September 17, 2006
"Heaven and the Things I Love"
Heaven—A Place Prepared For You—Part 11
Selected verses
1. Heaven, eternity and time.
Question: Will there be time in heaven?
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
—2 Peter 3:8
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life , bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
—Revelation 22:1-2
Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
—Psalm 90:12
2. Heaven, relationships, marriage and family.
Questions: Will we actually recognize family members when we get to heaven? Will we know our loved ones in heaven as we do on earth? Will we still have our unique personalities in heaven? God has gifted me with a lifelong spouse. Why is it that my marriage relationship is not able to continue in heaven?
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
—Psalm 73:25
- Reunion in heaven
One of the highest ways we love God is by loving people!
..."Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'"
—Matthew 22:37-39
For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
—1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
- Marriage and family
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
—Genesis 2:18
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb."
—Revelation 21:9
"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.
—Ephesians 5:31-32
The purpose of marriage is not to replace heaven it is to prepare us for it!
3. What will we remember?
Questions: Will I be sad for family who are not in heaven?
"Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind."
—Isaiah 65:17
"...For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
—Jeremiah 31:34
The Bible gives no indication of a memory wipe!
4. Heaven and the animal kingdom.
Questions: Will there be animals in heaven? Will our pets be in heaven?
- Remember God's original creation.
- The animals are looking forward to liberation from the bondage of sin.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.
—Romans 8:20-21
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"
—Revelation 5:13
Application: When we think it just can't get any better, it will!
"Heaven and the Things I Love"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- Who is the first family member you recall dying? Who were you closest to through their dying days?
- When you think about the coming of the Lord, what do you anticipate most?
Digging Deeper: Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
- Because Paul addressed the question of death and dying, what concerns might we understand the Thessalonians having? What ignorance was corrected through Paul's writing?
- What order is there to the resurrection mentioned in verses 14-17. What will happen to the bodies of both those who are dead and alive at the coming of Christ?
- How would Paul's words here encourage the Thessalonians? How do they encourage you?
- Do Paul's words about Jesus coming as "a thief in the night," calm you or stir up fear? How do you understand Paul's analogy of light and dark, day and night? What does it mean to "be sons of the day or belong to the day"?
- What picture comes to mind when you hear that people will be saying, peace and safety? What destruction will come upon them? (See Luke 21:23-28)
- How do you understand the phrase, "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ"? What is the encouragement of 5:1-11?
Applying It To My Life
- The admonition to build each other up ends our passage of study. How are others building you up? How are you building them up? In what area of your life do you need to be most built up?
- Does the reality of Christ's return encourage or threaten you? Why? What does it take for a person to be confident at the Lord's coming? (See 1 John 2:28)