaven would lose much of its attractiveness. But the word of God is explicit. We will know each other. We will know parents and children, friends and relatives, and those who have died in the" LORD" before us!
"It shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
that I will pour a portion of my spirit on all mankind:
your son's and daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions
your old men shall dream dreams...
Then shall everyone be saved who calls on the name of the Lord."
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