1 Thessalonians chapter 4. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Most of the writers believe that
this was the first of the inspired letters that the Apostle Paul
wrote. And he had spent just a little
time in Thessalonica, and then he had to be hurried away because
of persecution. And he's writing this letter,
and especially this passage that we're looking at, or we'll read
this morning, concerning those believers who had passed away,
those who had died. And so beginning in verse 13,
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning
them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which
have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the
word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the
coming of the Lord shall not prevent or precede them which
are asleep, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which
are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever
be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another
with these words. The bodies of those believers
who had passed away, who had died, their bodies were sleeping
in the grave, while they themselves, we know, were with the Lord.
And Paul tells these believers what will take place when the
Lord comes again. Those Christians who are alive
when he comes For instance, if he were to come right now, all
of those here in this building who know Christ as our Lord and
Savior, we would be changed in a moment in the twinkling of
the eye. And those believers who have
preceded us, who have gone on to be with the Lord, they would
be reunited with their resurrected body. And all of us together
would be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. And notice the words, to meet
the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. That's the subject, that's the
message I have for us this morning. I want us to think about this
great truth. So shall we ever be with the
Lord. God's children, each and every
one of his sheep, we will forever be with him in heaven. Now I want to give us three things
that I know about heaven. Three very simple things, but
I trust God will bless each of these to us today. Three very
simple things that I know about heaven. First, I know that heaven
is a place. I know that heaven is a place. And I know this because the Lord
Jesus Christ, the night before he was crucified, speaking to
his 11 disciples, told them, I go to prepare a place for you. I know that heaven is a place. Remember the next day, the Lord
Jesus Christ, when he was being crucified, there were two thieves
on either side. And one of them was granted repentance,
was granted repentance and granted faith in the very last hours
of his life. Mystery, the grace of God. And he said, Lord, remember me
when thou comest into thy kingdom. And you know, our Lord looked
at him and said, today thou shalt be with me in paradise. Heaven is a place. It is referred
to as paradise by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians chapter
12, when he speaks of a man, of course he's speaking of himself
in the third person, who was caught up into the third heaven. And then he calls that place
where he was caught up, paradise. Heaven is a place. When we are asked, and you may
have been asked this question before, where is heaven? Well
the best answer to that question is, it's where Christ is. Where is heaven? It's where Christ
is. And the angels told his disciples
that day when he ascended into heaven, where he has been and
is until he comes again, they said, This same Jesus, same Jesus,
which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like
manner as you have seen him go into heaven. Where is heaven? It's where Christ is. That's
where heaven is. Now he ascended up, and naturally
we think of heaven as being up. But I realize there's questions
that we can't answer to the satisfaction of everyone. But I'm satisfied
with this answer. Heaven is where Christ is. It's
called a house. In my father's house are many
mansions. And the fact that it's called
a house reminds us a house is for a family. And heaven is for
the family of God. It's called a city. And that reminds us that we are
made citizens of the new Jerusalem. And it's also called a country. And that reminds us of the number,
the number of inhabitants of heaven. So that's the first thing
I know. That's very simple, isn't it?
Heaven is a place. The second thing I know about
heaven, heaven is a place that only has one entrance. I know this. Heaven is a place
and I know, number two, that heaven is a place that only has
one entrance. The Lord Jesus Christ said, I
am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he
shall be saved. He also said, I am the way, the
truth, and the life, and no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me. Heaven is a place, and it is
a place that only has one entrance, one door, and that one entrance,
that one door, is Jesus Christ. He's the way, He's the truth,
and He's the life, and no man comes to the Father, no man enters
into the presence of God except through Jesus Christ our Lord. In Revelation chapter 21 and
verse 27 where The Apostle is speaking about
that city, about heaven. He says this, there shall, now
listen, there shall in no wise enter into it anything, anything
that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, nor maketh
a lie. Let me ask you, have you ever
made a lie? Have you ever made a lie? You
said, well, how do you make a lie? Many ways. Many times with our
tongues, we tell a lie. Many times with the way we look,
we make a lie. The scripture says about all
men, without exception, we go astray from the womb speaking
lies. Now, the writer there says that
no one by any means shall enter there that maketh a lie. It also tells us, neither whatsoever
worketh abomination. What is an abomination? Well,
an abomination is sin. Sin, that's what it is. Sin is
that abominable thing unto God, that thing which God hates. That
thing which is contrary to God, which is opposed to God, which
is against God, sin. Have you ever sinned? I know
you have. The scripture says, for we have
all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Heaven is a
place, and heaven is a place that no one that maketh a lie
or defileth by an abomination shall enter there. Well, that
leaves us all out, unless there's a way. And Jesus Christ, He is
the way. He is the way. He is the one
entrance into heaven. In Revelation 1, verses 5 and
6, the scripture says, unto Him, unto Christ, that loved us and
washed us from our sins in His own blood. Washed us from our
sins in His own blood. In other words, by His sacrificial
death, by His substitutionary death, by His death in which
He satisfied the justice of God for the sins of His people, He
washed us from our sins with His blood. When we were building
the building back in the back, the fellowship hall, you know,
the men of the church, we were all doing what we could, hammering
and nailing and so forth and so on. But we put the flooring
down in the restrooms back in the very back before the plumbers
were finished. And you remember Brother Evans.
He was taking care of the plumbing. And he sent a man over to install
some things there in the restroom. And the man spilled some glue,
purple glue, on the flooring. And Brother Fred, he was upset.
And I told him, I was trying to pacify him, you know. He was
doing it free. I said, listen, brother, don't
worry about it. Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it. I'll
get that up. He said, you'll get that up?
I said, I'll get that up. Now, he knew a whole lot more
than I did. I didn't think there was anything, there wasn't something,
some kind of cleanser that would work to take up that purple glue. But let me tell you something,
years later, We had that taken out and that floor tiled, and
that purple glue was still there when they took the linoleum up. Was it because we didn't try?
No. I tried. Was it because we didn't
buy whatever we could find on the shelves in the stores that
promised to take up whatever spot it was? No, we bought it. We used it. We tried it. We scrubbed
it. But I tell you this morning,
my friends, there was nothing that I know of or found that
would take that purple off that floor. Why am I saying that? I'm saying this this morning
because there's a spot on our soul which is sin. Double died. The scripture said, come now,
let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet They
shall be as white as snow. Now, God is not saying, let us
reason back and forth together. No, God is declaring that He
is able, but only He is able to wash that spot of sin away. And for us to be clean, white
as snow. Only those who are washed in
the blood of Jesus Christ are going to enter into heaven. There's one way. In Hebrews chapter
1 and verse 3, the writer said it like this, speaking of Christ,
who being the brightness of His glory, the very brightness of
God's glory, the express image of the Father, the brightness
of His glory, and upholding all things by the Word of His power."
Can you imagine that? This person that I'm talking
about today, this person who's revealed in the Word of God,
the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, He's God Almighty, and
He upholds all things. He's upholding you right now. Every breath that you breathe,
Every step that you take, every word that you speak, He's upholding
all of us by the Word of His power. And we see the pictures
of the universe and the little tiny earth, the little tiny ball
out here in space. Who's holding it up? He is. He is. But this one that is so
great, express image of his person, upholding all things by the word
of his power, when he had by himself, without the help of
any man, without the help of any church, without the help
of anyone, when he had by himself purged our sins, washed our sins,
cleansed us from all our sins, he sat down on the right hand
of the majesty on high." Heaven is a place, and it is a place
that has one entrance, and that one door is Christ. Do you know
Him? Do you know Him? I'm not asking
if you've made a decision, but do you know Christ? Do you love
Him? Do you serve Him? Is your desire
to know Him more, to have a more intimate relationship with Him
day by day? Do you know Him? He's the only
way. There is no other. For there's
none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must
be saved. Now the third thing I know about
heaven I know heaven's a place. I know heaven's a place that
has one entrance, and I know that heaven is a place where
there's fullness of joy. Fullness of joy. I know this
from Psalm 16 and verse 11, in thy presence. Where is Christ? He's in heaven. Where is heaven? Where Christ is. In thy presence
is fullness of joy. At thy right hand there are pleasures
forevermore. One of the old writers said there
are two things which cause joy. The first is separation from
sin and it will be complete in heaven. The second is perfect
union with Christ and it shall be perfect in heaven. Now, the
Apostle Paul, in writing the first letter of Corinthians,
he quoted an Old Testament scripture in reference to the gospel, the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And he said this, I 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. Now,
he said that in reference to the gospel. The gospel comes
by revelation. The Holy Spirit, he must reveal
unto us the Lord Jesus Christ. But that same verse of scripture,
while he quotes it in reference to the gospel, it's also true
of heaven. It is true of heaven, I have
not seen nor ear heard Neither have entered into the heart of
man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. I want to give us this morning
seven things that make heaven to be the place of fullness of
joy. There are many more, I understand
that, but there's a limit. There's a limit to my time, isn't
there? But seven is the number of completion. So I want to give
us seven things that I know go to make heaven the place that
it is, a place of fullness of joy. Number one, we shall with
these eyes see the glorified Lord Jesus. We shall with these
eyes see the Lord Jesus Christ. He prayed in John chapter 17,
he asked the Father that his people might behold his glory. Now when he was transfigured
here upon the earth, remember he took Peter, James, and John,
went up on that mountain, he was transfigured before them. The scripture there says his
face did shine as the sun. He was just transfigured. His
face did shine as the sun. His raiment was white as snow. If, think about this, if the
glory of His transfiguration was that great, you can't look
at the sun in its fullness, can you? You can't look up at the
sun for very long, and you shouldn't probably for any time. The brightness
is so great But that was his face shining as the brightness
of the sun when he was transfigured. And his clothes were so white,
the scripture says, that no bleach, no fuller, no laundry man could
ever get clothes that white. Why? Because his body was inside
of those clothes. And that brightness was shining
out. But if that was him transfigured,
Think what it's going to be like when we see him with these eyes. You say, well, preacher, do you
mean to say we're going to see him with these eyes? I do. And
I say that from what the old Patriarch Job wrote in Job chapter
19. Job chapter 19. And verse 25 through 27, he said,
For I know, now we sang this at the beginning of our service,
didn't we? I know that my Redeemer liveth. That's what, that hymn's
taken from this verse, isn't it? For I know that my Redeemer
liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth,
and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my
flesh shall I see God. In other words, there's a marginal
reading. It says, after I shall awake,
though this body be destroyed, yet out of my flesh I shall see
God, whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and
not another though my reigns be consumed within me. We sing
hymns sometimes that were written by a lady named Fanny Crosby. I'm sure most of you know the
story of her life, how that through some mishap she was blinded as
a child and was blind for most all of her life. But someone
asked her one time, how will you know Jesus. You've never seen anyone. Of
course, we haven't seen him either with these eyes. But anyway,
they asked her that question. And this is what she wrote. When
my life's work is ended and I cross the narrow tide, when that bright
and glorious morning I shall see, I shall know my Redeemer. When I reach the other side,
and his smile shall be the first to welcome me, I shall know him,
I shall know him. As redeemed by his side, I shall
stand. I shall know him, I shall know
him by the prints of the nails in his hands. You say, does he
still have those nail prints? Yes, he does. Look with me in
John chapter 20. On the day of his resurrection,
John chapter 20 and verse 20. He appeared unto them, the eleven,
he said, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he showed
unto them his hands and his side. Now notice, then they were afraid
when they saw the resurrecting Christ. But when he showed them
his hands and his side, then were the disciples glad. Glad. I know that heaven is a
place where there's fullness of joy, number one, because we
shall see him. We shall see him who loved us, who gave himself for us. And
the only reminder in heaven of sin will be the fact of those
scars in his hands. When we look at
Him, we will throughout eternity be reminded of the great cost
for us to be there. His sacrifice. Number two, heaven
is a place of fullness of joy. We shall have a body like Christ's
glorious body. Like His body, glorified. This is what we read in Philippians
chapter 3 and verse 21. Let me read this for us. Philippians chapter 3 and verse
21. The Apostle Paul said, Who shall change our vile body? That
is, when he comes again. For our conversation is in heaven,
from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall change our vile body? That is, this body of our humiliation. You see that worm? We read about
this this past week in one of Spurgeon's devotions. But that worm is not very pretty,
is it? But then it goes into that cocoon,
is that what it's called? The chrysalis? And then it comes
out, a beautiful butterfly. And this body is sown in dishonor! It's sown in weakness, but it
shall be raised in honor, in power. It'll be a body like unto
His glorious body. This means that we will be freed
from all the necessities of this current body. At present time,
we need food to nourish us. We need clothes to cover us.
We need sleep to rest us. We will not have those needs
in this glorified body. Number three, we shall have fullness
of knowledge. Paul said, for now we see through
a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part,
but then I shall know even as also I am known. The dark shadows
of ignorance will flee away and be gone. And we shall have a
fullness of knowledge. There's so much, isn't there,
that we don't know. But I think about the dark providences
that some of us and some of you, most of God's children, have
as we go through this world. There's so many things we don't
understand. Sometimes we ask why. We never
ask why me. But sometimes we do ask, why?
I remember just recently praying and asking the Lord, why? Why
is this necessary? I know it is, and I bow to your
will, but why? Why is this necessary? Well,
our Lord told his disciples when he washed their feet, didn't
he? Peter said, you're never gonna wash my feet. Well, if
I don't wash your feet, you have no part with me. And our Lord
told them that what I do now, thou shalt understand hereafter. All those dark providences that
we can't understand will be made right. We know it's right. We
know it's right. We know there's a needs be for
whatever it is. But we'll understand then. That
old illustration, it's still a good one, isn't it? That lady
walked into that carpet factory, and they had those looms, and
they were weaving carpet. And she looked at that carpet,
and it just looked like a bunch of ends of yarn and whatever
they were using to weave it. And she said, what in the world
is that? That's so filthy ugly. They said,
step aside. Step around on the other side.
And when she looked at the other side, she saw the beautiful pattern
that was woven into that rug. Backside didn't look like a whole
lot. And when we reach that place where there's fullness of joy,
we'll know even as we are known. And dark providences shall be
made clear. Many times people say and wonder,
will we know one another in heaven? Well, I like what a friend of
mine said to answer that. He said, we'll know more then
than we know now. We know each other now. Sure,
we'll know each other in heaven. And think of that, brothers and
sisters, those of us who've worshipped together over the years and prayed
together preached the gospel and sent missionaries out over
the years. What a blessed time it's going
to be to be there in heaven together and know each other. Hey, I knew
you. I worshiped with you there at
Lincolnwood Baptist Church. We'll know each other. And number
four, we shall be free from all weariness. part of the curse
brought into this world by sin. God said, in the sweat of thy
face shalt thou eat bread. In heaven we are told that they
rest from their labors, but yet at the same time they serve him
continually. We serve him continually, but
there's no weariness. Now our bodies grow weary, our
minds grow weary, Sometimes, and I'm sure you're the same
way, it's your job, it's your work, but sometimes I think I'd
just like to get up from this chair and never sit here again
before this computer, never prepare another message. My mind gets
weary, not of the work, but in the work, yes. But usually when
I have those thoughts, another thought comes quickly. You will
one day. And it won't be long. It won't
be long. You will get out of this chair
for the last time, look at that computer screen for the last
time, try to prepare a message for the last time. But there's
weariness in this world, isn't there? Much study, much hard
labor is weariness to the flesh. But there we serve Him continually
and yet are never weary. Number five, we shall be free
from all sorrows. There shall be no more sorrow.
That's what the scripture says in Revelation 21 and 4. Our life
through this world is mixed with joys and sorrows. There's no
question about it. I think probably more joy than
sorrow. But no one is exempt as the sparks
fly upward so man is born for affliction. But heaven will be
a place where only joy. There will be no more sorrow.
And all of the things that causes us to have sorrow, those things
will not be allowed in heaven. Sin is the great cause of sorrow. And sin is not going to enter
into that place. It's holy, as he is. Sickness will not enter there.
That causes sorrow, doesn't it? Death, oh, that causes sorrow. And you know, misunderstandings.
I've been preaching now for a number of years, and over the years,
I've seen pastors have misunderstandings. and fall out. That won't happen in heaven.
And I've seen church members too. That's sad, isn't it? We all love Christ and all washed
in the same blood and yet over some minor thing, some misunderstanding,
that'll all be gone. No sorrow there. Number six,
we shall be free from all doubts. You ever plagued by doubts? Am
I a child of God? You know, we sang that hymn just
a few minutes ago that John Newton wrote. The old man who wrote
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound. But you know, he wrote
that other hymn too, didn't he? Tis a point I long to know. Am I his or am I not? And the last thing, There will
be no more hidings of God's face. Turn with me in closing to Psalm
30. There will be no more hidings
of God's face. You say, what are you talking
about, preacher? Well, I think you'll know. I think you'll know
when we look here. We sit in a service like this,
not every time, but many times, and our hearts are just filled,
aren't they? Just filled with joy and praise,
and then we go home and tomorrow morning we get up and it seems
like heaven's brass. Seems like we can't even call
upon God. Hidings of his face. Psalm 30
verses 6 and 7, the psalmist said, and in my prosperity, oh
I was rejoicing, I really was. In my prosperity, I said, I shall
never be moved. It's always going to be like
this. Just this great joy and rejoicing I have in my heart
right now. I'll never be moved. It'll always
be like this. Lord, by Thy favor, Thou hast
made my mountain to stand strong. Thou didst hide Thy face and
I was troubled." You know what I'm talking about,
don't you? Sometimes the Lord hides His face from His people.
For good reason, I understand that. But there'll be no more
of that in heaven. Well, there are three things we know
about heaven, right? It's a place. It's a place with
one entrance. And it's a place where there's
fullness of joy. And we're going to sing a hymn
when the roll is called up yonder. I'll be there. Will you? Will
you? Hymn number 500. Let's stand
as we sing.