Let's Talk About Heaven, Part 1 | The Importance of the Eternal

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Constantly be seeking and thinking about heaven. Imagine sitting down for a fine meal. It may be the finest meal you've ever experienced.

The service is first class. The chef is world-renowned. His culinary creations will leave you speechless. But you can't get your eyes off the shiny silverware. You ignore the food and gaze upon the utensil. Behold the spoon.

Ridiculous. Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points out the folly of being so enamored with the world, we miss eternity. I remember as a little boy, to me, Disneyland was like heaven on earth. I don't feel that way anymore, but I did a long time ago.

And I think it was due in part to my horrible upbringing. And I would watch this show on television called The Wonderful World of Disney. And then when color TV came out, yes I am that old, they changed it to The Wonderful World of Color.

And we were just amazed to watch this on our screen. These programs that Disney would do. But then Walt Disney told us about this park he was building and it was going to be the happiest place on earth. And so when I would visit Disneyland it was like heaven to me. Because I mean I felt it was just such an incredible place. And I was so sad to leave. In fact you know you're a kid when you go to Disneyland and your favorite part is when you arrive. And you know you're an adult when you go to Disneyland because your favorite time is when you leave. Right?

Is that true? So that's how I used to feel about Disneyland. And I think it's just sort of a glimpse of something much greater that is coming. We long for heaven. And the Bible teaches that when a Christian dies they go immediately to heaven. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

So if you have loved ones who have died in faith they are in heaven right now. Do they see us down here? Are they watching us up there? Do they know what we are going through down here? We will talk about that in our next message.

Because those are very important questions. And some of my answers may surprise you a little bit actually. But yes it is true the Bible teaches we will go straight to heaven. So let's talk about heaven. And we are going to turn to Colossians chapter 3. Since then you have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on things above. Where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above. Not unearthly things.

We will stop there. So we are to set our hearts and we are to set our minds on things above. This phrase set your mind can be translated think. Or more thoroughly have this inner disposition.

Let me put it another way. The verse is actually saying simply think heaven. Think heaven.

That is something we are all supposed to do as Christians. And by the way the verb that is used in this verse is in the present tense so it can be translated keep thinking heaven. Or keep thinking about heaven. Or keep seeking heaven.

Put it all together. It is saying constantly be seeking and thinking about heaven. You see our feet must be on earth but our minds and our hearts can be in heaven.

Now back in Colossians 3 Paul starts with the word therefore. Put to death the sinful earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.

Don't be greedy for a greedy person is an idolater worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. Now is the time to get rid of rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other for you've stripped off your old sinful nature and all of its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. Now look whenever you read the word therefore in the Bible find out what it is there for.

In other words when a phrase starts with the word therefore He is drawing on what has been previously said. So again what was previously said? Hey set your mind on heaven. Set your heart on heaven. Think a lot about heaven. So with that in mind therefore and now He tells us about three categories of sin that will keep us earthbound.

Instead of being heavenly minded we are earthbound. Number one if you are taking notes sexual sin can keep you earthbound. Sexual sin. Verse 5 Paul mentions sexual immorality and impurity. The word that he uses is the Greek word porneia. Guess what English word we get from that? How we have normalized the word porn right?

We've normalized the word. Oh she's a porn star. Oh yeah looking at porn we make a joke out of it. You watch sitcoms mainstream sitcoms on television and they joke openly and consistently about looking at porn. We've so normalized it and made it sort of acceptable and the Bible warns us against it. Porneia is a root word that just speaks of all kinds of immorality. It's premarital sex in case you don't know what that is. That's having sex with someone you're not married to. Extramarital sex. That's also having sex with someone you're not married to. All kinds of sex outside of God's natural order.

And so when the word porneia is used it's talking about a person that fills their mind with sexual imagery and talks about it constantly and ultimately acts on it. So the Bible is warning you to not do that. Don't fill your mind with those things. Because if you do it's like you have a fire and you're pouring fuel on your fire. It's dangerous.

And it's one day going to get out of control. And what will happen is a person can only take that stuff in for so long and then they want to start acting on those impulses and get into all kinds of trouble. Do I need to actually say it's a really bad idea to sext someone?

Send a sexual image of yourself via text or Snapchat or something else? These are things that are destructive in your life and are not God's plan for your life. And things that can ultimately destroy your life. And that's why the Bible warned you about these things.

Listen. God invented sex. Sex is amazing. Sex can be blessed but in one place. And that's when you're married to a person in a monogamous relationship.

The end period. There's no exceptions. It's not like people come up to me and say well the Lord spoke to us and said it's cool. No. He didn't say that.

You dreamt that up after you ate too much pizza. God will never contradict His Word. And He says that for your own good.

He says that for your protection. So don't let that dominate your life. Idolatry can keep us earthbound. You won't be heavenly minded if you're worshiping an idol. And He mentions that as well here in Colossians. Don't let idolatry which is greed. An idol is anyone or anything that takes a place of God in your life. And specifically it says to be a greedy person is idolatry.

By the way there's two root words here. To have and more. So what does it mean to be a greedy person? It's someone that wants to have more.

It's a sin of always wanting more. More. More. More. More. It's never enough.

The Bible says hell and destruction is never full and so is the heart of a man never satisfied. And it's not just that I want more. But I want what I have. Now I want what you have. I want yours. I don't just want mine.

I want yours too. That's coveting by the way. That's when the Bible says don't covet your neighbor's wife or their possessions. That's coveting something that does not belong to you. And so this is what this is saying. That's idolatry and it can preoccupy your mind.

Idolatry can keep us earthbound. Pastor Greg Laurie will have the second half of his message in just a moment. We love hearing from our listeners whether it's a short word or they take some time to tell us what's going on with them. Pastor Greg we moved from Montana to Florida about six months ago to help my elderly sister. Although I'm also older with some health problems I'm anxious to be involved in ministry.

After we moved it was hard to find a good church. Your teachings and ministry have helped me. In fact I read your book Johnny Cash the redemption of an American icon and I was so surprised how many of my friends were interested in the singing artist you mentioned in the book especially the Beatles.

One friend asked if she could borrow the book for her nephew who loves all those singers and I gave it freely. Thank you for all you do at Harvest Ministries. If you appreciate the way the Lord is using Harvest Ministries to reach unexpected people in unexpected places with an unexpected message would you let Pastor Greg know? Just drop them an email greg at harvest dot org. Again that's greg at harvest dot o-r-g. Well today on A New Beginning we're considering those things that distract us from keeping our eyes on our eternal reward.

Pastor Greg continues his message let's talk about heaven one of the most requested studies of the year. And then thirdly rage slander and dirty language keep us earthbound. Verse eight rage malicious behavior slander and dirty language. By the way the word rage here speaks of a settled and habitual anger with a thought of revenge.

This is the person who has the bumper sticker on their car. I don't get mad. I get even. Don't cut that person off.

Just give them wide berth right on the road because that and they have gun racks in the back of their car and Smith and Wesson bumper stickers and you know. So you know you don't want to mess with that person because there are people out there that are just waiting to get angry about something. Malicious behavior speaks of a boiling agitation of your feelings.

A sudden and violent anger. Don't be that person. Slander speaks of speaking ill of others. Man people slander so much especially online because you can do it anonymously right.

You don't have to face the person. You can take on a different name and say complete lies about a person and destroy a person's reputation. Spread gossip about a person. Even the word gossip kisses like a snake. Have you ever noticed that? It's gossip.

And there is something very appealing about it. I just heard something. And I don't know if it is true. But I just wanted to share it with you so you can pray.

So you can pray. Wait. You just heard something. You don't know if it is true. And you are going to share it about someone.

And I know it is going to be critical or demeaning or degrading. So why would I share something about someone that I don't know is true that can hurt that person. And what if that person is standing over there right now.

Here is a thought. Walk over to them and say I heard the craziest thing. I know it is not true.

And they can tell you the truth. But see we will embrace these things and internalize these things and even worse spread these things. Spread these things.

Don't let that happen to you. These are not the things a Christian should be doing. Especially a heavenly minded one.

Listen. If you have put your faith in Christ you are a child of God. You are a citizen of heaven and it is time to start living like what? A child of God. And we are not known for slander. We are known for love. We are not known for condemnation.

We are known for forgiveness and restoration. That is who you want to be. You want to be that guy. That girl that people go to and say you are always fair minded about these things. You are always compassionate. You are always caring.

Don't be known as that mean spirited judgmental harsh person. But be a heavenly minded person. And may we begin like never before to think about and seek heaven.

Because you know what the great thing is? Is when you are focused on heaven you will live the most fulfilling life on earth. To quote C.S. Lewis one last time he said, Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you will get neither. End quote.

That is true. Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in. So the idea is I am so focused on heaven that I am living the fullest life on earth. But some people I don't want to think about the afterlife. I want to just get the most out of this life. And you end up not living a full life on this earth and then you end up not being prepared for the afterlife. So how can you know for sure that you will get to heaven? Some people would say well live a good life.

Ok that is not true but let's just say it is true for the sake of a point. Live a good life. How good? Well as good as I choose to live. Oh I see. So you are making the rules.

Well of course I am. Well that is not the way it works. Because even if you were to live a good life and granted some people live better lives than others I will admit. It is still not good enough to get you to heaven because one sins enough to keep you out. The Bible says if you have been in one part of the law you are guilty of all of it. So if you have ever sinned at any time in your life that is enough sin to keep you out of heaven. You go well that is pretty harsh.

Yeah that is. That is why there is only one way to get to heaven. And it is through Jesus who died on the cross for our sin and paid the price for our sin and rose again and now He offers us this gift of eternal life. Years ago I was given I think I can't remember three or four tickets to Disneyland. And so we went into the park. It was very nice because it is very expensive. What is it like $5000 a ticket.

Now I am not sure. It is really a lot. And that is just one park.

Not both sides right. And so I had these tickets. We got in.

We are starting to have a good time. And I felt guilty because one of the people didn't show up and I had a free ticket to Disneyland. And I thought I can't walk around with a free ticket to Disneyland. What if there is somebody outside that would love to come in and they can't afford it and I can give them this ticket. And I said to my wife I will be back in like literally four minutes.

How long is it going to take me to get rid of a free ticket to Disneyland. I came back like 30 minutes later. She said what happened to you.

I said I couldn't get anyone to take it. Because I walked up to strangers. Hi would you like a free ticket to Disneyland.

They started like backing away. What is this. Is this a cult. No it is a free ticket. You want it. No I don't want it.

Okay. Hey would you like a free ticket to Disneyland. What is the catch.

There is no catch here. I want to give it to you. I just have an extra. The pertinent.

No one would take it. I finally had to assault a person. No I didn't but I finally found someone that said oh thanks. Well you are welcome.

And I just lost a half an hour of my time in Disneyland. And that is how it is when we offer this gift. You can go to heaven by believing in Jesus. No it is good works. No it is not good works.

It is His work on the cross. Now you just accept it. What is the catch. Well I don't know what the catch is. I am just telling you it is a gift.

You can never afford it so why don't you just take it. The gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. And then you can know you will go to heaven.

So look. Do you know right now that if you died you would go to heaven. If you don't don't you want to get that resolved. Why would you want to go on for another minute without being sure you are prepared for the afterlife. So we are going to pray in a moment. I am going to extend an invitation in closing for you to ask Christ to come into your life and forgive you of all of your sins so you can know you will go to heaven when you die. If you don't know this for sure respond to this invitation because 2000 years ago God sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross on our place and to pay the price for all the wrongs we have done.

All the sins we have committed. And three days later He rose again from the dead. And here He is now alive with us in this place standing at the door of your life and knocking. And He says if you will hear My voice and open the door I will come in.

If you have never asked Him to come into your life do it now. Let's all bow our heads. Father thank you now for your word to us. Thank you for sending Jesus.

Lord Jesus thank you for coming and laying your life down for us. Now we pray for any here that do not yet know you. Help them to come to you.

Help them to believe in you. Help them to receive the hope of heaven we would ask. In Jesus name I pray.

Amen. Pastor Greg Laurie with an important prayer. And if you'd like to make a change today in your relationship with the Lord Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment before today's edition of A New Beginning concludes. Have you contacted us for a copy of Pastor Greg's new book As It Is in Heaven? It's full of great insight on the afterlife and what's waiting for us in eternity. Pastor Greg to what extent do our loved ones in heaven know what's going on with all of us down here on earth? Yeah that's an excellent question. It's one I've studied very carefully because my son Christopher who has been in heaven now for many years I wonder is he aware of anything that's happening down here on earth?

Now one answer people will give is no. They know nothing about what's going on on earth. I don't think that's completely accurate actually. I do believe that people in heaven are aware of some things happening on earth. Example Jesus said there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels over one sinner that comes to repentance. That means that when someone comes to Christ on earth there's rejoicing in heaven.

So that shows a heaven earth connection. Wouldn't it be interesting if maybe we found out that someone we'd shared the gospel with came to Christ after we'd gone on to heaven and there was that victory shout and glory and and we realized that was a result of something we'd done. Also you know there are rewards given out in heaven. Rewards for faithfulness or rewards for obedience.

Rewards for resisting temptation. What do you think you're going to have a complete brain wipe when you get to heaven? If you're giving a reward in heaven for something you faithfully did on earth obviously you remember something about the life before. But do people in heaven know what's going on down here?

They may. In the book of Revelation we read of believers who were martyred for their faith and when they get to heaven they say how long O Lord holy and true until you judge and avenge our blood on those that dwell on the earth. So these believers are aware of the passing of time because they say how long O Lord. They're aware of people still on earth that have sort of gotten away with this and they're wondering when God's judgment will be meted out to those people. So there are these connections you see. Now I don't know if they're following our every movement. I'm sure they have other things to do like worship the Lord and enjoy all the glories and and treasures and pleasures of heaven.

But having said that I do think there is some connection and they are aware of some things. So I've written about that a whole lot more in this book called As It Is in Heaven. It's a book that answers your questions about the afterlife. Questions like what is heaven? Where is heaven?

Why is there a heaven? What will I do when I get to heaven? Will I eat in heaven? Will I see people in heaven?

Will we recognize one another in heaven? I deal with this and a whole lot more in this book As It Is in Heaven and I would love to send it to you so you can learn more about your future destination. That is if you put your faith in Jesus Christ and so for your gift of any size this month that you said I will rush you your own copy of As It Is in Heaven so you can learn more about the afterlife that will enable you to live a godly life now.

Yeah that's right and it'll help prepare you to answer questions unbelievers may ask or questions your kids or grandkids ask. So get in touch for the book As It Is in Heaven. We'll send it to thank you for your investment in the work we do here sharing the gospel each and every day. Our phone number is 1-800-821-3300.

You can reach us anytime 1-800-821-3300 or just go online to harvest.org. And by the way, Pastor Greg talks more about what's waiting for us in the afterlife in a new podcast available right now at harvest.org and on the Harvest Plus app. Look for the title As It Is in Heaven a new podcast at harvest.org the Harvest Plus app and on other podcast apps. And then Pastor Greg just before we go would you mind praying with the person listening who wants to make a change today in their relationship with the Lord?

I'd be happy to Dave. You know as you've been listening to this today maybe you've heard another voice by that I mean yeah you heard me say a few things but you heard God's voice speak to you deep in the recesses of your heart and it suddenly dawned on you this is what I need or to state it more accurately this is who I need. I need Jesus and I want Jesus but maybe you don't know how to make that connection. Let me help you pray this after me right now if you want Jesus Christ to come into your life. Lord Jesus I know I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sin and I need your forgiveness right now. Would you come into my heart my life as Savior as God as friend I choose to follow you from this moment forward. Thank you for calling me and accepting me and forgiving me in Jesus name I pray.

Amen. I know there was a relatively short prayer maybe you felt something as you prayed it maybe you felt nothing that doesn't really matter because God's word says these things we write to you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life it doesn't say so you may think you have it or you may hope you have it if God's in a good mood no that you can know it and I want you to know if you pray that prayer in minute Jesus Christ the Son of God has come into your life so congratulations you're now a Christian now continue to follow the Lord. Yeah and to help you we'd like to send some resource materials your way foremost among them is Pastor Greg's New Believers Bible in a very easy translation to understand it'll answer many of the questions you might have and get you started off right in your new relationship with the Lord so get in touch and ask for it we'll send it free of charge again it's the New Believers Bible the fastest way to connect with us is to go to harvest.org and click know God or call us anytime at 1-800-821-3300 that's 1-800-821-3300. Hey everybody I want to encourage you to check out the new Harvest Plus app it's on Roku, Apple TV and Google Play among others and you can stream incredible content on all major platforms for free you're going to find live events our evangelistic films like A Rush of Hope, Johnny Cash The Redemption of an American Icon, Steve McQueen The Salvation of an American Icon and our newest film Fame plus our tv programs our podcast Harvest at Home and a lot more stream it all on any device for free using the new Harvest Plus app. Well next time as this best of message continues we'll focus on the bodies we'll have in the hereafter how different will they be we'll find out next time join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie. A New Beginning is a podcast made possible by Harvest Partners helping people everywhere know God. If this show has impacted your life share your story leave a review on your favorite podcast app and help others find hope.