Text: Psa 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Rev 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.
Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Intro: Ever since sin entered into the world and cast its black shadow of sorrow over the human race, man has longed and hoped for a better home where sin, sickness, and sorrow has no place.
There is the Utopia of Literature, a political and social Paradise to be brought about by the wisdom of men; The Nirvana of Buddhism, a state of absolute nothing sought by the denial of every human desire and passion; The limited happiness of Catholicism's Limbo for the 'innocent' unbeliever; and the 'Happy hunting grounds of the American Indian, reached by varied and complex trails of superstition. None of these, even if true, would be so desiraable as the place that God has prepared for them that love Him. 1 Cor 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.
Beyond this veil of tears, through the thousand year Paradise with Christ on earth, past the Great White Throne with its anguished cries of the damned, let us look at the new heaven and earth; the eternal home of God's people.
I It is an ETERNAL home.
2 Cor 5:1 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.
2 Cor 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
A. It is this hope that enables men to suffer for righteousness' sake in this life.
1 Cor 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1 Cor 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1 Cor 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1 Cor 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1 Cor 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1 Cor 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1 Cor 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1 Cor 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
2 Cor 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2 Cor 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
II A contrast of this world and that to come.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
A. No more sea.
Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
1. Seas are typical of multitudes of restless souls.
Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Isa 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
2. Eternal rest for those in this place.
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
3. Seas also typical of barriers to God's people (red sea) No barriers there.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
B. No more tears
Rev 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 sinners' tears. (no sinners)
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
2. No weeping For sinners (see Rev 21:4 under point B 1.)
3. No more weeping over our own shortcomings (see Rev 21:4 under point B 1.)
C. No more death
1. Death now affects all men
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
2. It is man's natural enemy, but will be destroyed.
1 Cor 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Accomplished by and through Christ
2 Tim 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
D. No more pain; Our new bodies will be incorruptible.
1 Cor 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Christ felt the pains of hell in our stead. 1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
1 Cor 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1 Cor 15:54 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.
E. No Temple.
Here: Exo 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
There: Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
F. No sun nor moon
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
G. No night there:
1. Night; Now a time of fear, deceit, and sin
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
We are not the children of darkness, but of light
1 Pet 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
III Method of Attainment
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Rev 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
11.2.06
Presidents Day
President's Day
Each year, on the occasion of our first president's birthday, our nation honors all our presidents with 'President's Day'.
Since we are told over and over that religion has no place in government, I thought you might find the following story to be of some interest.
The year was 1965. I had recently begun a new pastorate, and in the membership was a beloved elderly lady, who was the widow of an equally beloved pastor and missionary, who had just recently been called home to be with his Lord. She asked if I would like to take possession of his library. I eagerly accepted and after placing the books in my library, began to go through them. Some of the more interesting things were the notes this brother had made in the margins and flyleaves. Then, as I opened another book, I found a handwritten document. It was written in pencil on two pieces of lined paper and was in this brother's handwriting. While I cannot personally vouch for the facts of the event, I can say that the one who penned it down, was known for his integrity.
Here it is as I remember it;
A STORY I HEARD MY GRANDFATHER TELL
General Washington and his troops had just lost a battle with a superior force of British troops. As they retreated, they came to a stream over which they had to cross to reach a mountain pass, which would lead them to safety. It was late in the day, and it was decided that after crossing the stream, it would be unwise to try to negotiate the pass after dark; so they camped there for the night.
Soon the British forces arrived, and thinking they had Washington and his troops trapped, set up camp on the edge of the stream, so that with first light they could cross and finish off the rebels.
It looked like a hopeless situation. A Baptist Chaplain with the American troops, went out into the brush along the stream to pray. Soon, General Washington joined him and together they went to the Lord in fervent prayer. After a while, the General arose, laid his hand on the Chaplain's shoulder and said, "We've done all we can. It's in God's hands now."
During the night a storm gathered. Lightning flashed and thunder roared. Rain fell in a torrent. The Americans had camped on the hillside and though soaked, were safe. As dawn broke, and they could see across the stream, the British forces were in total dissarray. Having camped in the low ground along the stream, they had been flooded and were engaged in trying to save themselves.
As the sun broke over the scene, the Americans made their way up the pass singing praises to God.
Is this a true story or a legend? I don't know, but I do know that the leaders of our nation were, at it's founding, not ashamed to invoke the name of Jesus Christ.
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Psa 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Each year, on the occasion of our first president's birthday, our nation honors all our presidents with 'President's Day'.
Since we are told over and over that religion has no place in government, I thought you might find the following story to be of some interest.
The year was 1965. I had recently begun a new pastorate, and in the membership was a beloved elderly lady, who was the widow of an equally beloved pastor and missionary, who had just recently been called home to be with his Lord. She asked if I would like to take possession of his library. I eagerly accepted and after placing the books in my library, began to go through them. Some of the more interesting things were the notes this brother had made in the margins and flyleaves. Then, as I opened another book, I found a handwritten document. It was written in pencil on two pieces of lined paper and was in this brother's handwriting. While I cannot personally vouch for the facts of the event, I can say that the one who penned it down, was known for his integrity.
Here it is as I remember it;
A STORY I HEARD MY GRANDFATHER TELL
General Washington and his troops had just lost a battle with a superior force of British troops. As they retreated, they came to a stream over which they had to cross to reach a mountain pass, which would lead them to safety. It was late in the day, and it was decided that after crossing the stream, it would be unwise to try to negotiate the pass after dark; so they camped there for the night.
Soon the British forces arrived, and thinking they had Washington and his troops trapped, set up camp on the edge of the stream, so that with first light they could cross and finish off the rebels.
It looked like a hopeless situation. A Baptist Chaplain with the American troops, went out into the brush along the stream to pray. Soon, General Washington joined him and together they went to the Lord in fervent prayer. After a while, the General arose, laid his hand on the Chaplain's shoulder and said, "We've done all we can. It's in God's hands now."
During the night a storm gathered. Lightning flashed and thunder roared. Rain fell in a torrent. The Americans had camped on the hillside and though soaked, were safe. As dawn broke, and they could see across the stream, the British forces were in total dissarray. Having camped in the low ground along the stream, they had been flooded and were engaged in trying to save themselves.
As the sun broke over the scene, the Americans made their way up the pass singing praises to God.
Is this a true story or a legend? I don't know, but I do know that the leaders of our nation were, at it's founding, not ashamed to invoke the name of Jesus Christ.
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
Psa 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
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