2015.2.8 礼拝

174th Life Church Service
LC Message–John 14:1-11–where I am you will Be
Kids’ Message: Heaven. What’s it like? How long will it last? Forever.
Which should concern ourselves more: short term Earth or forever Heaven?
It is where we will be with God forever. That’s the most important point about heaven. It is the one thing is often left out of pictures of heaven, but it is the BEST part of heaven. We know God face to face.
In the opposite what is the scariest thing about hell? God is not there. More than the fire etc, the absence of God is the worst thing about hell. No God. No hope.
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We often want to complete our “bucket list” before we die. That’s because we still think this earth holds the best for us or some even believe it holds everything for us. The thought process is to get all you can before it is gone.
Is that true? How would you spend this week if you knew it was your last? Actually, if we knew that we probably would not be all that happy because we would realize that we have no future.
How important is it to have the hope of the future? Very important. That’s one of the reasons that people who win the lottery etc usually turn out very sad people.
It is very important to see things from the perspective of HEAVEN.
1. My Home is in HEAVEN not on this Earth.
John 14:1-2: The Way to the Father – ​“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you.
2. The absolute thing about HEAVEN is the presence of Christ. Heaven is heaven because of the eternal presence of God. Also, the absence of evil.
John 14:3 – If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.
It is not the religion of Christianity that will be in heaven BUT the person, Jesus Christ. Without Him it is not heaven.
3. The promise of Heaven gives us patience and endurance for life on this Earth.
2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:1 – Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction, is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Our Future after Death – ​For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling, is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands
The important thing is to have a heavenly perspective. There is more than just this life. Invest in the eternal. You can’t take anything with you from this earth.