Entering Eternity's Joy

Mark Finley: You know, it's going to be exciting. What is the Bible say in Matthew 8:11 again? It says we'll sit down, not run by, sit down that's in fellowship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
Guest (Male): This is Hope Lives 365 with Pastor Mark Finley. Today's message, entering eternity's joy. Enjoy and remember you can always catch up with past messages and stay up to date with Hope Lives 365 and Pastor Mark by going to hopelives365.com and stay with us for a free Bible study offer later in this program. And now, Pastor Mark Finley.
Mark Finley: In this presentation, we travel to Egypt once more. We traveled to Egypt a number of times in this series. We will journey south this time to the valley of the kings. Many of Egypt's greatest Pharaohs were buried there. It was in this place that Howard Carter made one of the most sensational discoveries in the history of archaeology on February 16, 1923. After months of searching, Carter eventually discovered the staircase leading to the underground tomb of King Tutankhamun. As he slowly opened the door of the young king's tomb, he was astounded at the array of glittering golden images that he saw. Here are the words of Carter himself as he describes the experience. He said, at first I could see nothing. The hot air escaping from the chamber causing the candle flame to flicker. But presently, as my eyes grew accustomed to the lights, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist. Strange animal statues and gold everywhere, the glitter of gold. As Carter followed closely by his sponsor, Lord Carnarvon, entered the tomb, they gazed on a scene that seemed almost beyond belief. At the center was a large coffin, which was in fact seven coffins nested one inside the other. Each of the coffins is elaborately decorated and overlaid with gold. But this one is not overlaid with gold. This coffin is 450 lb of solid gold. The famed death mask of the young king was also of solid gold. In addition, there were gold amulets, gold pendants, plus a gold crook, flail, and dagger. All of them incrusted with precious stones. There were six chariots with wheels and carriages overlaid with gold. Altogether, were not hundreds, but thousands of golden objects. How much do you think King Tutankhamun's treasures are worth? What would they cost on today's market? There's simply no way to put a value on them. They are priceless. Never before or since in the history of archaeology has such a treasure been found altogether in one place. We are justified in admiring the glittering treasures of Tutankhamun. And they offer us an important point of comparison here. Can you imagine an enormous city where the streets are paved with gold, where the foundation stones are jasper, sapphire, agate, emerald, and more? Revelation describes such an amazing city. The answer is maybe, but it's pretty amazing, almost incomprehensible. It's impossible to picture these streets of gold. We can picture it in our mind. And in our mind, we can picture marvelous mansions, a sign a shining city or some famed work of art with an idyllic city called heaven or the New Jerusalem. But whatever you can imagine, no matter how shiny or beautiful you picture it, no matter how lavish you picture it, no matter how magnificent you picture it, you're still not doing justice to its reality. The Bible says that, quote, in 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 9, eye has not seen nor ear heard nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those that love him. Think of the most extravagant beauty either in art or nature. Imagine the soaring rapture of a mask choir. All of that will seem like a dismal gray, like a noisy gong when we're actually present among the sights and sounds of heaven. One day, when we gaze on that glory, when we hear that music, we'll finally recognize the evil transformation that sin has brought to our world. We'll recognize in a beauty far beyond what our eyes have ever seen, in tastes more exotic than we could ever imagine. In a sense of peace, assurance, and joy that's far beyond our human comprehension, we will then recognize how magnificent heaven is. 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 13. This verse refers to the physical restoration of the earth to Edenic splendor. It also refers to something that may not be readily visible, the restoration of righteousness. We are so accustomed to sin and depravity that they seem normal. Violence, immorality, and horror have become a popular genre in the film industry and on the internet. It becomes harder every day to even conceive of a world in which righteousness dwells. When Jesus comes, when our minds and souls are restored, then we will understand the glory of his righteousness in contrast with the horrible depravity of sin. The Apostle John wrote, beloved, now are we the sons of God. And it does not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. 1 John chapter 3 verse 2. The Apostle admits his human limitation in describing God's glory. He's unable, he says, to describe our condition after Jesus returns. He can only make a comparison by saying we shall be like him. John probably wrote this epistle after he returned from exile on the island of Patmos. There he had seen Jesus in his heavenly glory, a presence that was so powerful, so overwhelming that he fell at Jesus' feet as a dead man. But on that bright and cloudless morning, the dead in Christ shall rise. And the glory of his resurrection share. Then this weak and corruptible flesh will put on incorruption and this mortal will put on immortality. When that happens, when God has made all things new, we shall be like him. When that transformation has taken place, we shall see the king in his beauty. Then we will see him and not faint and fall to the ground like John because we'll be strengthened. We cannot explain it or understand fully what it means, but we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Yes, when we see Jesus, we will kneel before him in praise. We will kneel before him in worship. We won't fall over as a dead person, but we will fall as a worshiping being amazed by his goodness, amazed by his love. The Apostle Paul describes the coming of our Lord and the glorious resurrection of believers this way. He says, for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will 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. Thus, we shall always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 16 and 17. Imagine this scene. The earth shakes. Lightning flashes from the east to the west. The heavens are illuminated with the glory of God. Jesus returns in splendor and majesty with 10,000 times 10,000 angels. His voice calls the righteous dead from their graves and along with the righteous living, they receive glorious immortal bodies. Together, husbands and wives separated by death are reunited along with their families and friends as they ascend in the sky with Jesus. Just as Jesus was recognized by his disciples in his immortal resurrected body, we too shall recognize one another in our glorious immortal resurrected bodies. If you want to read about it, look at the book of Philippians in chapter 3 verse 20 and 21. Praise God. Yes, praise him. This world is not our final home. This world where terrorists get on buses and kill everyone on board, where children die of brain cancer, where young people shoot drugs that destroy their minds and bodies. This world where tornadoes come roaring out of the sky, where the earth trembles and thousands die. This world will one day be only a faint memory of the distant past. God is something better than divorce, disappointment, discouragement, and death. Something better than starving children who wander the streets of the cities of the world. You know, one night I was leaving a meeting in Rwanda. And after I had preached, I went toward the car that was to take me to my hotel and a young boy came running out of the darkness. He grabbed me by the legs and said, mister, mister, I'm an orphan. I have no daddy. Would you be my daddy? Would you take me home? Please, please. I knelt on the ground so I could look at this boy in the eye. And as I did, many other orphans came running. I wept with a sense of frustration and helplessness because I knew that whatever I said or did, I could never solve the problem for all those kids. But one day, one day soon, Jesus will come. He says, behold, I'll make all things new. Then the consequences of sin will be gone forever and the inhabitants will not say I am sick. The eyes of the blind, according to Isaiah the prophet, will be opened. The ears of the deaf will be unstopped. The lame man will leap as a deer and the tongue of the dumb will sing. Isaiah chapter 35 verse 5 and 6. The first thing our deaf friends will hear will be the voice of Jesus saying, well done thou good and faithful servant. The first thing our blind friends will see is the loving face of Jesus. The paralyzed, the crippled, the lame will run and leap for joy when Jesus releases them from their fetters. All the weakness, every limitation caused by sin will be gone. Our bodies will be filled with boundless energy and vitality. Over 40 years ago, I met Joan Herman. She had a profound influence on my life. Joan was a godly woman who was stricken with polio when she was 17 years old. As a result, she was paralyzed from her neck down. She read her Bible for hours by turning its pages with a mouth stick. She memorized scores of Bible passages. When when my wife and I visited her, she would say, Pastor Mark, I'm studying the Bible with this nurse, this doctor, this state official, or this hospital resident. We regularly visited Johnny on Sabbath afternoons and taught a Bible class to the hospital residents. Many of her friends joined in on the Bible study. There was Felicity who was with her head twisted to the side and hands gnarled because of cerebral palsy. And little Jimmy would join us. He would pull himself along on a board with wheels. And there was Doris who was blind and couldn't speak. She was also crippled and couldn't walk. The only faculty she had was her hearing. And I would say, what do you want me to talk about today? And they would say, Pastor, tell us about heaven. And I would say, wait a minute. We talked about heaven last week. We've talked about that many times. And they would say, Pastor, teach us again. We want to hear it again. We tend to forget, Pastor. Teach us about heaven. And you know that goes for you and me too.
Guest (Male): We'll be right back with Pastor Mark Finley. We thank you for listening and hope you're enjoying today's message. Our mission is to attractively present the Christ-centered biblical truths of Scripture in a practical, relevant way to people around the world so that they may experience the abundant life that Christ offers. If you want to learn more about the Bible, check out our free Bible series at globalbibleschool.org. That's globalbibleschool.org. Discover answers to your deepest questions straight from God's word. And now, back to Pastor Mark Finley.
Mark Finley: We often forget the incredible joys of eternity. We tend to forget what the glorious home that God is preparing us for is really like. We tend to hear it over and over again because we too are fettered by mortality, burdened by sorrows. And so we although we hear it, at times it's in the back of our mind, but we need to be reminded heaven is real. Oh, praise God for such wonderful news. Jesus is preparing a place for us in that better land. The Bible says God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There'll be no more death nor sorrow nor crying for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21 verse 4. We will no longer get phone calls at 1:00 a.m. in the morning saying your son, your daughter has just been killed in a car accident. Sudden death will be a thing of the past. It belonged to another world, not heaven. Violence and war will be no more. The victims of war will be no more. As Scripture says in Isaiah 2 verse 4, they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. That's gardening tools. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. Or in Isaiah 11 verse 9, they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the Lord for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters fill the sea, echoing and re-echoing from every mountain and every valley will be songs of praise. Worthy is the Lord lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Revelation 5 verse 12. We'll gather around the throne of God. We'll worship him and our hearts will be filled with joy and love and peace. The Bible says that when physical activity is there. Isaiah 65 verse 21 and 22 says, they shall build houses and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit, their fruit. And mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. You can build your dream home in the country and also have a home in the holy city. Your dream home cannot overlook your dream home can overlook a valley with a beautiful brook running through it. The joys of eternity will be endless. We'll plant gardens and eat the produce of them. The Eden life will be restored. We were meant to live in a garden of gladness, but our world has become a jungle of suffering. A new world is coming and the joys of eternity will echo through the universe forever. There's another wonderful thing about heaven and that will be relationships. Jesus said many will come from the east and the west and sit down, not run by, will sit down with Abraham, with Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. We'll fellowship conversing at leisure with the great heroes of the faith of the path of of past ages. We'll meet the unsung heroes that have served God in hard and difficult places who fled down their life for him. You know, I'm looking forward to talking with Daniel and saying to Daniel, Daniel, tell me what it was like when you were in the lion's den. Did your heart beat with fear and anxiety as you were there in the lion's den? And Moses, tell me what it was like. Tell me what it was like, Moses, when you came to the Red Sea. And God said, go forward. Did you have any fear? Tell me about the joy you had when you put your feet in the Red Sea and they opened. And then what about the Apostle Paul? I am so anxious to talk to Paul. You know, I've spent 60 years of my life traveling the world in evangelism and preaching in the great cities of the world and probably close to 100 countries. And I can't wait to talk to Paul about his preaching in Philippi and Thessalonica. He's talking to the intellectuals in Greece. He's preaching in Corinth. Can't wait to talk to him about how God powerfully used him. And what about Peter who preached on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 were baptized? You know, it's going to be exciting. What is the Bible say in Matthew 8:11 again? It says we'll sit down, not run by, sit down that's in fellowship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But you know, it's going to be a wonderful thing to to re recount with our families how God has led us as a family. And I think Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the patriarchs of the Old Testament, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, some of the prophets of the Old Testament. And I think the Apostles are going to be interested too, Peter, James, and John. They're going to say to us, tell us your story. You live down in the last days of earth history. Tell us how God led you. And so these relationships in heaven, these deep, lasting relationships are going to be incredibly meaningful. But you know, I think there's even more wonderful news than this. I think it's the best of all. When John saw the holy city come down from heaven, he heard a loud voice from heaven saying, according to Revelation 21 verse 3, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men. And he will dwell with them. They shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God far, far above everything else. That is the best news of all. God himself shall be with us. We will be restored to the privilege Adam and Eve had in the Garden of Eden. We will live in the presence of God. This is God's desire for us. His covenant promise in Leviticus 26 verse 12 is I will walk among you. I will be your God and you will be my people. Here on earth, we walk by faith and not by sight. In the future, the eternal covenant will meet its true and complete fulfillment. Then according to Revelation 22 verse 4, we will see him face to face and rejoice in his presence forever. John says that this holy city that has the high and great wall with 12 gates is open for you. The names written on them, on these gates are the names of the 12 tribes of the children of Israel according to Revelation 21 verse 12. But wait, do you remember the names of those patriarchal leaders of the 12 tribes of Israel? Among them were Reuben, Simeon, and Levi. These men were murderers. They could be brought into court and convicted of homicide and robbery and adultery. They kidnapped their own brother and sold him as a slave. Think about the names and the foundations of the walls. There are the names of the 12 Apostles. Peter who denied him, Thomas who doubted him, James and John, the sons of thunder. Why are these names here? How is it possible that their names are on the gates of heaven? They are there to testify that any man, any woman who accepts the grace of Jesus Christ can walk through those gates. Yes, those men were guilty of crimes, but they were sinners saved by grace. And that's the only way that you or I or anyone else will ever walk through those gates. Every single one of us is scarred by sin. Our natures are defiled by our own evil deeds, but through the grace of Jesus, we can rejoice in his presence forever. The one who knows us best loves us most. He's found a way for unworthy sinners to enter into a sinless city. He descended from heaven to earth, dwelt in human flesh, faced Satan's temptations head on and gained the victory for you and me. He revealed the immensity of the father's love before the entire universe in his life and death. Through his life and death, he opened heaven gates wide for us as we accept the salvation that is already ours by faith in his name. Through his righteousness, we can walk through those heavenly gates. You know, in the book of Revelation, it says this, the gates shall not be shut night or day. And immediately adds there shall be no night there. Now, if the gates are not shut by day or night and night never comes, it's clear they're never closed. It's a message of invitation. Come. The spirit and bride say, come. Come, Jesus says. When I look at myself, I see no possibility of being saved. But when I look at Jesus, I see no possibility of being lost. Keep Jesus in mind. When I remember his love and mercy, my heart is filled with assurance and joy when by faith I fully grasp and my salvation is complete in him, my heart is at peace. If by faith you accept what he has done for you and receive the gift of his righteousness, he will guarantee to take you by the hand and lead you through those golden gates. He is our advocate. At the judgment bar of God, Jesus answers all of the accusations that Satan brings against us. He's a lawyer that's never lost a case. God is saying, whoever you are, you too can make it through those gates. No matter what you have ever done, no matter what has been your failure and your sin, Jesus says my grace can transform your life. But the very best, the very sweetest hours in heaven will be our worship and communion with our Savior. The Bible says in Isaiah chapter 63 66 Isaiah chapter 66 verse 23. It says from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the Lord. Even in this world of sin, the Sabbath draws us aside now from the pressure and hurry of life. It is on the Sabbath that we can have our sweetest communion and fellowship with Jesus. It's the happiest, the best, the brightest day of the week. But think about heaven. Can you imagine the experience of Sabbath worship in heaven now according to 1 Corinthians 5 verse 7, we walk by faith and not by sight. But then we'll be with Jesus and we'll look at his face. We'll bow at his feet in praise and adoration with the angels who have who are and with the redeemed of all ages will join in the vast chorus 10,000 and thousands, thousands singing, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.
Guest (Male): You've been listening to Pastor Mark Finley. We hope you enjoyed today's message and that it increased your faith in God and his word. If you'd like to learn more, Pastor Mark invites you to visit globalbibleschool.org for an inspiring, interactive Bible study experience. That's globalbibleschool.org. And now, a final thought from Pastor Mark.
Mark Finley: Don't wait. Don't wait, my friend, if we're going to worship Jesus in heaven on Sabbath. Don't you think we ought to begin worshiping him on Sabbath now? If we're going to join the angels in praising God on Sabbath after Jesus comes, don't you think we should join God's family on earth as they worship in his presence now? How I long for that day to come when we'll bow at his feet and with tears running down our faces, we'll say, Jesus, you're all I want. Jesus, you're all I need. Your love is enough for me. I will never cease to worship you because your love is filled every corner of my heart. And I know that it always will. Don't delay, my friend. If you have not made a full decision for Jesus, make that right now. If you've not made a decision to obey him, keep his Bible Sabbath, make that decision right now. And friend of mine, if you've never followed Jesus all the way in baptism, if you've never walked into that water and found his peace and joy, the Bible says he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. Oh, my friend, if you long to walk through those gates one day, give your life fully to Jesus right now and follow him in Bible baptism.