SERMON
Subject
THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME
Text: 2 Cor.5:1-8 (v 1)
Introduction:
A. There was this old couple returning home from the mission field in On board the ship was Theodore Roosevelt who had been in Africa on a hunting expedition; he had been hunting bears. As the ship was coming in to dock there were hundreds of people gathered to welcome home the great hunter. Bands were playing, flags were waving, people were cheering as they welcomed home the president.
But there was not one person there to greet the old missionary and his wife who had given their lives to win the lost souls in Africa. The missionary was depressed as he saw the throng gathered to greet the president. He said to his wife, “Hundreds are here to greet the man who had been to Africa to hunt bear, I have been there to hunt souls, and not one person is here to welcome me home.” His wife said to him, “We are not home yet.”
B.We are not home yet. We are pilgrims and strangers, as the Bible says (1 Pet.2:11).
C.Life at its best here in no way can compare to
D.If Heaven is going to be my home for all eternity, I certainly want to learn all I can about I ought to read about it, sing about it, tell others about it, etc. ·
I. HEAVEN IS A REAL PLACE
A. Jesus said it is real (Jn.14:2).
B. Abraham said it is a real country (Heb.11:10).
C. Stephen saw it (Acts 7:55).
D. Paul died and went there, but was sent back to finish his earthly ministry. He saw things there that could not be described by human tongue (2 Cor.11:2-4).
II. HEAVEN IS A PLACE OF SPLENDOR AND BEAUTY. (1 Cor. 2:9).
A. The Queen of Sheba said, when she saw the glories of Solomon, “The half was not told me.”
B. After all the preaching about Heaven, after all the songs we sing about it, after all the poetry that has been composed about it, when we arrive there we will gasp and say, “The half was not told me.”
III. WHO WILL BE IN HEAVEN?
A. All those whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life” (Lk.10:20). Not the church roll.
- Many make the church roll, but didn't make the Book of life.
B. All those who have been martyred for Jesus
- Paul's head was about to be severed. The Holy Spirit whispered, “Paul You're not home yet.”
C. All those who have suffered for Jesus.
D. All the little babies who have died. Mother, you're not home yet.
E. The multitude will be humongous–not millions, not billions but trillions. {Rev. 7:9). Like the stars, they can't be numbered.
IV. WHO WON'T BE IN HEAVEN?
A. All those who rejected Christ
B. A list of those who won't be there (Rev. 21:7-8)
V. SOME THINGS THAT WON'T BE IN HEAVEN (Rev.21 :4).
VI SHALL WE KNOW ONE ANOTHER IN HEAVEN? (1 Cor.13:12).
A. We will be a family (Rev.21 :3).
Illustration:
A certain man was faithful in church, but he never had much to say, and didn't take part in things that went on. One day the preacher preached on Heaven, and he said, “In Heaven, you will not be husband and wife like you have been in this world.” That man, who never said or did any thing in the church came alive when the preacher said ‘you will not be husband and wife in Heaven.' He jumped up and said “Glory to God.”