71% of Americans believe in heaven but hardly anyone ever talks about it. If we assume that 99% of our existence will take place in heaven, isn’t it a little bizarre that we simply ignore heaven, acting as if it doesn’t matter?
C.S. Lewis said, “…the Christians who did most for the present world are those who thought most of the next…”
Imagine, ponder what it would be like if you were at home tomorrow morning getting ready to go to work or school. Your bed is unmade, you have shaving cream on your face or make-up on one eye when suddenly you hear a great, thundering voice, “Come up here and let me show you things that are yet to come.” (Rev. 4:1) Would you fall to the floor in a trembling heap of fear? Would you declare, “Oh, yes, let me see!” or would you whimper something like, “That’s all right, I’ll pass for today. Maybe some other time. Not sure I’m ready for that.”
You might find yourself at the very center of the throne room of heaven itself. You see Christ himself sitting on the throne. You are overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells of heaven. Surrounding the throne you see bolts of lightning and you hear thunder rumbling. You smell sweet fragrances you’ve never smelled before.
There are unusual creatures here, they are not human nor are they angels. They are a part of God’s creation unknown to man. Six winged creatures with faces of a calf, a lion, a man and an eagle. Surrounding the throne are two dozen minor thrones. Twenty four men sit on these thrones. Their identities are hidden from you.
A spirit appears at your side. He escorts you all about this place. He shows you things no mortal man should see. These are things you couldn’t possibly describe because there are no words in any human language to describe them. There is gathered about this throne a great company of men, women and children whose number is unknown. They are gathered in perfect harmony and they are of all races and every skin color. There is no racism here.
Then you hear a unity of voices, it sounds like the crashing of the waves against the shores of the beach, like all the thunders of heaven rolled into one. “Worthy, worthy, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, strength and honor and glory and blessing. Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sits upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever and ever.”
Your knees buckle under you and your forehead touches a golden surface as you worship the King of Kings. You worship as you’ve never worshipped before. You see him as never before. You love him as never before. You are overwhelmed by happiness, and joy and peace and security.
The unpaid bills no longer matter. The worry over a wayward childe is now gone. The problem with your spouse or your boss or your neighbor is now but a lingering shadow of a time long ago. It doesn’t matter who is president. It doesn’t matter whether his policies are Democrat or Republican. There is a plan for you here and there is so much for you to do and to discover.
But then your spirit guide slips up beside you and says, “It’s time for you to go home now.”
“But why? I don’t want to go.”
“But you must. Your mission on earth has not yet been fulfilled.”
In a moment you find yourself again in your home. Its morning and you are getting ready. There is shaving cream on your face, your face is half made-up and your bed is still unmade.
But your life is radically changed. You find that you have no more interest in self-promotion. It doesn’t matter if you get a raise. You have little interest in the pleasures of this world. The leisure activities that others crave have little meaning to you. You have an unbearable burden for the lost. You pray without ceasing. Worry no longer plays a part in your life.
Does it sound like a fantasy? Jesus never failed to keep a promise. Those who are born again and set apart find great hope in a particular promise found in John 14. “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
Hear “In My Father’s House” by Russ Sukhia
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=680614140
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