WHY SHOULD HEAVEN BE SO PRECIOUS TO US AS BELIEVERS?

Today we are going to look at – “WHY SHOULD HEAVEN BE SO PRECIOUS TO US AS BELIEVERS!” 

Jesus said, “In My Father's house (dwelling place) are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (Jn. 14:2-3).

1. This is because our Redeemer is in Heaven.

Hebrews 9:24 says, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God (the Father) for us.”

2. Jesus desires that all Born-Again Believers be with Him where He is.

In John 17:24 Jesus said, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which thou hast given Me: for thou lovedst Me before the foundation of the world.”

3. Our relationships are in Heaven. You have relatives in Heaven. You can’t wait to be with them again in Heaven. 

Hebrews 12:22-24 says, “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”

Look at some of the people you will meet in Heaven.

1. an innumerable company of angels, 
2. the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and 
3. God (the Father) the Judge of all, 
4. the spirits of just men made perfect, 
5. Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and 
6. the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh things better than that of Abel.”

All your blood relations over the ages that went to Heaven are there waiting to receive you.

4. Our resources are in Heaven. You have an inheritance waiting for you in Heaven. 

1 Peter 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.”

This inheritance reserved in Heaven for you is incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away.

Someone may ask, “What kind of house will you get in Heaven?” It depends on what you did with your resources while you were on earth.

5. Our residence is in Heaven.If you are genuinely Born Again, you are no longer a citizen of this world, but now  a citizen of Heaven.

“But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using the same power with which He will bring everything under His control” (Phil. 3:20-21, NLT).

6. Our Riches are in Heaven. Your investments in the Kingdom of God are the only things that will be transferred to Heaven to your own credit. 

The souls you have brought into the Kingdom of God is one of the major investments you make on earth that will be credited to your account in Heaven. 

If I may ask you, “How much have you invested in the lives of other people since you gave your life to Christ?”  You quickly start sending materials to your account in Heaven from today.

Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:19-22).

7. Our reservation is in Heaven. You should make your reservation in Heaven by genuinely giving your life to Christ now that you are still on earth. As your name enters the Book of life, your reservation is made. Your name must remain in the Lamb’s Book of Life! You can cause your name to remain in the Lamb’s Book of Life by living a life of holiness and righteousness. 

8. Our rewards are in Heaven. As you get to Heave, two kinds of rewards will be waiting for you: 1) The reward of crowns, and 2) Other rewards.

Though the righteous dead are in conscious bliss, their eternal rewards await the day of divine examination of the quality of their service (1 Cor. 3) on which rewards for Eternity are predicated.I therefore, challenge you to get as many rewards as possible not for you, but so that you can have enough crowns to cast at His feet just to say thank You to Him in worship. Let’s do it like the 24 elders did: cast the crowns at His feet, and just worship Him. 

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit! 

• Your friend, I. I. MADUBUNYI (Head Pastor)