JOHN 14:1-6
Pastor Rick Jackson
Pastor Rick Jackson
I have heard three fairly recent songs about Heaven. Beautiful songs perhaps but not entirely accurate. Someone says how do you know, have you ever been there? No, and neither have the song writers. The only way to know about Heaven is to go to God’s Word, the Bible. Now I am not saying the songs were completely wrong. It was only when they strayed from the Bible that we question them.
For instance, in the song “When I Get to Where I am going” he mentions having wings in Heaven – there is not a hint in the Bible of humans having wings in Heaven. Some angels have them… but not humans. And we don’t ride on raindrops either. But, the mention that his grandfather would match him step-for-step in Heaven is right. Yes, in Heaven, we will all have new bodies [and even new minds]. The Bible says in 2 Cor. 5:1-8 FOR we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
For instance, in the song “When I Get to Where I am going” he mentions having wings in Heaven – there is not a hint in the Bible of humans having wings in Heaven. Some angels have them… but not humans. And we don’t ride on raindrops either. But, the mention that his grandfather would match him step-for-step in Heaven is right. Yes, in Heaven, we will all have new bodies [and even new minds]. The Bible says in 2 Cor. 5:1-8 FOR we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
That is why the other song, “Scars in Heaven” could say “The only scars in Heaven are on the hands that hold you now.”
Isaiah 53:5...But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Zechariah 13:6... And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
Isaiah 53:5...But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Zechariah 13:6... And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
Of course, the third song admits they can only imagine so what need we say more? Actually, let’s go back to the Bible and say a little more about the place called Heaven. And what we will say is not the imagination of some songwriter but rather the Words of the Lord Jesus Himself concerning the place called Heaven.
I. Heaven is an Assured Place [v. 1-2]
2. Heaven is an Abundant Place [v. 2a]
3. Heaven is a Distant Place [v. 2b-3]
4. Heaven is a Prepared Place [v. 2c]
5. Heaven is a Populated Place [v. 3]
6. Heaven is a Reserved Place [v. 4-6]
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
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