Do We Think that God Even Wants Us in Heaven?

How much do you think that God wants you to be in heaven someday? My name is Rick Bloodworth, this is the Common Sense Christian channel, and it's a Sunday, so we're going to have a sermon today, and that sermon is based on this question, how much do you think God wants you to be in heaven with him? I think a lot of people when they look at the prospects of heaven, they would like to go, but very often they think that maybe God really doesn't want them to be there. A lot of people have a vision in their mind somehow that God is just waiting for them to step out of line so he could squash him like a bug and send him to hell. But let's be honest, if that's the way God was, he would have already done that, wouldn't he? All of us have had plenty of opportunities in our life where we've been so far apart from God that he could have ended our existence right there and sent us to hell, but he didn't do it. Why? Again, I think it has to do with this question, how much do you think God wants you to be in heaven with him someday? When I was a kid, probably about, oh, nine or ten years old, we lived in Seattle, Washington, or just outside of Seattle, and my dad had a secretary that was in the pool of secretaries there who was an older lady. She was nearly retired. Her husband was an executive, and they had a really nice cabin. Can't even call it a cabin. It was a house on the beach, right, right there on the Puget Sound. And, and she offered that house to, to, to our family, I think for just 10 a night, just a cleaning fee. And of course, mom and dad just snapped up that opportunity. And, and for a long time before, We were, we were talking about it. We were looking forward to it discussing how wonderful it was going to be just to go out and, and be in a house on the beach. I can still remember the drive out there. I, I can't remember if we, if we went on a car on, on a ferry and, and to, to where we were going or exactly how we got there. But I can remember along the way we stopped off at an old fashioned type of country store, the type that have the wood boarded floors and several different levels. And I can remember we kids got to choose some different things. Such as comic books and candy that we could that we could get and I still remember doing that very thing. And then when we got to the house on the beach, oh, it was just paradise for a 10 year old boy. We took our dog with us and and I can remember we would just run up and down the beach. We had a secluded spot where we hardly saw any people and I can remember when the tide would go out and that dog would go way out with the tide and just, just look around for things that he could find. And one time he grabbed a little octopus and he carried it back with him as the tide came back in and me being scared to death that that octopus was somehow going to kill him because, you know, how kids are with anything that's different. But, but it was a wonderful thing. We loved the trip. We loved the vacation and our parents were very much excited for us to be on it. They wanted us to be excited too. They wanted us to share in with that. They wouldn't have dreamed of us not going. So, so again, look at it now from this perspective, this question, do you think God wants you to be in heaven with him? And of course the answer is very much We know that God loved the world enough that he allowed his son, Jesus, to die for our sins. That really shows that he has a huge investment in us getting there someday. He's extended his grace to us as well. And he has a plan of salvation that's been designed very carefully. Think about that for a moment. If, if you are designing a plan of salvation, to where your, those you love, your, your family, your close friends and other people that anybody else that you could think of for that matter, but you wanted to make sure that they, they could understand this plan so that they could implement it so that, that by your goodwill, they could someday enjoy an inheritance. That's what God has done, hasn't he? He's extended his grace. We don't deserve it. It's a, it's a favor that is completely without merit on our part. It's extended to everybody. But, but oddly enough, the terms of that are, are often rejected so much so that perhaps the majority of the people will reject his offer of grace and Christ's sacrifice that he made in their, in their place for their sins. But for those who will accept what God has for them through their love for God and their desire to obey him, there is a heaven someday. And he wants very much for us to be here. And he's made the way to heaven very clear. He is, he is no less competent than you would be if you were trying to make sure your loved ones knew what the terms were. If you had some offer of salvation for them. As a matter of fact, God is completely competent. He designed everything exactly right. And part of that design is that we enjoy a peace here on earth as we are obedient to him. And that peace is incredible, and it gives us, I believe, a taste of what heaven will be like someday. In Isaiah chapter 32, this is one of my favorite passages. I know I've used it in other sermons before, but here it is again. Isaiah 32 verse 17 and 18. The fruit of righteousness will be peace. The effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in peaceful dwelling places in secure homes in undisturbed places of rest. Well, this is a pretty magnificent offer, isn't it? Peace, undisturbed places of rest. And he's not just talking about while we're here on earth either, because he says this is forever. The effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. He's talking about eternity, isn't he? He's giving the people in Isaiah's time a glimpse of what heaven will be like. Later in Isaiah, in chapter 48, he's talking to a people who've rejected his terms to be able to access this peace. And then this is what he had the prophet Isaiah say. In Isaiah 48 verse 18, Well, think about that. Your peace would have been like a river. I lived in Casper, Wyoming for about 20 years. Casper's an arid place. It's, it's in the middle of Wyoming. There's a mountain just outside of the town of Casper. And, and so most of our moisture comes from the snowfall in the winter and the runoff from the mountain. But even that's just a little less than 12 inches a year. That's pretty dry if, if you've ever paid attention to moisture amounts, just 12 inches annually. And yet Casper is a town of about 60, 000 people. And it's just as green as can be inside the city limits. How can that be? And the way it can be is that the North Platte River runs through Casper, Wyoming. And so this river, this great river with a, with an unending water supply, just always goes through to where there's always enough water. water in that region for whatever we might be needing. It's true that there were dry times when we lived there and there might be times like where you're at where we might have to ration water a little bit and limit watering our lawns or, or washing our cars in some dry years, but that was rare because that river again was mighty. It carried, oh, I don't know how much gallons of water per day past the city. Now, now God makes the comparison to the peace that's available to us being like a river. The idea is there's an unending, continual supply for those who will take advantage of it. In Romans chapter 15 and verse 13, may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope. By the power of the Holy Spirit. Well, here is a blessing that the apostle Paul is, is, is giving to the people, those who want it. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace. God is a God of hope. Our hope is a, is a confident expectation of heaven, not because we deserve it. We know we do not, not because somehow we've earned it. We know we have not. We're told that it's by grace we've been saved through faith, not by works, lest any man boast. So we know it's not because of what we do, but in that same passage we're told in Romans chapter 2 and verse 10 that we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works. And so we know that we do have work that we're required to do. This is part of the, of the reason that we're referred to as servants, not as masters. We have our part to do, but our part will never be enough. But we have God's grace. His grace is sufficient to fill in that gap. And as long as we will accept God's terms of grace, well, heaven's guaranteed. The reason I'm afraid that, that fewer than God hopes for will, will, will find heaven. is because so few are willing to accept God as being the master and God is calling the shots and being in obedience to any, anybody, including God, or, or being called a servant of anybody, including God. But for those who will accept God's terms, well, He extends peace and grace to them. Just, I'm just going to read a number of verses that talk about peace and grace that are available. And, and I'm going to start in 1st Corinthians, well in Romans chapter 1 and verse 7. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you is what he says. When he writes to the church at Corinth in 1 Corinthians 1 3, grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. and the Lord Jesus Christ. In second Corinthians, grace and peace to you. This is chapter one, verse two from God, our father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In Galatians chapter one, verse three, verse two, or verse three, excuse me, grace and peace to you from God, our father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us. From the present evil age. Ephesians one, two, grace and peace to you from God, our father. Philippians chapter one verse two, grace and peace to you. Colossians one verse two. Grace and peace to you. First Thessalonians to the Church of the Thessalonians. In God, the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you. Second Thessalonians, chapter one verse two. Grace and peace to you. First Timothy one, verse two, grace, mercy, and peace from God, our Father, second Timothy 1 22 to Timothy, my dear son, grace, mercy, and peace to you Titus chapter one, verse four, to Titus my true son in the faith. And then he says this in the common faith, grace and peace from God, the father. Philemon chapter or verse three, grace and peace to you. First Peter chapter one, verse two, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. This is verse one to God's elect strangers in the world who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God through the sanctifying work of the spirit. For obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood, grace and peace be yours in abundance. Second John verse 3, grace, mercy, and peace. Second Peter, chapter 1, verse 2, grace and peace be yours in abundance. Revelation, chapter 1, verse 4, grace and peace to you from him who is and was and is to come. Amen. After you get past the Gospels, over three quarters of the New Testament begin, the books begin with the phrase, grace and peace to you. God wants you to enjoy this life. He knows that you're going to sin and so he's extended his grace to you as an opportunity to come back to him on his terms. But if you will, then there's peace. Now, I do want to point out that this is not just given to you with, with the idea that you can continue in, in a life of sin. In Jude chapter one, he says, It starts off with Jude saying to those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ. Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance. Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men, whose condemnation was written about long ago, have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality. and deny Jesus Christ. Well, think about that. Jude, the brother of Jesus, wanted to write to the people about the salvation that they shared. What a great message that would have been. But he saw what was going on, and so he wanted to warn them, there are people who have secretly slipped in among you who are telling you that grace is a license for sin. And he wanted to make sure they understood that grace has never been intended to allow people to sin. Grace is our ticket back to God, not our ticket to sin. In Romans chapter 6 and verse 1, this is the way Paul put it. What shall we say? Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase? By no means. The King James Version here says, God forbid. Shall we go on sinning? that grace may increase by no means. We died to sin. How can we live in it any longer? And so here we see that this grace and the peace that goes hand in hand with grace have to be received by those who have repented of their sins and who are trying not to sin. Now, we all sin, don't we? Most of us every day. But, but this is the idea that somehow people feel like they're privileged to continue in that sin without penalty. without repentance. And, and so both Jude and, and Paul and other places within the scripture point out that grace is not a license to sin. And, and if we continue in sin, we're going to be lost. But grace is that undeserved mercy. That favor that allows us to come back to God on his terms. But having done that, this life can be really, really fine. Can't it? Before we get to heaven, I heard a story a long time ago. I don't know if it was if it was just an example somebody was using, or if this was an event that actually occurred, but it involved a cruise ship setting a man. got to go on a cruise. He dreamed of going on it. He saved his money to go on it. He purchased his ticket, but he spent all of his money doing so. And so what he did was he packed a suitcase that was just filled with little items like cheese and crackers and, and things like that. And, and so he got to go on the cruise and he got to experience different parts of the world that it only dreamed of seeing before. And he had enjoyed the cruise, but each evening, when everybody else gathered at the dining room for these sumptuous meals, he had to go back to his room and, and exist on, on, on, on cheese and crackers. One of the stewards on, on, on ship one time just made a comment as the, as the cruise was nearly over. He said, you know, I've never seen you in the dining room, don't you eat? And the man confessed, well, yeah, I do, but I didn't have enough money to, to pay for the food. So I brought my own food aboard and the steward just kind of looked at him in wonderment and he said, don't you know that the food was included in the price of your, your cruise ticket? I think there's a lot of Christians who are going through this world like that. We want to get to heaven, but we live such a life of harsh aesthetics. We, sometimes we just think that we just got to work, work, work for God, which we do, and it's a privilege to do that. But, but some, sometimes we feel like it's almost wrong to enjoy the journey. And, and I think part of that is because sometimes we get to thinking that that work is going to earn us. And while again, I want to say that we have our part to do, obedience is required, that, that, that it's God's grace. That's going to allow us to be in heaven someday through Christ's sacrifice. And again, our part is works, but our part is not the part that's going to earn our salvation. The reason you're going to be saved is because what God and Christ have done for you, then you have to have faith in that. Don't you? And you have to have a life of service. But don't go through this life on cheese and crackers when others are feasting in the dining hall. Make sure that you remember to enjoy the abundance that God has for you. And I'm not preaching a gospel of prosperity here. I'm just saying enjoy the blessings that God allows you to enjoy along the way. To me, people go through life with a sour look on their face. They claim to be Christians, but they don't seem to enjoy. The joy they don't seem to appreciate the peace along the way You know, I talk a lot on this channel about some of the problems that we have within this world I think it's important that we look at them with open eyes and and and meet them head on But I also think that we need to understand that this is just temporary And, and that there's so much for us to enjoy in our life right now, including that peace that God will give to us. That's like a river. He wants us to be with him forever, but he also wants us to have joy. and confidence along the way to heaven. Now, it's true that there will be some who will reject his terms and, and, and we have to understand that. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 1, it says this, verse 8, he will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of God. and from the majesty of his power on the day that he comes. Well, there are going to be a lot of people who don't make heaven because they've just refused to obey the gospel of Christ, the good news of Jesus Christ. But for those who have obeyed that, for those who have become Christians, and for those who are doing their very best to walk in the way that God commands them to walk. And who will repent when they fail at doing so. Well, there's heaven, and God doesn't want any of us to miss it. Again, we started with the question, Do you think that God really wants you in heaven? The answer is yes. In Ezekiel chapter 18, verse 20, or verse 30, this is what God had Ezekiel the prophet tell the people who were sinning at that time. He said, House of Israel, I'll judge you. Each according to his ways, declares the sovereign Lord, repent, turn away from all your offenses. Then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourself of all the offenses you've committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. If you've been living in sin, you need to repent and you need to get a new life, don't you? One of the reasons that we're told that when we're baptized, that we raise to walk a newness of life is that. That being born again is a critical part to all Christians. But once you are, have arisen a new, a new creation with a new heart and a new spirit, you need to be living for God. And then look at what he says after that. He said, rid yourself of all the offenses you've committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. And then he said this, why will you die? Oh, house of Israel. For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the sovereign Lord. Repent and live. Well, I realize this is Old Testament times. This is way before he's given the plan of salvation, including our, our requirement to repent and be baptized, but they still had the requirement to repent, but they needed to do that with the understanding that God doesn't want anybody to, to be apart from him. Again, why will you die? I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord. And it's pretty much repeated in the New Testament, 2 Peter chapter 3, in verse 8. Do not forget this one thing, dear friends, with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, a thousand years are like a day. The Lord's not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He's patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. There it is. He doesn't want anyone to perish. Now many will. He goes on to point out the day of the Lord's going to come like a thief and it's going to catch those who are unprepared. But it's not because God has not given them the warning and it's certainly not because God wants them to be separated from Him for all eternity and miss out on heaven. It's just that their choice was to live apart from God in disobedience. And so He gives us time to come back to Him because He does not want any to perish. And there's the answer to the question, do you think God wants you to be with Him in heaven? He didn't want any to perish. And so the answer is a resounding yes. And now. One more passage and we're going to close. And it's a description of what heaven will be like and then a final warning for those who decide to not take God up on his terms of salvation. The Apostle John is giving his vision, his revelation of what heaven is going to look like. The New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 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. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There's a lot of sorrow here, isn't there? That's gonna be gone in heaven. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. A lot of pain. Some of you are in pain. That's going to be gone in heaven. For the old order of things has passed away. He who is seated on the throne said, I'm making everything new. He said, write this down for these words are trustworthy and true. There is going to be a heaven for the faithful. They don't deserve it. But God wants them to be there with him. He said, It is done. I'm the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end. To him who is thirsty, I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. Doesn't that sound appealing? He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. God wants you in heaven. But what about those who reject him, who are refusing to do their small part? Verse 8 of Revelation 21. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the murderers, the sexually immoral. We like to argue with that part, don't we? Those who practice magic arts. The idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. There will be a hell waiting for those who refuse God's terms, but for those who will accept it, he has a life filled with joy and peace, even during unsettled times. And then. The little bit of difficulty that we have experienced here on Earth will be done. There will be no more crying, no more tears, no more death, no more mourning, no more pain. We're going to be with Him in Heaven someday, and what that must be like. Does God want you in Heaven? The answer is absolutely yes. So that only leaves one more question. Are you willing to do your part to accept his terms? That's the message for today. I hope it gives you something to think about. I hope it's a message of encouragement, but that's it for today. I appreciate your listening. Hope that you'll come back next time. But until then, I pray God will richly bless you as you seek to serve him in his way.