05-18-08 #Disciple Bible Study titled: “What Will We Do In Heaven?”

[Disciple]

“HEAVEN- A TRAVEL GUIDE”
“What Will We Do In Heaven?”
Revelation 22:1-5
Intro.
We are people, generally speaking, who have activities planned out in advance. We pretty much know what we’re going to be doing today and tomorrow. When we’re asked ‘what are you doing tomorrow?’ We take out our Palm Pilot, our Daily Organizer and we check our agenda. We are busy people. We are always doing something. We are always going somewhere.
So with our skill and knowledge when it comes to planning out our daily lives, I think the question I want to ask you now is very appropriate?’ What are you planning to do for the next 10 million years?’ Sometimes we get the idea that heaven is going to be exactly like this life only on a grander scale.
So what will we do when we get to heaven?
Rev. 13:14
This verse teaches that the life following this life is a rest from the labors of this life.
But what is this rest? Does this mean that we are not going to be doing anything? Does this mean heaven is a perpetual vacation? Are we facing millions and millions of years of doing nothing?
Will we be floating around on the clouds, playing harps? Will we constantly be comparing our wings with others? That kind of existence doesn’t really even sound to interesting or exciting, does it?
Rest does not mean inactivity. After God’s work of creation, He rested. That doesn’t mean that God is inactive. Think of the works that God continues to do today. He sustains the vast universe. He answers prayer. He saves. He heals. He guides our lives.
God stopped the work of creation after the 6th day and He rested. On the day of our death we cease our distinctively Christian work. We don’t win the lost, we don’t edify other saints, we don’t help those who are in need. But we do not become inactive.
So what will we be doing in heaven?
I. We Will Serve The Lord
I like what Bob Chambers writes in his book, “Heaven” Bob Chambers- “Would not heaven be hell if it were our lot to sit for ever in idleness? The unhappiest people in the world are those who do nothing.” Get rid of any notions you have of floating on the clouds, playing harps, doing nothing. Those kinds of images are not reality when it comes to heaven. Heaven is a place of joyful, happy service to the Lord.
Heaven is going to be paradise restored.
Rev. 22:3
Note the reference to the curse. When was there are curse? This takes us back to the Garden of Eden when God ****ounced a curse.
Gen 3:17
But in heaven, this curse is taken away. There is no more curse.
Some might question then, ‘if the curse is taken away, then why do we have to work and serve in heaven?’ Note that work was not part of the curse. Adam was given work to do in caring for the garden before he sinned (see Gen 2:15), Work is a blessing for us.
It is sin that makes work a burden. Because of sin work becomes tedious, wearisome, distasteful, unproductive. In heaven we will work for the Lord, but we will not toil with weariness of body and mind as we do here. The curse of toil has not been removed.
I don’t know exactly what kind of serving we will do in heaven, but we can consider one thought here. Heaven is described as the city of God. Heaven is spoken of as the Father’s house. Heaven is pictured as a Garden. In a city, in a house, in a garden, there is always plenty of work to do. And the work that you and I will be doing in heaven is the work that is which exactly fits our ability and our taste.
In heaven we are going to serve the Lord.
David Brainered once said to Jonathan Edwards, “I do not go to heaven to be advanced but o give honor to God. It is no matter where I shall be stationed in heave, whether I have a high or low seat there, but to live and please and glorify God…My heaven is to please God and glorify him, and give all to him, and be wholly devoted to his glory.”
II. We Will See The Lord
Rev 22:4
We might wonder what is so significant about seeing his face. I would remind you that God kept his great servant Moses from seeing his face (Ex. 33:20-23). No one could see God’s face and live, but in heaven we will see his face.
We will know the promise Jesus fulfilled.
Matt. 5:8
Hear the words of Paul
1 Cor. 13:12
What is the result of our seeing his face? First, we will worship him when we see his face. Can you imagine seeing the face of God? Can you imagine looking into the face of Jesus Christ who died for you? This will be the perfect worship. We are always in the presence of God and we will always see his face.
I know that sometimes our worship experiences down here are lacking and sometimes leaves us feeling like we’ve gone through the motions. Often our worship is cold. Our spirits are icy. We’re at odds and often quarreling with those with whom we supposedly worship. At the very best we find that our minds often wander and we are so easily distracted.
If heaven ‘s worship is like a lot of our worship experiences down here it would be really monotonous. Before you get to critical about any worship experience here, consider what John writes about the heavenly worship in Rev 19:1-7
Sounded like a great multitude shouting, again they shouted ‘Hallelelujah’. Heard what sounded like a great multitude shouting, like the roar of rushing water, like peals of thunder, shouting. Do you think you’re going to feel comfortable in that heavenly crowd as they worship?
Heaven will be a continuous expression of worship and joy. One fellow said, ‘Lord, if you will only save me in this world, you will never hear the last of it in the next world’
Second, we will be like him.
This is what is meant by ‘his name will be in our foreheads’. This shows that we belong completely and absolutely to God
1 John 3:2
This will be the perfect consecration. We will have perfect devotion to the once we worship. God’s name represents his perfect character, so for us to bear his name in our foreheads means to be like him.
In heaven we will never again have a struggle with sin. There will never be a time that we will know temptation. We will never yield to temptation to sin. We will always reflect God’s holiness and goodness forever and forever.
III. We Will Reign Forever
Rev 22:5
When we think about ruling and reigning some questions come to mind. Over what or who are we going to reign? How long will this reign last? What is the nature of this reign?
We get some kind of idea about this reign from Rev 5:9-10. ‘On the earth’. Literally reads ‘over the earth’. We will be reigning over the earth. The rulership in which we will share is the rulership of Jesus Christ. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and we will reign with him.
In several of the parables Jesus taught he speaks of giving authority to his faithful servants on his return. In Luke 19, Jesus teaches the parable of the ten minas. Two of the servants have been faithful with money given to them. The king rewards them by giving them charge over 10 and 5 cities respectively.
Luke 19:17, 19
In the parable of the talents, Matt 25:21, 23, the king tells his servants “I will put you in charge of many things’. I want you to consider one more parable of Jesus. This is found in Matt 24. This should be an encouragement for all to use their abilities and gifts and talents to their very best with faithfulness. The promise is seen in Matt 24:47
Do you know for certain that you are going to heaven? Do you know that you will be serving the Lord? You will see him and will be made like him and you will reign with him forever and forever.
Conc.
I read a story about an 83 year old man who had been a bachelor all of his life. One day he called his four nephews together and told them that he was planning to get married. His nephews were stunned to say the least. One said, “Uncle, are you marrying this woman because she is beautiful?” And the uncle said, “No, she’s not beautiful”. Another said, “Uncle, are you marrying this woman because she’s a great cook?” And the uncle said, “No, she’s not a great cook.” A third nephew said, “Uncle, are you marrying her because she has a lot of money?” And the uncle said, “No, she’s not rich.” The fourth nephew then said, “Well uncle, if she’s not beautiful, if she isn’t a great cook, if she isn’t rich, then why are you marrying her?” With a wink, the uncle said,” I’m marrying her because she can drive at night.”
You have to like a man who knows what he needs.
I told you this silly story because I want to ask you a pointed question, do you intend on going to heaven for eternity? Do you know what you need to get to heaven? Will you do what you need to do today so you can have the promise of heaven and eternal life?
Through faith in Jesus Christ we repent of our sins. We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, just as he said he was. We get baptized into Jesus Christ for forgiveness of our sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. We live our lives in faithful obedience until Jesus comes for us.
Will you accept God’s Son today as your Savior?