Please for the reading of God's Word and open your Bibles. Let's open our Bibles. Let's see. Oh, I'm not there Okay And Psalm chapter 33 in verse 13 and 14 Psalm 33 13 What it says there in verse 13, it says, The Lord looketh from heaven, he beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of his habitation, he looketh upon all the habitants of the earth. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, that you are aware with everything that goes on in this planet. You are aware with every situation, every struggle, every discouragement, every encouragement, every victory. You know it all, Lord. We thank you for that. We thank you, Lord, that you are aware of our lives and what we do each and every day. You are in total control of everything, and we praise your name for it tonight. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. You may be seated. So tonight we're going, of course, our theme for the year is Back to Basics. And tonight we're going to look at the dwelling place of God. The dwelling place of God. Some people think that heaven is just a pie in the sky. I really think, you know, I think the angels is when we die, we get little wings and we have little harps and we sit in the clouds and play in the music. You know, that's all good and funny, but that's not reality. That's not true. But some people don't believe there's a little heaven, a little place where people go. uh so if you talk to people they go well you know it's too good to be true if you really start talking to people about it so but is heaven a real place so people have real questions about heaven and those questions deserve real answers what is heaven what is heaven how do we know that there is a heaven what happens when believers die what kind of bodies will we have Will we recognize other people in heaven? These are all questions that have been addressed to me. Will there be rewards in heaven? Will there be animals in heaven? You know in that movie, all dogs go to heaven? What does the Bible mean when it talks about a new Jerusalem, a new heaven and a new earth? How should knowing about heaven affect how we live right now on earth? If we know that heaven is a reality and heaven is a place, should that affect the way we live on earth? So those are questions that people ask. And I believe some people in Miami ask you some of these questions or maybe other questions. But there's some of these questions I've been asked about and I truly give them an honest answer. Oh, Pastor, do you believe in heaven? Yes, I do. Is heaven a real place or just a real place? How do you know that? The Bible tells me so. If I believe the Word of God, the Bible is the Word of God, then I'm going to say, the Word of God tells me so, and I believe it wholeheartedly. Okay? So the first question we need to answer before we move on to any of the others is this. Where do we get reliable information about heaven? In other words, where do we get real answers to our questions? And the answer is the Bible, the Word of God. Okay, so when God gave John a vision of heaven in the book of Revelation, John heard these words about heaven. If you can go to Revelation chapter 21 verse 5. Look what it says. Yeah, I'll actually go there. If you have your Bible, go to Revelation 21 verse 5. If not, listen to me. I'll read it to you as the Bible says. But look what it says there. It says, and he that sat upon the throne said, and he, I mean, I like to ask questions to myself when I do Bible study. And he, who's he? Okay, sat upon the throne, said, behold, I make all things new. and he said unto me again two times you were the word he okay ride those uh these things which are true true and faithful Okay, so only the Bible gives us a trustworthy answer about heaven. I mean, some people might, you know, that is an atheist, might be watching us tonight and say, yeah, right, okay, they don't believe in God anyway. So everything else is just speculation. So the Bible gives us a true answer about our questions. Everything else is mis-speculation. What about all the people who claim they have gone to heaven and come back? You know how many books are written about this stuff? Do you ever write a book about that? You know, I died, I went to heaven, I came back. And this is what I see. Okay, you believe it or you don't believe it? That's right. Paul did. That's right. Okay. That's a good answer right there. So, should we listen to what they say? You can listen, but know that it is not reliable information if that information doesn't match the Bible. Some people are scams. Some people are con artists. Some people are sincere. But even for those who are sincere, how do we know that what is real from the report? What is confused? What is remembered correctly or incorrectly? We believe them wholeheartedly, or we say, okay, I heard this. Let me see what the Bible says. Listen, we live in a world, there's all kinds of stories that goes on. Are we gonna believe every wind of doctrine that goes around? We cannot believe that. Why? We have to rely on God's word and say, this is what God's word said. You have a nice story, but if it doesn't fit in the Bible, I have to exclude it. because the Bible has a way to describe heaven and we have to look at look at the way the Bible talks about heaven if what your story doesn't match with the what the Bible says I have to say good story but kindly I say I don't want to disrespect you but I might I don't I don't get this stuff that from you I won't believe this so We don't, okay, so let me go back here a little bit. So some people, like I said, so we don't, and the problem with many of the gone to heaven and come back books is that they often contain information, listen to this, contrary to what we find in the Bible. For example, John 3.13 says, and no man had ascended up to heaven, but he that come down from heaven, even the son of man which is in heaven. okay before we pass forward let me just did john so have it yes did paul went to the third heaven yes but their vision their description doesn't contradict each other You follow that? Okay, so we come back to the Bible as the only reliable source for information about heaven. A preacher spoke these words about the subject. The Bible does not tell us everything we would like to know about heaven. But the Bible does tell us everything we need to know about heaven while we we are here on earth. Look what it says in Deuteronomy chapter 29 29. We don't want to jot this verse down. The secret things belong to unto God to the unto the Lord our God. There's some things God doesn't want us to know. Why? Because he's God and we're not. I mean let's be content with the things we know. so we can only know what God has revealed to us and God has revealed those things to us in his word you know interesting it just dawned on me i mean not today but it's like you know what where you find information about hell in the bible A lot of people don't speculate what hell looks like, but they say these things. I'm going to hell with my bodies and we're going to have a grand old time. We're going to play all these instruments and you guys can go to heaven and be bored out there. Where do they get this information? I don't know where they get this information because I don't know where the Bible is. Jesus describes hell pretty well, doesn't he? So sometimes the Bible speaks of the heavens as the physical atmosphere surround the earth. So let me go back a little bit. So tonight's message looks at first the most basic question about heaven. What is heaven anyway? So what is heaven anyway? So it is a place, is a symbol, is a state of mind. The word heaven is used, listen to this, more than 500 times in the Bible. But the Bible speaks of heaven in three different ways. Sometimes the Bible speaks of heaven as the physical atmosphere that surrounds the earth. You might call that the first heaven. That's what we call it. That's what the way the Bible calls it. Sometimes the Bible uses the word heaven to speak about the outer space where the width is the sun, the moon, and the planets, and the stars, and those things. We call that the second heaven. Then sometimes the Bible also speaks of heaven as the place where God rules and God lives and God dwells. It is the meaning that Paul meant when he spoke about going to the third heaven in 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 verse 2. So these three uses of the word heaven refer to the three places And it's important that we know we don't confuse them because people often do. For an example, when the Russians put the first men in space in 1961, the president of Russia at that time famously said that they had gone into space and did not see God there. Well, that's because heaven is not there. That's the second heaven. is another situation and when two astronauts were doing a spacewalk you know what spacewalk is right it's not a fake thing it's a spacewalk they are out there doing a spacewalk and one said to the other I'm here where's God and one said to the other why don't you take your oxygen stuff out of here out of you and you're going to meet God very quick What's true, isn't it? God's everywhere, even in space. But I tell you, he was being truthful. I mean, you take that out, and you're going to meet God very quick. I think I would sober pretty quick. Like, oh, I'm in space, floating around right here. And he's right. See okay so heaven is not is not a physical location in our universe rather is a spiritual dimension that we cannot see or enter apart from God. Nobody can go there apart from God. As author N.T. Wright puts it this way, heaven and earth in biblical cosmology are not two different locations within the same continuum of space and matter. They are two different dimensions of God's good creation. That's a good way to put it. God created heaven and God created our world, but heaven is not a part of this world. Okay, that's so another writer right this way Heaven is the spiritual realm where God dwells that presently exists alongside the created world So heaven is a real place. Is it or is not? Is heaven real is having a state of mind is having just? a make-believe story. So according to the Bible, heaven is first and foremost the dwelling place of God. Heaven is where God lives. So tonight we're going to look at three aspects of heaven I want to share with you as God's dwelling place. Okay? So we talk about this. Let's dissect this. Is heaven a real place? So if we depart from this world today or tomorrow or you online too, I'm not ignoring you, okay? Where you going? You going to heaven? I hope you go to heaven. Is heaven a real place? I believe so. Well, let's look at this from a few points tonight. Number one, heaven is God's house. First of all, heaven is God's house. We find this expression repeated a number of times in scripture. It's not everything in the same place. Let's dig through it, okay? When Jacob had his dream of heaven and the stairway reaching all the way from heaven to earth, he said, look what it says in Genesis chapter 28 verse 17. And he was afraid and said, how dreadful is this place? this is none other but the house of God and this is the gate of heaven obviously he had a vision secondly you can go to psalm chapter 23 verse 6 look what it says there it says surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and look what it says and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever obviously is a real place Okay, the bible gives us those those little into the little places Jesus himself spoke of this place called heaven as god's house. You can go to john chapter 14 verse 2. Look what it says in my father's house are many mentions If it were not so jesus said if was not true I wouldn't have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you look what he says I will come again and receive you into myself the way I am that ye may be also you see Jesus said heaven is a real place that's my father's house I am going there I'm going to be there when he said it's time to go I'm coming back to get you so you can be with me wow is that a promise yes it is a promise so what do we mean when we say that heaven is God's dwelling place or God's house letter a heaven is where God lives First of all, heaven is where God lives. In the Old Testament, the priests and Levites prayed to God in 1 Kings 8, verse 30, this way. Look what it says. Again, even the priests acknowledged heaven, thy dwelling place. Okay. where do you dwell? you have an address don't mention but you have an address that's your dwelling place well God does have a dwelling place it's heaven and there we see several verses in the bible where they acknowledge this thing of heaven be a place so as we can see from the scriptures heaven is not a state of mind or heaven is not just a good story that makes you feel good heaven is a real place Okay? What a hope. Okay? So, the book of Hebrews speaks of heaven as God's city. Look what it says in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 22. But he come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and unto the innumerable company of angels. You see right there who the book of hebrews said so the dwelling of god was in heaven heaven is where god lives It is his city. It is his dwelling place. It is this throne. God is everywhere present We know that but he is present in a special way in heaven. That's where jesus taught us to pray like this our father That's matthew 6 9. I said jesus said like this when we the disciples ask him Lord teach us how to pray Jesus said like this start this way okay our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name start like this our father which we acknowledge as believers that God is in heaven and that's the place we go into okay to say that God dwells in heaven is to say that he is contained but it's not unlike that God is everywhere God knows everything he's all-knowing he's all-powerful but that is dwelling place okay let it be God's home reflects God's character God's home reflects God's character so heaven is God's house and God's home reflect this character we do we do that ourselves too don't we okay don't you okay I mean don't all right most people I'm not saying everybody but most people their home reflect them you decorate your home the way you like it it reflects you if I walk in your home I know it's not my home doesn't reflect me you might be untruthful if you walk in my house you know you're not in your house you're not like you go oh okay you know you're not in your house because it does not reflect you you see heaven reflects God's character okay we're going to explain this okay okay so Homes are very personal and over time your home reflects your interests, your preferences, your values. In the same way with God, not only have it but the entire universe and earth as well. Everything that God created reflects his likeness and his character. We can know from creation that God likes to create things. The variety, the beauty of creation. Don't tell me that dessert is not beautiful. I mean, it's stained with sin, but we live in a beautiful earth. People pay thousands of dollars to go see waterfalls and exotic trees and exotic places who created that. There you go. There you go. You know, every, every place I go and I see something that is so beautiful. I was, oh, it comes out of my mouth. Praise the Lord. This is beautiful. Praise to him. He's the one who created. I don't know how that happened but I'm getting some pictures of Norway the country of Norway that's Norway yeah out of my Facebook page I tell you what some pictures are fascinating what a beautiful I never been there what I'm looking at like I don't know how that stuff shows up in my Facebook I don't know I'm not like I'm searching for like this is beautiful God's creation okay so God's creation reflects his likes and his character. Let me give you some points here. Heaven is a place of beauty. First of all, how do we know this? If heaven is a real place, how does heaven look like? Go to Revelation chapter 4 verse 1. Revelation 4 verse 1 describes a little bit give it give us a little glance of heaven there look what it says after this I looked so John looked and he saw and he says and behold I mean he looked he said wow I looked and I stare at it I saw it and you know now he's gonna try to describe for us a door was open in heaven and the first voice which I heard was that a war of the trumpet talking with me which said come up hither and I will show thee great great things which must be hereafter immediately I was in the spirit and behold a throne was set in heaven and one that sat on the throne and he that was that I'm sorry that set up was was to look upon like a jasper of a sardine stone and there was a rainbow around the throne inside like unto an emerald. See, John right here begins to describe the beauty of God's throne. He's trying to use earthly things to describe the beauty of heaven. and we can see through the book of revelation that how much John struggles to use earthly stuff that we see every day to describe the beauty of God's heaven. If you think our earth is beautiful, our universe is beautiful, just wait until you get to heaven, just wait. Okay so we know that there's a lot of speculation about heaven and how heaven looks like but as we look and read through the bible we find those little clues um created in such a wonderful and beautiful i'm sorry uh clues i just went ahead of myself they give us an idea how beautiful heaven really is think of it if god creates such a wonderful and beautiful universe if god creates such a beautiful earth i believe heaven must be a really a wonderful place of beauty I believe so. John sees it in a vision and he gets struck by it and he tried to describe that for us. Now imagine this look what it says in first Corinthians 2 9 but as as it is written I had not seen no ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God had prepared for them that love him There are great principles here for thinking about heaven and what heaven will be like. Think about all the most beautiful and wonderful things you can imagine that you have either seen or experienced here on planet Earth and you say, praise the Lord for this. Guess what? Heaven, I believe, is the most beautiful place. Earth reflects the character and creativity of our God. The universe that shows the creativity of our God. You know, the universe is much different than earth. If you look at our earth and look at the universe, imagine God's dwelling place. c.s lewis speculated this way he said speculate about heaven he wrote to find a friend that these that these were gases of course only gases if they are not true something better will be so king david expressed the great design design designed to be at the house of the lord look what he says that's king david speaking in some 27 four says one thing have i desire of the lord that I will that I that will I seek after that I made well in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple see God is beautiful God is beautiful and he is the source of all beauty and God's home reflects his character heaven is a place I believe of great beauty number two heaven is a place of holiness In the book of Deuteronomy we find a great description of the way heaven is. Look what it says in Deuteronomy chapter 26 verse 15. The Bible says look down from thy holy habitation from heaven. So heaven is a place of holiness. When people say well I'm a good person I'm going to heaven when I die because I deserve heaven. No they're not. They're not going to contaminate the place of total holiness. None of us will do that. God has to stop being God to actually allow that to happen. So, number two. I already told you number two God tells us in Isaiah chapter 57 verse 15 that he lives that God lives in a holy place. So God says Isaiah 57 15 I'm giving you a lot of scripture tonight for thus said the high and lofty one that inherit eternity whose name is holy I dwell in a high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the hearts of the contrite ones. God says I dwell in a holy place. So God is holy and therefore heaven is a place of holiness. Actually in the book of Revelation we find the saints in John's vision in worship. If you can go to Revelation chapter 4 verse 10. I want to give you some some aerobics tonight looking at the scripture. Look at Revelation chapter 4 verse 10. The 4 and 24 elders fell down before him and sat on the throne and worshiped him. that lived forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying thou art worthy oh lord to receive glory and honor and power for the heart created all things and for thy pleasure they were they were created you see that heaven over and over we see that heaven is not only a real place but a place of worship a place of holiness i'll tell you what and earth for for god's people is a place of preparation So people say oh I'm saved I want to die I'm going to heaven. Oh what a silly thing to say. Here we practice because when we get to heaven we don't miss a beat. I mean that's just me thinking but it's good isn't it. Number three, heaven is a place of love. is a place of love our God is a God of love as nature and is love and look what it says uh there we have several verses i'm going to give it to you so heaven is a place of beauty as a place of holiness and is a place of love it was in heaven that creation was planned you get this it was in heaven that creation was planned it was in heaven that a savior was planned for mankind when adam and eve sent against god god didn't panic God didn't say, oh goodness, what are we going to do? What are we going to do? Oh, look at what men did. God already had a plan in place. God gave that encouragement to Adam and Eve and say, Adam, I knew the potential was there. We already have a plan for you. Look what I'm going to do for you. is a place of love. It was in heaven, like I said, those things were made. Isaiah 57, 15 goes on to say this way, I already read this verse, but if you look at this verse and read through it, you see the love of God throughout this whole verse. Yes, God is high and exalted above us, but is love is a common sense to live with us Can you imagine God? The creator of all things loves us so much that he sent his son To pay the penalty of our sin. Is that love? Oh Great love have Man No, that's I forgot how it goes Amen. Thank you, sister. Thank you. Thank you, Chrissy. Look what it says. Yes, God is a God of love. We read this in 1st Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13. It says, I know abided faith, hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity or love. Love is the greatest of all qualities and love will remain forever. Heaven is a place of love and our God is a God of love who commends his children to love one another. Listen. We, God's people, got to love each other. We, God's people, got to love the lost. If we criticize less and love them more, because they need to know there is a God that loves them. It doesn't mean that we agree with their practice. That's not what I'm saying. But they need to see there is a God in heaven who loves them. Listen, I am so glad for the person that led me to Jesus. Don't you? I mean maybe in your place, maybe your mother, your father or a sibling. To me it was just a man in the church. I was lost as could be and he led me to Christ and forever I'm grateful to Him. And I'm grateful for the people that God put in my path to help me along the way. Isn't that great? People that encourage us, people that help us along the way. God is so good. But I tell you what, God is the God of love and we should be people of love as well. Love one another. We need to express that. Look what it says in 1 John chapter 4 verse 14. Wow. So God is love and so heaven is a place of love and those who go to be with God will live in love. Listen, not worldly love. No, no, no, no. Much different. Is this agape, sacrificial love that God have for us? But let me tell you, we Christians have to have this agape love towards one another. You know, someday you frustrate me, the next day I'll frustrate you. But what do we do? No, we pray for our sister, we pray for our brother, and we go on with each other. Because listen, we're not perfect. Far from that. And sometimes we give each other a hard time. But see, one of the most beautiful sermons about heaven ever preached, maybe you might agree or disagree with me on this one, maybe you never heard, was Jonathan Edwards, titled, Heaven is a World of Love. Look what he says. It's just part of the sermon. Heaven is the place or present chamber of the supreme being who is both the cause and source of all holy love. God indeed with respect to his essence is everywhere. He fills heaven and earth but yet he is, said some accounts, especially to be in some places rather than others he was said of all to dwell in the land of israel above all other lands and in israel and new jerusalem above all other cities in that land and in the temple above all other houses in that city and in the holy of holies above all other apartments that In that in that temple and on the mercy seat over the ark above all the places in the Holy of Holies But heaven is is dwelling place above all other places in the universe and the quote Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards when one of those preachers that he just read his message He didn't his voice was the same. That's the way I also never met the guy I would meet him when I get to heaven and And because heaven is God's special dwelling place, and because God is love, every nook, every crane, everything of heaven is filled with God's love. Every little place in heaven, every insignificant place in heaven, so to speak, is filled with God's love. Let me tell you folks, heaven is filled with God's love. The second heaven is filled with God's love. This earth was filled with God's love. We need to look and see. When you see a little butterfly is the symbol of God's love. When you see a little bird is a symbol of God's love. When you see a seagull, as much we don't like it, is a symbol of God's love. When you see fish, when we see creation, is a symbol of God's love. Who created that? God did. When you see the weeds that we don't like, we say the weeds are my grandson, is a symbol of God's love. Like me, I look outside and I said, oh, the weeds are growing next to the church. I go outside and someone goes, Pastor, it's all done. I was like, how the hell did you do that? How many times have you been doing that? I was like, what a nice guy. But anyway, you know what? It's still a symbol of God's love. I mean, let's take one example. It's amazing how full of life this earth is. a rock cracks open and before you know something comes right at that a plant it's not what God telling us I love you that's what he's telling us he said pastor really yes this is creation okay let us see God is central to heaven God is central to heaven what do we mean when we say that heaven is God's house heaven is where God lives God's home reflect his character and then thirdly God is central to heaven there will be many wonderful things to see in heaven but God is the main attraction in heaven listen we say when I get to heaven I even said this I'm gonna high-five my family my friends everybody you know we're gonna be a wonderful day you know what besides that that's what's going to be our eyes are going to be focused on that throne because that's the main attraction is God Lord because of you I'm here i think that's what it is for all of us i mean will we rejoice yes seeing our loved ones yes but guess what the savior he's the main attraction because without god there's no heaven there will be many wonderful things to see in heaven but god is the main attraction We long to see our friends and loved ones who have gone before us, but we will be glad to see God for the first time. Listen to this, the one that we sing to, the one that we talk to every day, the one that we worship by faith, we're going to see Him face to face. Face to face with Christ my Savior. Face to face what will it be? Wow! What a day! What a day! Psalm 73 25 says this, Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides Thee. Wow! Isaiah chapter 6 when Isaiah shares his vision of heaven. He begins with four words. I saw the Lord Isaiah 6 1 he saw many other things in his vision as well as And then but as he goes to describe some of them, but God was central to his vision. He says I saw the Lord Ezekiel chapter 8 verse 35 it says he was run he was run about eight eighteen thousand measures and in the name of the city from that day shall be the Lord is there once again God is central there are many beautiful things in heaven but the most important thing is that our God listen to this this is great is there yeah God is there goodness when Stephen was being stoned to death what happened to our God he stood up on his throne sometimes we think that the problems of life that goes on that God's not aware our God is showing in that passage that he cares that's how much he loves us I wonder how many times God stood up in that throne through the ages When you and I struggle, did God stood up? When we, you and I, shed tears, did God stood up? I believe so. It's not in the Bible, but I believe so. If you take away God's, there is no heaven anymore. Which rises the question, if you don't love God, then why would you want to go to heaven? it's a good question if you don't love jesus the son of god why would you want to go to heaven somebody asked this penetrating question could could you be satisfied with heaven if jesus was not there heaven is where god lives god's home reflects his character god is central to heaven what do we mean when we say that heaven is god's dwelling place We mean first of all that heaven is God's house. It's a real place. Number two, heaven is where God's throne is located. Secondly, heaven is where God's throne is located. Now that a God is worshiped on his throne in heaven. Isaiah chapter 6 verse 1, look what it says. In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. Look what he said, I said, I saw the Lord sitting upon his throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim. Each of them had six wings. First he saw the Lord, now he describes. Look at verse 3, now he witnessed worship. See, he sees the Lord. He says, I saw the Lord. He describes what he sees after that. Then now he says, and one crying to another saying, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. You see that's what I believe when we get to heaven each one of us the first thing we're going to see first our eyes are going to be focused on that throne looking at God because right here is Isaiah he sees a vision of God of the throne of God and the first thing he describes to us he says I saw the Lord then he describes what he sees after that then he said then his worship wow what a wonderful God let it be God watches and rules over the earth some people think that God is far too far away from us that he's totally disconnected from our our life affairs God's throne is in heaven God watches and and rules over all the earth Psalm 11 verse 4 says, the Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven, his eyes behold as eyelids try the children of man. Psalm 33 says this way, verse 13, the Lord looketh from heaven and behold all, look what it says, all the sons of man. And verse 14 says, from the place of his habitation he looked upon all the inhabitants of the earth. he fashioned verse 15 their hearts alike he consider all their works wow is god far from us no he's not god is very close closer than we think he knows about everything he knows everything he knows us more than more than we know ourselves the prophet put it put a real simple for us prophet in daniel chapter 4 verse 26 says the heavens do rule That's Daniel chapter 4 verse 26. This is one of the reasons, by the way, that heaven is a picture of being up and above in the scriptures. It's not that heaven is physical, I'm sorry, it's not that heaven is physically in the sky, rather it means that it's where God's throne is, that God is over all and has authority over all. a pastor says this way he is high above the heavens include the sun the moon the stars that then other nation uh worship as it as deity deities another pastor said this way the lord's throne is in heaven and therefore untreated by earthly power and final in its judgments. Another pastor put it this way, heaven is and is where the control room for earth, it is the CEO office, the place from which instructions are given, all authority is given to me, said Jesus, and the end of Matthew's gospel, heaven and on earth heaven is where God's throne is located God is worshipped on his throne in heaven and it is from his throne that God watches and rules over all the earth we don't believe that we don't think about this oh we do believe we don't think about it you know every person that rises to power God puts him there so when elections come And the person to get elected is not the one you want. What do you do? I'm going to leave America because he's not my president. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. We have the opportunity to pray for that person, especially if that person is not saved. Number three, my last point, heaven is Jesus's home. Now Jesus is God himself and so everything we already said about God and heaven also applies to Jesus but the Bible also speaks especially of heaven as Jesus home in two ways. Jesus came from heaven and he returned to heaven. First of all look look in John chapter 6 verse 38. I come down from heaven not to my own will but the will of him that sent me. jesus continues in john chapter 6 16 verse 28 i came forth from the father and i come into the world i'm sorry and m uh come into the world again i leave the world and go to the father see jesus literally opens up and says that this is where i came from this is what i'm going to back to and in a while and he leaves us with the promise in john john 14 where he says i will come again and what receive you into myself what a wonderful promise and then we read in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 24 where the Bible says for Christ is now entered into the holy places made with hands which are the figure of the truth but into heaven himself now to appear now to appear in the presence of God for us so the Bible is very clear that not only with the words that came from from the lips of Jesus but from many other verses as well Jesus came from heaven and he went back to heaven Jesus the Almighty God the creator of all is well among us our Emmanuel went back to heaven let it be Jesus is the only way to heaven that's when the problem arrives many people it goes like this folks these days I'm gonna be done very shortly God God God and everything when you put Jesus there that's when the problem comes about So they make these little Jesus, no, no, no, no. Jesus, the Bible says, is our Emmanuel, God with us. God, when Jesus walked on earth, He was fully God and fully man. And when the Bible says, and when you looked at Him, I don't know, can you imagine? I like that song, when the song, I was like, we sing it i think it's at christmas time it's a merry when you look at the baby you kiss the face of god that those words really it really makes me um what do you call it give me a little little little things in my skin because there's just to think about just to think about it it's the truth so jesus is the only way to heaven There are many religions in our world. There's many people in our world believes all kinds of things and we should pray for those people. But the greatest truth is that only through Jesus you will find heaven. He is the bridge that connects heaven to earth. I tell you what, I'm glad I found Jesus. I am so glad I found Jesus. I'm so glad that I left religion and found a religion with Jesus Christ. I am forever grateful for the person that led me to Christ. What a wonderful day was that. I mean, I'm still not over that day. Not because I'm preaching to you. No, I mean, I would say this if I was sitting in the pew as well. What a wonderful day. I never got over that. What a day of rejoicing that was. I met Jesus for the first time. And look what he says to you and me. You ready? You ready for that? Okay. He says, let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would not have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you into myself. The way I am that you may be also. God, the Lord Jesus says, don't be troubled. Don't lose hope. Don't get discouraged. Trust me. Trust me. OK, it's like let's say it's like it's an abyss here, right? And let's say like Christie, she's right over there. And I say, hold my hand I'm going to pull you over here and you're going she's going to be afraid or anybody else I say trust me trust me trust me when she puts their hand out and put their hand and I she's going to put all the trust in me that's what Jesus said don't let don't don't be troubled believe me I'm telling you the truth just imagine how when he expressed those words to his disciples and he would listen to him They were beaten down discouraged when Jesus spoke those words, but I believe they got encouraged. Don't you get encouraged when you hear it? I conclude with this. My hope for you today or tonight is that you have gotten a taste of the beauty and wonder of heaven. I mean do we want to know more about heaven? Of course we do. Do we want to know every little detail? Of course we do. I want to. But you know what? The Bible gave us just enough for us to say oh what a great taste. It's like this and I close with this. You ever went to a restaurant where you sit down and you're waiting to be seated and they come around with these And one comes to you and you go, oh, that is so good. And you go, what is that? What is that? And it kindly will tell you what it is. And you, I want that plate. I want that plate. You know what? They give you that little taste of what you're about to feast on. The Bible gave us a little taste of what we're going to experience when we get to heaven. What a wonderful hope. I tell you folks, what a wonderful book. God's Word. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you, Lord, for your promises. They are forever new. Thank you, Lord, for those of us who died in hope. We depart from this world with the hope and joy of heaven in our hearts, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for your promises. Thank you, Lord, for what you have done in our lives and continue to do. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen. If you could stand please, we're going to have a song of invitation. I'd like to close tonight with this song. I think it will bless your heart face to face. I think it fits very well with our message tonight. Page 417 if you want to follow the Hamno. He shall be like, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3, 2. Face to face with Christ my Savior Face to face what will it be When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ, who died for me. Face to face I shall behold Him, far beyond the starry sky. Face to face in all His glory, and by let's sing verse number two is our last verse only faintly now i see him with the dark revealed between but a blessed day is coming when his glory shall be seen Face to face I shall behold Him Far beyond the starry sky Face to face in all His glory I shall see Him Thank you, Lord, for meeting with us today. Thank you, Lord, for this place. Thank you, Lord, for this people. What a great encouragement they are to me, and I hope, Lord, that I am encouragement to them. Thank you, Lord, for your love and mercy and for your goodness, for leading us along the way. Thank you for your forgiveness when we fall. Help us, Lord. Guide us along. Thank you, Lord, for heaven. What a wonderful place, Lord. If earth is beautiful, if the universe is breathtaking, heaven must be a wonderful, wonderful place, Lord. Thank you, Lord. We just don't have words. I don't have words even to say. Just say, thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank you, Lord, for making me whole. Thank you, Lord, for giving to me so great salvation. So rich and so free. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.