TCJ eBible Lesson
GETTING HOME
John 14:1-6
Introduction:
An elderly preacher had secretly dreaded dying and felt helpless to console others who were facing that prospect.
But all that changed one day when he was packing to move away from the town where he had ministered for many years. When his household goods had been placed in the van, he lingered for a time in the house where he had enjoyed many hours of study and communion with the Lord. It was as if he couldn't let go of all the joyous memories of the past. Just then a close friend, who had been helping with the packing, sensed his hesitation and tapped him on the shoulder."Pastor, your new home is better than this one." Those words struck home, with an insight born of the Holy Spirit. The pastor, suddenly realized that this home in heaven would be far superior to the finest home he would ever have on earth. It was a turning point in his spiritual growth, and after that he no longer dreaded dying.
We know that someday we will face the prospect of dying. I hope that this eBible lesson will bring comfort and encouragement in our time of preparation for the Lord to take us home to be with Him.
We should be very happy that Jesus is preparing a special place for each of His children in that eternal mansion with many rooms. Although we cannot fully grasp all that this means, we need not fear death. Our new home will so much better than anything we will have here on earth.
I Remember talking with a man this week, who told me he was in the service, and how he had spent time in the jungles of Viet Nam.
He prayed everyday, that God would bring Him home.
As we journey through this life, do we look forward to going home? It should be our prayer, and our hope, that God will get us there. Well God has done His part, when He sent His Son Jesus to make a way for us to come home. Now it is up to us to do our part.
Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but through Me." (John 14:6) The way home has been provided, and the time is now to begin the journey.
Q. How strong is your belief that there is a place being prepared for you, when you go to heaven?
THEME: I want us to briefly look at our home in heaven, and then look at two questions concerning our preparation for going home.
1. A LOOK AT OUR HOME IN HEAVEN
There are beautiful scenes of this life, but none can compare to the beauty of our eternal home, the eternal city.
Jesus promised it (John 14:1-3)
The apostles preached it (2 Corinthians 5:1) John saw it (Revelation 21) The Holy City is:
A Prepared Place (John 14:3)
A Beautiful Place (Revelation 21:18-21)
A Comfortable Place (Revelation 21:4)
A Roomy Place (Revelation 21:15-16)
A Clean Place (Revelation 21:27)
A Happy Place of Contentment & Satisfaction (Revelation 21:6)
A Place Where There Is No Night (Revelation 21:23)
A Busy Place (Revelation 22:3)
An Eternal Place (Revelation 22:5)
This is a picture of our home in heaven.
As Christians we wait for it to come. Here on earth, and in Paradise.
And after the great white throne judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) "There will be a new heaven, and a new earth and our eternal home: the holy city, new Jerusalem will come down out of heaven from God, as a bride adorned for her husband." The city will be the capital of heaven, the place of God's special presence. It will be the primary dwelling place of the redeemed. The city is said to have 12 gates symbolizing the presence of the 12 tribes of Israel (v.12) and 12 foundations representing the presence of the church of the 12 apostles (v.14) John described it as being an immense jeweled city of great beauty.
Hebrews 11 tells us that Abraham was willing to live in tents during his life because he knew that one day he would live in "the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11:10) This is our eternal home. This is what we look forward to.
Q. How will we have a new heaven, and a new earth, after the great white judgment?
TS Now a look at two questions concerning our preparation for going home.
2. A LOOK AT TWO QUESTIONS CONCERNING OUR PREPARATION FOR
GOING HOME
1. Have you made preparation?
If you were to die today, do you know where you would spend eternity?
Do you know for sure that you would go to heaven? (Only two places I've read about in the Bible; Heaven, or Hell!
Do you know where you will end up after you die?
Ill.Are we like the pilot who lost his navigation equipment, became disoriented, and then announced to the passengers, "Ladies and gentlemen, the bad news is that we don't know where we are going", "the good news is, that we are making great time."
If you have doubts about where you will spend eternity, today is the time to take care of those doubts, and make your future secure.
We do that by putting our faith in Jesus Christ for our salvation-trusting Him to save us, and sustain us, and prepare a place for us for eternity.
Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is our (Creator, Father, Savior, Shepherd) and that He is the rewarder (sins forgiven, daily needs met, future eternal home provided) of those who diligently seek Him."
You name it, he comes out a winner every time. Even though he's a hard core outlaw. He can out talk any student when it comes to homework. Out think any executive when it comes to correspondence, out work any homemaker when it comes to vacuuming or doing dishes. He can out last any parent when it comes to discipline.
He can out smart any salesman when it comes to selling. He has one basic product, and he centers all his energy toward that single goal: Defeat. By the sheer genius of suggestion he becomes the epitome of what he destroys: Success. Who is he? PROCRASTINATION
Never do today, what you can put off until tomorrow.
How can you win? The formula is simple. Implementing it will take discipline, and the power of God in your life. The formula is the little word:
NOW.
Have you made preparation for heaven?
If not, do it NOW!
2. Are you helping others to be prepared?
This is the work that God has called us to do. This is the work of the church. The ministry of reaching people for Jesus Christ. Bringing to them the One who can help them with their eternal and daily needs today.
Charles Swindoll writes: "The neighborhood bar is the best counterfeit there is to the fellowship Christ wants to give His Church. It's an imitation, dispensing liquor instead of grace, escape rather than reality, but it is a permissive, accepting and inclusive fellowship. It is unshockable. It is democratic. You can tell people secrets and they usually don't tell others or even want to. The bar flourishes, not because God has put into the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and to be loved, and many seek a counterfeit at the price of a few beers."
With all my heart, I believe that Christ wants his church to be....a fellowship where people can come and say, "I'm sunk! I've had it!,
I need help!
Q. Why is it that we get so busy with so many things in our lives, that we neglect the greatest work of all? The work that God is counting on us to do. The work of personal evangelism?
Conclusion: (Song)
Home Where I Belong
"They say that heaven's pretty, and living here is too.
But if they said that I would have to choose between the two,
I'd go home, home where I belong.
Sometimes when I'm dreaming, it comes to no surprise,
that if you look you'll see that homesick feeling in my eyes.
I'm going home, home, where I belong.
Chorus:
While I'm here I'll serve Him gladly, and sing Him all these songs.
I'm here, but not for long.
When I'm feeling lonely, and when I'm feeling blue,
it's such a joy to know that I am only passing through.
I'm going home, home, where I belong.
One day I'll be sleeping when death knocks on my door,
and I'll awake to find that I'm not homesick anymore.
I'll be home. Home, where I belong."
Songwriter: Pat Terry
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