This is the last of this series that we will have on what happens to a person five minutes after he dies. And then next Lord's Day, Lord willing, we will go into the book of Galatians and we're going to talk about law and grace and try to show you the difference because so many Christians are, we might say, mixed up concerning this and they need to know what it's all about. So this morning we want to close out with this here final session on five minutes after death. To start with, I want to talk about our eternal home. That is God's dwelling place and our dwelling place. It's important for us to know where we're going, why we're going there. On the mention of the word heaven raises at once a number of questions. Is there really such a place as heaven? If so, where is it? What's heaven like? Will everyone go there or just a certain privileged few? And then some will ask, do we go there immediately at death or does the soul sleep for just a while? Now, for many people in this last part of the 20th century, these particular questions, they are not relevant to them at all. They scoff at the idea of life after death and ridicule belief in a heaven of eternity and a hell of everlasting punishment. They are convinced that man's existence ends at the grave. Now, Christians do believe what the Word of God has to say concerning what happens to a person when he dies. And they do believe there is a beautiful place called heaven, and they look forward to that eternal life found within the gates of heaven itself. And based on their faith in God's Word, they anticipate the joys that await them in their eternal home. This comforting thought brings healing to the wounds of those here on this earth, and quench our sorrows and prepare us for what God has in store for us. The place to find out all about heaven is in God's word, the Bible. The word heaven in its singular and plural forms occurs more than 600 times in this word of God, the scriptures. No, indeed, death does not end all. The soul does live on. And for the believer, the soul at death immediately enters forever into the presence of our God. Yes, the body may perish, but the soul of the Christian lives on, never, never to be separated from God. The source of life for all of us, of course, is the Lord Jesus Christ. Now those who teach that the soul of man ceases to exist at death deny a very, very clear statement of our Lord himself. Remember that Jesus himself said, whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. And that's good enough for me. Now, our first introduction to heavenly beings is to the angels themselves. As physical eyes are closed in physical death, spiritual eyes open in new life, and there they are, the angels of heaven. They are sublime creatures who are to escort Christians who death's gate into the paradise of God. nor is this a time-consuming journey for us. It takes only a celestial instant to be whisked from the place of death into the awesome presence of the God of all the ages. And although our new minds can scarcely comprehend what is taking place, our new eyes will gaze upon the throne of God Almighty, our Heavenly Father. Now, often the question is asked, what do angels actually look like? You understand that oftentimes we see or know about angels unawares that help us during the course of our life. We believe that is true. But what do they actually look like? Evidently, from the accounts in scripture, their bodies are fashioned much like a human body. Some, at least according to the scriptures, have wings. And I checked on that to find out about it, and I found several references about wings with angels. Now, we must remember that the fashion of the human body will prevail as a pattern of heaven itself. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the very King of glory, is eternal existent in his body that was seen following his resurrection. Possibly, the body of angels are also fashioned in this way, and we know ours will be also. Yes, we do cringe at the thought of standing in the presence of a holy God and looking Him straight in the face. And our natural instinct, as was that of the holy men and women of old, would be to run and hide from His sinlessness. But we must remember that God will put within us the conviction that as we reach heaven, we have come home. Now, home for us means something. What does it mean? How can I describe what home is going to be like? I went over several things in my own mind and heart. How can I convey to these people what heaven is like? Something happened in my life that perhaps will illustrate what I'm trying to say. When I come home from the war, in World War II, I had been away from my family for over two years. One of my children I had never seen. And when I was discharged at Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania, that mean I had a train ride from there into Akron, Ohio, what was my home at that particular time. Now I knew at the station in Akron, Ohio would be my wife and all of my family and brothers and sisters and friends and so forth. When I was discharged from Indian Town Gap and got on that train, the ride from there to Akron, Ohio I cannot describe it. I went up and down that train 10 or 15 times. The anxiety in my heart was such that I just could hardly stand it. After a few years, I was going to see my family again and a child I had never seen. The anticipation was more than I could bear. And I cried a couple of times during the course of my coming, not for sorrow, but for happiness that I was going to see my family again. And so we pulled into the station, and I looked out the window, and there I recognized my wife and my children. I had another child beside the one that I hadn't seen. And my other relatives were all there, and friends were all there. And I come off of that train, and I tell you, I can't explain to you what was within me, the joy, the happiness, the peace, the understanding. And I'll tell you, we necked each other and loved each other, and we didn't care who was watching. We just had a rejoicing time. We was really happy. We really got happy. And that's the only way I can describe what it's gonna be when we get to heaven. I think that's the best way I can put it, that experience that I have because now heaven is ours rightfully by His grace. And those mansions, remember, were purchased for us by the blood of our Savior. Unless we stand in paradise awed and frightened beyond any expression, we see our Savior who will present us to our Heavenly Father for the first time. Now, what does Jesus Christ look like? Earthly artists have endeavoured to portray him, but what artist's brush can convey the face of the Lord of glory, the compassionate man of sorrows, the Lamb of God who took the way of sin to the world? No earthly artist can ever possibly paint for us a picture of Jesus Christ. But when we shall see him, we shall say that he is lovelier than the children of men. He will be completely satisfying to our new heavenly eyes and our new heavenly hearts. Now, personally, I reject, I do, I reject all of the artist's conception of their portrayals of Jesus Christ. In fact, I go so far, I don't even allow it in my home. I don't want his picture in my home. because they may do the wrong thing. They don't know what he looks like, have no idea what, and there's always a possibility of worshiping the image, the picture, instead of Jesus Christ. Now that's my decision, my opinion, you can do what you want to do, but that's the way I feel about this. But I believe when I see God and look upon the infinite beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ, I believe that we will be conscious that other inhabitants of heaven are crowding about us. And wonder of wonders, in the newness of life, and radiance of the Spirit, we will be with our earthly loved ones for the first time, which we loved so long since and then lost for just a short while. We, I believe, like myself and my own experience with my family after the war was over, we shall experience, we will beside ourselves with joy, unable to describe how happiness and how joyful that we are. And not only will our own intimate Christian relatives and friends be present, but also we shall have the remarkable ability to remember vividly everything about them. and others will be standing by to welcome us. When I got home, my family was there, but there were friends also that I had known, and they heard about me coming home, and they come down to the train, they want to be there to meet me also. So when we get to heaven, there's going to be friends there awaiting us too, and we're going to renew old acquaintance. And we shall know them without introduction. And there will be the Christian heroes and the heroines of the century, giants of faith who lived and wrought God's will in their generation. And they too will be resplendent in their robes of righteousness. And do not be concerned about meeting all of them all at once, you see, because you can't do it. There will be eons of eternity. in which to become acquainted with the children of God of all ages, of all nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues. And we're going to talk to such men as Moses, and Joseph in the Old Testament, and Paul, and Peter, and John in the New Testament. And instinctively, we shall know there is a schedule of events to take place on earth and in heaven. In fact, the divine plan and purpose of God seems to be inscribed right here in our hearts. We will know beyond any shadow of a doubt that our dear Lord is soon to return in a thrilling event that we now call the rapture of the church. I think we will be aware of the tremendous, the great tribulation period. We will recall the peace of the millennium and the great white throne judgment and the coming new heavens and new earth. And during all these events, we will understand and honor the justice of our God. And this one thing I want to do, when I get to heaven, it's not that I want to see my wife or my family first, I want to see Jesus first. He was the one that made it possible. If it hadn't been for Him, I wouldn't see them at all, you see. So the first thing I want to look up when I get to heaven is my Lord and say, thank you, Lord, with bowed head and knees before Him to express my thanks. Now, our understanding will probably come in a matter of minutes, if not seconds. Actually, heaven does not reckon time by seconds or minutes. Everyone lives in a great eternal now. But if this is a sample, what will the endless ages of eternity be? Praise to his matchless glory name. There'll be no disappointments in heaven for the Lamb of God is the light and eternity is forever and love and peace will reign also. Every one of us will be happy in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, that's a climax, the best I know how to put it. And I want to climax this by telling you how to be saved. And I'm going to tell this in the simplest language that I know how, so even a child, if he were here this morning, could understand what I'm saying. Now, here's the difference. When a person is genuinely saved, when death is merely the door to a new life of indescribable rapture, which, unbelievable as it may seem, will never end. But to the unsaved, the moment of death is the pathway of horrors to eternal hell. Now, how can an individual be saved, know he's saved, and stand upon the promises of God? Actually, the experience of salvation is so simple that one is amazed at its straightforwardness and its uncomplicated sincerity. The truth is that salvation is the masterpiece of God's own planning offered to needy human beings on the most elementary terms, so simple even a child can understand. And that has been proved by the fact that the majority of people that are saved are those children between five years and ten years old. More are saved during that period of time than any other time during their life. Now, we begin with man's desperate need. Now, all men are sinners and are therefore under the condemnation of a just God. And the soul that sins will die, according to Ezekiel 18, verse 4. Also, in Romans 6, verse 23, we are told the wages of sin is what? Death. Every candidate for salvation must admit that he's a sinner. You can't be saved until you understand, you know, and admit you are a sinner. No way you can get saved until you do. For example, my mother came from England when she was about 19, 20 years old. And after she was here for a very short time, someone approached her on salvation and being saved. and told her she needed to repent of her sinfulness and be saved. She says, well, I'm not a sinful woman. I do what's right. I live the way I ought to live. I haven't hurt anybody. I haven't done anything wrong. I don't know what you're talking about. But then as she learned the scripture and the word of God, Then she realized she was lost. She was a sinner indeed. And then, and only then, could she get saved. Up until that time, she could not be saved until she admitted she was lost. If you go out in the woods, and you get lost, you can't be saved until you admit you're lost. And that is true, of course, with God's people. We got to understand that we got to be lost, understand we got to know we're lost and admit we're lost before we can be saved. But of course, there is good news. The most glorious news found in the entire world. Now, since man is under the sentence of death, and since man could do nothing to save himself, being already dead in a trespasses and sins, according to Ephesians chapter two, verse one, God himself made possible man's salvation. Now, coming from God's own heart of love, the Lord Jesus Christ, God's beloved Son, entered into this world. He lived a sinless life and died a substitutionary death for and in behalf of every sinner. He himself took the place of every sinner and paid the price of his sin by his own death on the cross of Calvary. And so complete was the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ that God has fully accepted that transaction and now offers salvation to any sinner who believes and trusts in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. That's the truth of God, and if you can't believe that, then you can't get saved, you see. You merely by a child's simple faith believe God died on Calvary's cross, rose again the third day for your sin and to take care of your sin. In fact, there is nothing, absolutely nothing for the sinner to do personally except to believe. No work on your part, none of this. No work whatsoever except just to believe by faith. But this faith must be deep, it must be sincere, it must be complete. It is not a mere intellectual ascent to the historical fact of Christ's death, but it is an entire commitment to Christ Jesus for both time and eternity. There must be utter reliance upon Him for salvation, which is the gift of God, according to Ephesians 2, verse 8. To anyone who believes, God brings to pass a mighty transformation. The person is saved, his sins are all forgiven, he becomes a part of the family of God, and the peerless gift of eternal life is now his. He is a new creature in Christ with new aims, new ambitions, new wisdom, friends, and ideals. In fact, that's what 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7 says. His entire life is changed. All things become new and faith is the word that gets us to heaven. Faith in God's word, faith to be eternally saved and not lose that salvation at all. And that's the way you can be saved. It's the only way that you can be saved. Not the least of the new blessings inherit in salvation is the victory over death itself. No longer must Christians look forward with dread to the moment of death. Christ has already taken our death. It is robbed of its terror. Death is now swallowed up in victory for every one of us who believe. Now, do you believe that you must If you were to be saved and become a member of the family of God, do you believe that Jesus Christ did die on the cross for your sins and for mine? And do you believe that he rose again from the dead on a third day to prove indeed he is the son of God? Do you believe that? I wrote an article for those who were studying in the soul winning class. It's a little card here. It's plastic. I wrote this here and had it made up. And almost every evangelist comes here when they see that. They ask me if I can make some up for them. It's so good. These are for soul winners to put in their Bible. You can't destroy them. They're plastic and everything. It won't wear out. And I have listed here five things here. I want you to listen carefully. I want to go over these carefully with all of you. And listen carefully to what I say. I call this straight from the Bible, what you should know. First, you need to be saved. Now, Romans 3.23 says, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Second, you cannot save yourself. Listen to what it says in Titus chapter 3 verse 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. Third, Jesus had provided for your salvation. For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Fourth, you must accept Jesus Christ for your salvation. Listen to what it says in Acts chapter 16 and verse 31. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Fifth, Now is the time to accept Jesus as Savior. 2 Corinthians 6, verse 2. Behold, now is a day of salvation. Next, what am I to do? If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised his son Jesus from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans chapter 10 verse 9. And finally, and I'm going to ask all of you this morning to bow your heads right now in prayer. Every head bow, every eye close. And I'm going to whisper this prayer, I do this all the time in every funeral that I have, and I have found that God honors it, and God brings out those who are, you might say, a little meek in making a confession, a public confession of faith, and it causes people to make decisions they have never made before. And I'm going to ask each one of you, if you're not sure of your salvation, if you're not sure where you stand with the Lord Jesus Christ, if you should die and close your eyes in death. I'm going to ask you to pray this prayer. Dear Lord, I confess that I am a sinner. And I do believe that Jesus Christ died for me to pay my sin debt. And the best I know how I trust Him now, and I receive Him by faith. Now, if there should be any here this morning, now every head is bowed, I don't want anybody looking around, every head is bowed, and you pray this prayer because you're not sure of your salvation, or you're really not saved, but you prayed this prayer, would you very quietly, not looking around, slip up your hand, anywhere in this audience. Yes, I see your hand. Others, slip up your hand and say, yes, I prayed that prayer. Anybody else? Thank you, you may put your hand down. Nobody knows this hand because every head is bowed and I'm trusting that this person During the church invitation when the pastor after pastor Preaches and gives the invitation that she will come forward and let it be known that she has received Christ as her own personal Savior our Lord himself promised to us that that if we would confess Him before man, He would also confess us before the Heavenly Father. And so I trust that you will do this. Now this closes out this series on this particular message. They are going to put this on tape, as one tape, so that you might have it to use to give to friends or to use in any capacity that you might want. I'm closing out. I know I'm through just about 10 minutes ahead of time, but it'll give us a little time to fellowship together and just think about what has been said. Let's pray together. Father, thank you again for this session, this last session on this subject. Thank you for this one that has received Christ as their personal Savior. And may they, by faith, Lord, say, yes, I believe with all my heart, and from this day forth, by the grace of God, I'm going to live for Jesus, and I'm going to walk with Him. Bless this class. Bless these messages. To your names, honor and glory, the salvation of lost souls. And we'll be sure to give you the praise, the honor and the glory for everything, because I pray and ask it all in Jesus' precious name, for His sake, amen and amen. Thanks for watching.