The Real Heaven - A New Home For The New You, Part 1

Jesus promised us that he was going to prepare a place for us.

Those who are his followers have that guarantee. Did you ever wonder what it's going to look like? Well, today we're going to take a tour of that place, a specific concrete picture of exactly what heaven is really going to be like. It just might blow your mind.

Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. We are a discipleship-driven ministry on a mission to encourage Christians everywhere to live like Christians. Thanks for joining us as we near the end of our series, The Real Heaven. For these last three programs, as Chip just teased, we'll learn some more details about heaven from the book of Revelation, like what will we experience, what will we see, and what will we do? Well, if you're ready to have those questions answered, get your Bibles ready as we join Chip with his talk, A New Home for the New You.

Perhaps one of the most classic movies of all time, Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz, and there's a scene that I bet when I start it you can join with me. There's chaos everywhere. Dorothy is going to get to go someplace special, and she's clicking her heels and repeating, there's no place like home. There's no place like home. There's no place like home. Remember that?

And then, you know, all the stuff happens with the limited technical graphics they had in those days. But yeah, I got to tell you, Dorothy's right. There is no place like home. I mean, there's no place like your home. Home is where you belong. Home is where you thrive. Home is where you can just totally be yourself.

Your home is designed with your personality and your taste, the kind of furniture, the kind of drapes, the people you love the most. And that old hymn writer was really, really correct, who said, this world is not our home. And that raises a very interesting question. In fact, a series of questions. If this world is not our home, and if heaven is our home, what's it really going to be like?

How do you prepare for it? And so open your notes, if you will. Let's talk about some of the questions we've started to ask and answer, and we're going to really dive deep into these today. Question number one is, will heaven be an actual place? I mean, you hear people talk about, well, maybe it's a state of mind, or you kind of float around. Second question is, what will we look like in heaven? Like if you die when you're 10, we'd be like a 10-year-old forever. Or like if you die when you're 97, it might be like, well, that's a pretty nice place, but you know. St. Thomas Aquinas actually believed that everyone will be 33 years old because that's when Jesus died.

He may be right, I don't know. Third question is, will heaven be boring? I mean, it's a long time. Or if it's not boring, like what will we do for all eternity?

I mean, forever, ever. Will there animals be in heaven? Some of you are really concerned about your dogs and your cats and a couple horses. I've had people say, look, I got a couple questions. I got to talk to you about this. And you know what?

You actually might be surprised. I'm not sure about your particular dog or cat, but pretty rest assured, animals are going to be where we are. Where will you live in heaven?

I mean, like is it mansions, condos, apartments, huts? And then finally, who gets to go to heaven and why? And so what I want to let you know is this is a really big topic and we've only spent a short amount of time. The two books I would recommend, I hope that this is sort of whet your appetite. Randy Alcorn, probably the most exhaustive book on heaven. He read 140 books in preparation for writing this. And every question you've ever thought about heaven and probably 25 more, at least I thought, hmm, never thought of that, really good resource. And there's times where he kind of makes conjectures, but at least he tells you.

He says, I don't know this for sure, but. And then on the exegetical kind of, if you really wanted to dig into a couple of the core passages, The Glory of Heaven by John MacArthur, also good resource. Here's what you need to understand about heaven. It's the abode of God. So at the heart of everything about heaven, it's where God is. The second thing you need to understand is that God made us for himself. He loves us.

He wants to be with us. And just like there are different environments for different species, if you will, some only can thrive in the desert. Some can only thrive in a rain forest. God made mankind and he made us to thrive in a place called the earth. And so what you see is when you really study heaven and what the scripture says carefully is there's like three eras of mankind in relationship to God. And they all have something to do with the earth.

I put a little chart. Notice your notes. There's the first earth or Eden, the garden, the very first perfect world or environment. It says God visits man. Heaven is above, but the pre-incarnate Christ, I believe, came and walked in the cool of the day and talked with our original parents. It was a perfect environment. There were trees and fruit and animals and there was beauty and it was breathtaking. There was absolutely no sin.

No one had made any mistakes. There was complete vulnerability, transparency, and love between God and mankind and people for one another. That's the first two chapters of the Bible. Chapter three begins with what's called the fall or we rebel. There's a coup against God.

We want our own way and it's been passed on. So chapter three all the way to Revelation 20, sin enters in and because of sin, death. And then it not only impacts the human being, but it impacts the creation. Romans eight says the whole creation groans, longing to be restored.

And so tornadoes and tsunamis and earthquakes, all the kind of things that were never a part of the perfect environment with the fall of man and sin entering impacts not only us and our relationships with God, each other, but the creation. In this window of time, there's the intermediate state as theologians call it or heaven where God abode is right now. And what we know is during the season, God rescued mankind. The second person of the Godhead Jesus came to earth, was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, demonstrated what the father is like, and then he died upon a cross to pay for or cover sin, to break the curse, rose from the dead the third day, and then for a period of about 40 days before 500 very eyewitnesses in a resurrected body told them what the future would be like and he was their hope.

For whosoever would believe would trust in the free gift. So you have a first earth, you have a fallen earth, and then you actually have a future earth or a new earth and a new heaven. Revelation chapter 21 and 22. It's what we're going to look at is we're going to actually learn that heaven is going to come down on a new earth that God creates so that God can be with us and we will thrive yet again like that first earth. So with that as the backdrop, I want to talk about what it's actually going to be like when heaven will be on earth.

And that's not a misprint. In your notes where it says what will heaven be like on the new earth, circle that real big word heaven. I didn't purposefully write what will life be like on the new earth because we will learn what life's going to be like but what you're going to learn is the new Jerusalem, heaven, new heaven is actually going to come down on a new earth and we're going to see what this new earth is like and what our experience will be. To answer that question what will heaven be like on the new earth, there's three what I'll call truth statements from Scripture.

Truth statement number one is it will be a lot like the new me, circle new if you will. And what I mean by that is that something happens to you before you make it to this new earth in the future and the earth will be a lot like the new you. A resurrected body is what you're going to experience. When you die, the very end of time, there'll be a full resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked and followers of Christ will have a resurrected body. Open your Bibles if you will to 1 Corinthians 15. I just want you to look at a couple verses here. 1 Corinthians 15 and the Apostle Paul is talking about the resurrection and the issue comes up is it true and if so what's it going to be like and if it is true and it is so then what kind of bodies will we have? And so you pick it up in verse 35 and he's giving a defense of the resurrection. He says but someone may ask how are the dead raised?

And here's the question with what kind of body will they come? And then he goes into this explanation where he looks at nature and he goes look when seeds go in the ground something that comes out of the ground isn't like the seed. So you in other words our physical bodies die and his argument will be just like in nature you'll have a different kind of body.

The word Adam in Hebrew is Adam for ground. The first Adam our forefather had a physical body and then the last Adam is Christ and he came he brought eternal life and so what he's gonna his whole argument about the resurrection is going to be the first Adam will die and we all had a physical body. Christ when we're united with him when we're resurrected we will have a resurrection body that's just like Christ. So you remember when he walked on the earth after his resurrection he had a meal he ate fish he drank he said the next time we're gonna drink this is we're gonna do it in the kingdom. He had some capabilities that were quite different in terms of he was in this place then he was in this place but it was real it was physical it was concrete he wasn't floating around he wasn't a ghost he wasn't a spirit here's all I want you to get. What this new place on this future earth is going to be like is just as your body will be transformed and resurrected into something new but not completely foreign or different you will look like you. Jesus and his resurrected body could be recognized he actually actually to this day in heaven at the right hand of the Father you can see where his hands are you can see where he's been pierced.

So it's not like so different that it's weird it's familiar but it's new. Now that's exactly what's gonna happen the Bible says that just as that happens to our physical bodies the same thing happens the earth will be restored. The earth will be restored. You're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram. Before we hear the rest of Chip's message let me remind you that we are a listener supported ministry. Your regular gifts help us create programs like this one develop new resources and encourage pastors globally. Prayerfully consider becoming a monthly partner today then go to livingontheedge.org to give a gift.

Thanks so much for your support. Well here again is Chip. Sometimes when you think this thought of a new heaven or new earth if you're like me at least it sounds kind of foreign because it's not been taught much in the church. In fact one of the things about Randy Alcorn's book he read 140 books and he said we've gone like a hundred years and not talked a lot about certain parts of what the Bible is really clear about. We've sort of got this idea that people float around and you know they sing with angels and they play harps all the time and he said really the Bible all the way back 700 years before the time of Christ a prophet named Isaiah prophesied in advance that God in the final day would make a new heaven and a new earth. Isaiah 65 17 follow along as I read he says for behold I create new heavens and a new earth and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. So 700 years before Jesus is even born there's this prediction that the very end of time this will occur. Well then the question during Jesus time he dies he's resurrected and the disciples are out preaching and teaching of this heaven and this hope and it's a very difficult world and they begin to say well when's he gonna come and Peter says he's not slow he's patient because he wants everyone to be there and then people are arguing and saying oh you know I don't know if he's ever really gonna come and so in the context Peter says that's the way they thought in the time of Noah and there was a flood and there was a destruction and then Peter explains this is what's going to happen and how it's going to happen before there is a new heaven and a new earth. Follow along 2nd Peter chapter 3 verses 9 through 13 he says the Lord is not slow about his promise of some counts slowness but is patient towards you not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Can you just hear something? That is God's heart. God's heart is that every person that has life and breath on the face of the earth would understand there's a free gift available and would repent or have a change of mind and receive that gift and then he goes on to say that's why it's slow but the day of the Lord that final day will come like a thief so you don't know when it's gonna happen in which the heavens will pass away how with a roar with the elements that will be destroyed with an intense heat and the earth and its works will be burned up and then the application since all these things are to be destroyed in this way what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness in other words if you really got and understood that this world and the stuff of this world and some of the agenda this world is gonna be gone you might think about how you would live differently kind of every day and then he says looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning the elements will melt with intense heat but according to his promise we are looking forward notice again to new heavens and a new earth and notice the characteristic where righteousness dwells one Bible dictionary describes if you just looked up you know Bible dictionary new heaven new earth I mean that's phrases in Isaiah it's in Peter and it's also in Revelation and they summarize the new heaven a new earth is a way to refer to the new creation that will come about at the end of time the theme of the restoration and the recreation of the world is a central aspect of Christian hope so this isn't some little thing this is a thread that goes from the beginning all the way through finally they say the concept of restoration means something or someone is returned to its original state through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ his birth his humanity eventually and then his resurrection all things will be restored so here's all I want you to get there's a coming day there's a new heaven there's a new earth it's going to be a lot like the new you you're going to be a new person resurrected in a resurrection body and this earth is going to be restored the second truth statement is that it will be a lot like the first earth in other words if it was perfect the future earth it's going to be a lot like the first earth can you like let your mind go back and think of what would it be like to live here I mean this is heaven this is for real this is where every follower of Christ is going to end up forever and ever and ever and I don't know about you I want to sing I want to worship I do not want to play the harp I do not want to float around I do not want to sip iced tea and I do not want to be bored and the Bible doesn't teach any of that but what it teaches is what our first parents experienced is in a perfect environment there's a tree of life there's rivers there's fruit there's food there's animals there's harmony there's peace there's there's beauty that's breathtaking there's no death there's no shame there's no curse no sin no sorrow no pain no divorce no betrayal no struggle meaningful work to accomplish Adam didn't wasn't created and said okay you know I think I'll just you know next few thousand years ought to be a lot of fun Adam rule II he had an agenda be creative be a co-creator God has plans for us meaningful work to accomplish an intimacy with God God's creation of man on the earth before there was sin was a real place it was tangible it was concrete he ate he worked he talked he played he made love with his wife he had walks with the God of the universe he saw beauty he felt absolutely encompassed and loved he had no concept of sin he he had this environment before him that was pristine and beautiful and he was in charge of making and creating and expanding his territory and his reign and rule with the mind and the heart that I would imagine before sin was a lot smarter than all of us and a lot more creative see if you want a little parallel think about those three categories first earth as man was so was the earth innocent innocent pure pure as man is currently fallen so is the earth it's fallen it's messed up it's polluted as man will be so will be the earth so the Bible teaches that's the summary this is Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram and you've been listening to part one of chips message a new home for the new you from our series the real heaven Chip will be back shortly to share some helpful application for us to think about have you ever sat down and thought about heaven what will it be like to have a new body to reunite with a loved one and finally be in the very presence of God well the fact is many Christians aren't excited enough about heaven which shows just how little we understand it in this seven part series Chip opens our eyes to what God tells us about our eternal resting place the unimaginable beauty the fulfilling relationships and the activities will do there he'll also correct the faulty views of heaven and explain why we should be enthusiastic about eternity you're not going to want to miss a single part of this series well before we go any further chips with me in studio to share a quick word Chip thanks so much Dave I'll be back with some application to today's teaching but if you're listening to this program and you or someone you know is being blessed I mean God is using it in your life I like to ask you to really pray about partnering with Living on the Edge your financial investment allows us to equip Christians here in the United States all across the world to really live like Christians because of your donations we create materials we get God's Word to leaders and we take the Bible to the people in ways that help them grow and transform their families and communities so here's my request would you help us reach the hurting people in the u.s. and around the world help us to be a catalyst for change so that Christians everywhere can live more like Christians it makes a huge difference and thanks in advance for whatever God leads you to do well as you prayerfully consider your role with this ministry I want to remind you that every gift is significant no matter the amount when you partner with Living on the Edge you support and multiply the ministry work we're doing all over the globe set up your monthly gift today by going to Living on the Edge org or by calling triple 8 3 3 3 6 0 0 3 that's triple 8 3 3 3 6 0 0 3 or visit Living on the Edge dot org that listeners tap donate well here again is chip to share a few final thoughts for us to think about well as we wrap up today's program I just have this little thing inside of me that if we could sit down across the table and have a cup of coffee and I would ask one question so hey what do you think I mean do you ever think about heaven like that that's right out of the Bible did you ever think if you write songs that you know what there's a lot of songs left in you or if you're an architect that you really do need to design some buildings or if you have the gift of leadership there's gonna be actual real people and real organizations and real culture and I mean it really is amazing isn't it it's not some mystical place there is a new heaven there's a new earth and that earth will have all kind of things like like people and culture and music and animals and buildings and cities and relationships God has something very wonderful I mean more infinitely wonderful than you can ever think or imagine and then here's where it gets down to today the choices that you and I make today have a direct correlation to some of the experience that will have forever and ever and ever and the reason the Bible talks so much about heaven and is so clear about what it's going to be like is that it needs to inform you know how I work today it needs to inform how I love my wife or my husband today or the kind of parent I'm gonna be or the kind of single person who says yeah I get what's happening in the world but I'm gonna be pure it's priorities about what I do with my time and what I do with my money and this not about aughts and shoulds and trying to you know be earning God's favor this is about understanding grace and living the kind of life that grace produces and realizing the goodness of God is infinitely immeasurably beyond what you could ever dream or think but you have a glimpse of it here in these passages so that you can give your life to what matters most so you can receive what God wants to give you the most forever and ever and ever Wow great wordship thanks as we close if you're looking for a way to get more out of this insightful series let me encourage you to download the message notes this helpful tool is available for every program they include a clear outline all the scripture references and lots of fill-ins to help you remember what you're hearing you can get them at Living on the Edge org under the broadcasts tab at listeners tap fill in notes well thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge with chip Ingram next time we'll continue chip series the real heaven I'm Dave Drewey and I hope you'll join us then