Listen to the sermon here: http://sermon.net/fumcoutofthebox/sermonid/1199972690
THE END—2
YOUR END
Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Rev 22:12-13
If you are new to Christianity, let me make something real clear, we are not qualified for heaven based on how good we are. We are all sinners and the only way we are made right with God is by the free gift of grace.
BUT
For those of us who are Christians, the way you live your life, the way we live our lives does determine how we are REWARDED in heaven.
Let me say that again, for those who are Christians, the way you live your life on earth determines the way you are rewarded in heaven.
- JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:10
What is the JUDGEMENT SEAT of Christ?
The Greek work translated “Judgment Seat” is Bema.
The Bema seat is not the seat where a Judge sat to issue a guilty or innocent verdict. The Bema seat is where the Judge would sit to issue rewards in the Greek Games.
When the Runners would run a race the Judge would sit at the Bema Seat to AWARD the Winner.
There are 5 Crowns listen in Scripture that we can be Awarded with.
- Incorruptible Crown (Run a Faithful Race) 1 Cor. 9:24-27
- Crown of Rejoicing (Share their Faith) 1 Thes. 2:19-20
- Crown of Righteousness (Love His Returning) 2 Tim. 4:8
- Crown of Glory (Faithful Pastors) 1 Peter 5:2-5
- Crown of Life (Those who Suffer) James 1:12
We will not be Rewarded so that we can BRAG! God knows us WELL!
Ephesians 2:8-9 (CEV)
8 You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. 9 It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.
WHAT WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE?
1) GOD WILL ESTABLISH A NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… Rev. 21:1
Why would God Establish a NEW EARTH?
Because this is where we are going to live and if this is where Heaven is and this is where we are going to live for eternity then what do you think heaven is going to be like?
Do you like to SWIM? We are going to swim in heaven!
Do you like to EAT? We are going to get to eat in heaven!
Do you like to spend time with your family? We are going to spend eternity with them!
Do you like ANIMALS? I believe we will spend eternity with the SAME animals here on the new earth that we loved so much in this lifetime. (That is a whole other sermon but I believe scripture plays it out.)
Do you like to REST? We are going to REST in heaven!
Heaven forbid, do you like to drink WINE? There is going to be a feast prepared in heaven of aged wine!
Do you like to WORSHIP God? We are going to gather with people from every tribe, every tongue, every nation, to worship our GOD! Can you imagine that?
DO you like the CHANGING SEASONS, Spring, Summer, Winter, and Fall? You will still experience them in heaven. We are going to be living on the renewed earth where fruit trees are growing. Rain falls now to water the plants, it will then too.
To understand heaven we have to stop looking up into the clouds and trying to imagine what in the world God could be planning, matter of fact, the bible says Jesus has been away for 2,000 years preparing the place we will spend ETERNITY.
We can IMAGINE what HEAVEN is going to be like by looking at the EARTH where we now LIVE and IMAGINING what this EARTH will be like when there is no more SIN, NO more DEATH, NO more DISEASE. No More FEAR!
Heaven is going to be anything BUT boring. But this is only the beginning. No eye has seen—no ear has heard.
2) YOU WILL NEVER SUFFER AGAIN.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Rev 21:4-5
Pain, Fear, Worry, Stress, Hunger, Sickness, Heartache, Loneliness.
War, aids, famines, genocide, hurricanes, earthquakes
3) YOU WILL LIVE WITH GOD FOREVER.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. Rev 21:3
Most believe heaven is the default place—it’s not.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matt 7:13-14
THE FINAL JUDGMENT
- THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT.
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books…15 If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 20:11-12, 15
