I. What is heaven?
A. As we journey toward heaven, where are we going?
B. Many have false views of heaven-how do we know what is true?
C. How can thoughts of heaven help us in our daily lives?

II. Vague descriptions
A. The NT at first gives us only small pieces of what heaven is like.
B. Heaven is a home for God's people
1. John 14:1-6. Jesus promises a home in His Father's house. He says we
will have a place there. He also promises to come and receive us to Him.
2. 2 Cor 5:1. Our habitation will be there in heaven after our body dies.
We will no longer need a physical body when we reach our spiritual home.
3. Phil 3:20-21. Heaven is where we belong as God's people-it is where
our citizenship lies. So we often sing "This world is not my home." Heaven is the place where we will be truly at home if we serve our Savior.
C. Heaven is a place of rest
1. Heb 4:9-11. Even though Joshua gave the people a physical rest, the
Hebrew writer stresses that a rest remains for the people of God. Heaven will be a time when we lay our burdens down, cease from our labors for the Lord, and go to be with Him.
2. 2 Th 1:7. Since we suffer now, God will bless us by giving us reprieve
from that suffering in heaven.
D. Heaven will be a place of glory and joy
1. Rom 8:18. We will have glory revealed in us when we see heaven.
Compared to the sufferings of life, this is a wonderful thought.
2. Mt 25:21. If we are found faithful, we will enter the joy of our Lord.
3. 2 Tim 4:8. We will be given a crown as reward for our labors.
E. Yet none of these passages really reveal what heaven will be like. Fortunately,
God gives us a glimpse of what heaven will be.

III. A glimpse into heaven
A. In the book of Revelation, John is allowed to see heaven and reveal, as best he
can in human language, the glories it holds.
B. We will worship around the throne. (Rev 4:1-3, 8-11). God reigns in heaven,
and we have the privilege of being with Him and worshipping Him there.
If we do not enjoy worshipping God now, what makes us think heaven
will be for us?
C. No sorrow or sin in heaven. (Rev 21:4, 8, 27). The troubles of life-death,
sorrow, pain-are no more in heaven. This is because there is no sin in heaven. God has purged His people of all sins, and no sin is allowed there. If we enjoy sin more than serving God, heaven is not our destination.
D. More beautiful than we can comprehend. (Rev 21:10-11, 19-22). John uses
his words seem to be describing something beyond human imagination.
Perhaps part of the reason God tells us so little of heaven is that we can
understand only so much.
E. Glory of God is the light. (Rev 21:23, 22:5). The most wonderful thing about
heaven is that we are there in the presence of God. The God whom no
man has seen (John 1:18) we shall see as He is (1 John 3:2). The God who
made Moses' face glow will, who is light itself will provide all that we
need. There is no darkness, or evil, or fear-only adoration for the God
who owned us when we did not deserve it.
F. The book of Revelation shows us a tantalizing picture of what heaven holds.
However, it also reminds us of what it is not.

III. What heaven is not
A. We see no indication in Scripture that heaven is a place where we will do
whatever we like for all eternity.
B. Nowhere does God promise that we will see (or even recognize) all who have
gone before us. Heaven, in Scripture, is not about reuniting with other
people but is rather about being in the presence of God.
C. Heaven is not a place for all "good" people, but is a place of those who have
been washed in the blood of the Lamb and are free from sin (Rev 12:11).
Remember the sobering words of Jesus: "I am the way, the truth, and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through Me"(John 14:6).
D. Most importantly, heaven is not a fairy tale! It is a real place, inhabited by a
real God with whom we will live for eternity if we are faithful to Him.

If we can remember that heaven is our goal, it will help us to continue through the bumps in life's road. Let's press on to that wonderful city of God!___Jacob Hudgins