Headed for Heaven
Do you want to to go to heaven?
Want to go?
• Bible teacher – Who wants to go to
heaven?
• All raised their hand – except one
• “I thought you were gettin’ up a load
right now.”
Want to go?
• Golfer asked preacher – Are there
golf courses in heaven?
• Preacher meditated for a day or two
• Then he said – Good news, bad news
• Many golf courses, beautiful, fair
weather
• You tee off at 9 in the morning!
We aren’t anxious for
Heaven because:
• Trying to make heaven on earth
• Song – This earth is not my home
• We are in love with the campground
• Remember – this earth won’t last
We aren’t anxious for
Heaven because:
• 2 Peter 3:7-9 - 7But the heavens and the earth
which are now preserved by the same word, are
reserved for fire until the day of judgment and
perdition of ungodly men. 8But, beloved, do not
forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day
is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as
one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning His
promise, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to
repentance.
We aren’t anxious for
Heaven because:
• 2 Peter 3:10-12 - 10But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night, in which the
heavens will pass away with a great noise, and
the elements will melt with fervent heat; both
the earth and the works that are in it will be
burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things will
be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you
to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for
and hastening the coming of the day of God,
because of which the heavens will be dissolved,
being on fire, and the elements will melt with
fervent heat?
We aren’t anxious for
Heaven because:
• Hebrews 12:16 - lest there be any
fornicator or profane person like Esau,
who for one morsel of food sold his
birthright.
• Hebrews 11: 10 - for he waited for the
city which has foundations, whose builder
and maker is God.
We aren’t anxious for
Heaven because:
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - 16Therefore we do not
lose heart. Even though our outward man is
perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed
day by day. 17For our light affliction, which is but
for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18while we
do not look at the things which are seen, but at
the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things
which are not seen are eternal.
We aren’t anxious for
Heaven because:
• 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 - 1For we know that if our
earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a
building from God, a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens. 2For in this we groan,
earnestly desiring to be clothed with our
habitation which is from heaven, 3if indeed,
having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.
4For we who are in this tent groan, being
burdened, not because we want to be unclothed,
but further clothed, that mortality may be
swallowed up by life. 5Now He who has prepared
us for this very thing is God, who also has given
us the Spirit as a guarantee.
We aren’t anxious for
Heaven because:
• This earth can’t satisfy
• Solomon – All is vanity
• Woman on Titanic
– Many expensive gowns for the social events
– Get valuables and get in life boat
– 3 apples, 2 oranges
We aren’t anxious for
Heaven because:
• Our image of heaven is distorted
• One L – O – N – G, boring church service
– Can you imagine all those preachers?
– Can you imagine all the song leaders?
• “Heaven would be hell”
– Do you like to sing?
– Do you like to pray?
– Do you like to discuss spiritual matters?
We should be anxious for
Heaven because:
• So we can enjoy earth
• Philippians 1:23 - For I am hard-pressed
between the two, having a desire to depart
and be with Christ, which is far better.
• We must learn to be content with what we
have
• Philippians 4:11 - Not that I speak in
regard to need, for I have learned in
whatever state I am, to be content:
We should be anxious for
Heaven because:
• We can’t take it with us:
• Hearse does not pull a U-Haul
• Boy on train to visit grandparents
• Warned – Watch your suit case – It will
get stolen
• Tried to stay awake – doze off – look up to
check on the suitcase
We should be anxious for
Heaven because:
• Fell asleep for some time – Woke up –
Looked up – The suitcase was GONE.
• He said, “Thank goodness. Now I can get
some sleep.”
• The only way to enjoy life on this earth
is to learn that things are temporary.
We should be anxious for
Heaven because:
• Keep ourselves ready
• 1 John 3:2-3 - 2Beloved, now we are
children of God; and it has not yet been
revealed what we shall be, but we know
that when He is revealed, we shall be like
Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3And
everyone who has this hope in Him purifies
himself, just as He is pure.
• Your HOPE will keep you PURE
We should be anxious for
Heaven because:
• Motivation to reaching the lost
• 1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God
in your hearts, and always be ready to give
a defense to everyone who asks you a
reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear;
• How often are people asking about your
hope?
• Maybe they don’t see any hope in us.