Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Introduction: I know that I am saved. I know that I am going to heaven. I’m not WORKING to get there; I’m TRUSTING Christ, His death for my sins, His burial, and His resurrection, to get me there. If I had my desires, or as we might say in the country, “If I had my ‘druthers’,” I would like to go to heaven as soon as he permits it. As a matter of fact, I would like to go TODAY.
Paul said, Philippians 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
1. For I am in a strait betwixt two, im hemmed in
2. having a desire to depart, old compound verb, to unloose (as threads), to break up, to break up camp, to pull the anchor and put out to sea, to depart, to take the tent down
3. and to be with Christ; which is far better:
(1.) It was his strong love for Christ; his anxious wish to be with him; his firm belief that in his presence was “fulness of joy.”
(2.) Paul believed that the soul of the Christian would be immediately with the Saviour at death. It was his expectation that he would at once pass to his presence,
(3.) The soul does not sleep at death. Paul expected to be with Christ, and to be conscious of the fact–to see him, and to partake of his glory.
(4.) The soul of the believer is made happy at death. To be with Christ is synonymous with being in heaven, for Christ is in heaven, DO YOU HAVE A DESIRE TO GO?
I. THE SETTING WILL BE PURE IN HEAVEN John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house 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.
A. There will be no drug traffic in heaven
B. There will be no daily temptations in heaven No wicked people enticing you to do wrong No bad music No filthy billboards, magazines, etc.
C. There will be no drunkenness in heaven
No Miller Brewery, like we have here
No Viking distillery, like we have here
No beer and wine in the grocery stores or department stores
II. THE SORROWS WILL BE PAST IN HEAVEN Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun? 23 For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
A. There will be no more disease
B. There will be no more death
C. There will be no more division
D. There will be no more disappointments
III. THE SAVIOR WILL BE PRESENT IN HEAVEN John 14:3 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.
A. We will look upon HIS countenance
B. We will listen to HIS conversation When we get to heaven we can talk to the Old Testament prophets, the New Testament apostles, Billy Sunday, D.L. Moody, Lester Roloff, or anyone else, but the GREATEST blessing will be to talk to the Lord Jesus Christ, sit at HIS feet, and hear HIS voice!
C. We will lean upon HIS chest
As did the apostle John
For closeness
For comfort
Are you going to heaven?
Do you want to go to heaven this year?
If you were to die today, would you go to heaven?
Jesus made the way to heaven available, when He died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. He bore our sins in His own body on the cross. He became sin for us. He became a curse for us. He paid our penalty. He paid our debt. Now salvation is offered as a free gift. Accept the gift today by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, for it is written:
Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
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