HEAVEN, A BETTER COUNTRY
HEBREWS 11:8-16
Introduction:
Heaven is God’s dwelling place for Moses as said in Deuteronomy 26:15, “Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.”
It is a place referred to as “Glory,” Psalm 73:24, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”
It is a better country than what we have now, however, we can’t even imagine how much better, 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.”
I. THAT COUNTRY IS NOT FULLY REVEALED, BUT “BETTER”
A. It is a country more exalted than earthly things, 1 Kings 22:19, “And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.”
B. It is more holy than anything we now know, 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.”
1. The unrighteous will not inherit that kingdom, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10-Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
2. Peace and holiness will be the norm there, Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”
C. It is a country where the nations are healed, Revelation 22:2, “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
D. It is a happier country, Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
1. No bitterness, Ephesians 4:31, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”
2. No bereavement because of death, 1 Corinthians 15:26, 54-57, “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death, 54- So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55- O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56- The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57- But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
E. Heaven Abides and its rewards never fade, 1 Peter 1:4, “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”
II. BELIEVERS DESIRE TO SERVE GOD IN THAT COUNTRY
A. They have secured title to it, Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
1. They received Christ as Savior, John 1:12-13, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13- Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
2. They are now the sons of God, Philippians 2:15, “That ye may be blameless and harmless , the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;”
B. They are heirs of God, Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
1. To be with Jesus, John 17:24, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
2. We will be joint heirs with Jesus, Revelation 21:7, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
C. They labor and wait patiently for glory, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
1. They wait for the coming of Christ, Colossians 3:4, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”
2. They maintain their testimony for the Lord, Jude 21, “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life”
D. They speak of that hope, and live it, Psalm 146:2, “While I live I will praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.”
1. Their hope is continual in the Lord, Psalm 71:14, 15, “But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.”
2. They testify of the righteousness in God, Psalm 71:15, “My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.”
Conclusion
Heaven is a better country and God’s people wait patiently for the day when we will see Jesus coming for His people. The Apostle John wrote in 1 John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”