Title: A Heavenly Invitation
Bible Book: Matthew 25 : 31-34
Author: Johnny L. Sanders
Subject: Heaven
Objective:
INTRODUCTION
In this series on Heaven, I have tried to answer specific questions some members have asked about Heaven. One question was, what happened to the Old Testament saints when they died. The answer is that their earthly body was subjected to the same decay as any body at any time. But when that Old Testament saint died, he was taken immediately to Heaven. Then, as now, to be absent from the body was to be present with the Lord.
Rather than answer another question about Heaven at this time, I would like to share a thought with you. There are some who wonder how we can be so happy in Heaven when there is a hell for those who are not in receive Jesus Christ. No doubt, there are some who will “feel” that is not fair. My answer is: Heaven is not fair! Hell is fair. I repeat, Heaven is not fair. But hell is. No one deserves to go to Heaven, but all deserve to go to hell. “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound!” It is by the grace of God that we are invited to enter His Heaven.
There are invitations we really appreciate. Those are the invitations by people we love or respect, and invitations to events or functions on which we place great value. In this world there are also some invitations we had just as soon do without. But there are two invitations that surpass all others. First, of course, there is the invitation to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and enter into His eternal Kingdom. Then there is the invitation every Christian will hear when he closes his eyes in death and opens them in Heaven - “Come ye blessed of My Father.” The second invitation is only extended to those who have accepted the first. You do not want to miss out on the second by refusing the first.
I. THERE IS THE HEAVENLY INVITATION, MATT. 25:34.
A. The Son of Man Shall Come in His Glory.
He will sit on the throne of glory. The nations will be gathered before Him for judgment. He will separate the sheep from the goats.
B. The King Shall Extend a Regal Invitation, vs. 34, 46.
The invitation is for the sheep only. The goats shall go away into everlasting punishment, 46a. The sheep will be separated for life eternal.
C. Now Consider the Various aspects of This Invitation.
First, there is the One Who Extends the invitation (Luke 13:24).
Second, there are those who receive the invitation (Rev. 22:17).
Third, there is that to which they are invited.
II. CONSIDER NOW THE PLACE TO WHICH WE ARE INVITED.
A. First, Answering Another Question, There Is the Direction of Heaven.
The Holy Spirit descended from Heaven, Matt. 3:16. Jesus ascended into Heaven, Acts 1:9. New Jerusalem will come down from Heaven, Rev. 3:12. Our Heavenly Father looks down on us from Heaven. Heaven us “up” - wherever we are. The Bible Reveals Three Heavens.
1. There is the first heaven.
This is the atmospheric heaven (the sky, breathable atmosphere), Gen. 7:11-12; Ps. 147:8.
2. There is the second heaven.
This is the planetary heaven (stars, moon), Gen. 1:14-17.
3. There is the third Heaven (where God dwells), 2 Cor. 12; Ps. 33:13-14.
The first two will pass away, 2 Peter 3:10. The third Heaven is eternal, Jude 25; Rev. 4.
C. Think Now of Who Will Be in Heaven, Matt. 25:46.
Our Father is in Heaven, Matt. 5:16; 6:1; 6:9; 7:11; Rev. 4. Jesus is in Heaven, Rev. 5; Hebrews. The Holy Spirit is in Heaven. Our inheritance is in Heaven, 1 Peter 1:4. Our citizenship is in Heaven, Phil. 3:20. The Believer’s Heart Should Be in Heaven, Matt. 5:12; 6:19-21. Our treasure is in Heaven. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The carnal, or worldly mind is focused on the things of this world. To be worldly minded is sin, James 4:4. “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). See also, 1 John 2:15-17.
The spiritual mind focuses on the things of God. We should yearn for Heaven
CONCLUSION
All lost people are invited to come to Jesus, with the assurance that no one who comes to Him will be turned away (John 6:37b). All Christians are going to receive a personal invitation from Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to enter into His Heaven. The question is, are you going to be in that number? You are invited to trust Jesus and let Him write your name down in the Book of Life right now.
