WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN WE GET TO HEAVEN

By Kola Ajibola

Introduction:
Some people think of Heaven as a better place while some think it does not exist at all. Some people are not sure how it look like and what to expect on getting to the place. You too, might have been wondering what to expect when we get to heaven.The Bible is the only book that goes much farther in giving us a glimpse into the celestial city of God.Northwestern University School of Education conducted a survey on “Whether Heaven Exist” or not. Out of 500 denominationalists that responded to the survey, 59% agreed that Heaven exist. In America today, only 77% believe there is Heaven. To you, my brethren, I want to believe, you agreed that there is heaven.On this premise, I want to discuss on What to expect in heaven and what not to expect.

I. THOSE IN HEAVEN
• God – I Kings 8:30; Matthew 6:9
• Jesus Christ – Hebrews 9: 12, 24; 10:12; 8:1
• Holy Spirit – Rev. 22:17• Faithful angels – Matthew 18:30; 24:36

II. SOME THINGS THAT WILL BE ABSENT IN HEAVEN
• Unclean – Revelation 22:15
• Unregenerate – Matthew 25:41-46; 2 Thess. 1:7-9; Rev. 14:9-12; 21:8; 1 Pet. 1:4
• Darkness and Sun – Rev. 22:5
• Flesh and blood – 1 Cor. 15:50
• Sorrow – Rev. 7:17; 21:4

III. SOME PEOPLE YOU CAN EXPECT NOT TO BE IN HEAVEN

A. “NOT SO DEDICATED CHRISTIAN”
Illustration:
i. Excuse by way of choice – Heb. 10:25;
1. Excuse from giving their lives to God – Matt. 10:392.
Excuse themselves from loving their brethren – I Jhn 3:143.
Excuse themselves from accountability – Acts 17:30.
Excuses are not new: e.g. Gen. 3:12; Exo. 3:11, 13; 4:1, 10; Matt. 7:22-23; Luke 9:57-62; 14:16-24.

ii. Those who do nothing here for the Lord are rewarded for their lack of works: Matt. 16:27; Rom. 2:13; 1 Cor. 3:8; Gal. 6:7-8; Col. 3: 24-25

iii. Those unwilling here to sacrifice: Consider what Christ gave – II Cor. 8:9 and juxtapose it to what He expect - Luke 14:33.

B. “UNCONCERNED CHRISTIAN” -
I don’t care attitude is not well pleasing to God – Illustration: Haggai 1:2-11; Zeph. 1:12 – Complacency, Ezek. 33:30-33.

C. “I WAS ONCE A FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN” – Matt. 16:24-27; 2 Cor. 5:9-10; Phil. 3:7-11. The good you do yesterday does not excuse you today. Consider the example of Moses: Heb. 11:24-29; God did not overlook Moses’ sin because of what faith he showed in the past: Num. 20:2-12 cf. Deut. 34:4-5. Also, example of church at Ephesus, they did well in the past but now left their first love – Rev. 2:1-5.

IV. THE DESCRIPTION OF HEAVEN:
• Heaven will be a place of everlasting life. It appears there is no other way to best describe heaven that this. Jesus said “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” – Matt. 25:46. We will be in heaven for ever and ever, without end, no duration of time, it is till infinity ). Read also I Cor. 15:42, 50.

• Heaven will be a place of no sorrow. The Hebrew writer stated, “It is appointed unto man once to die…” (Heb. 9:27). Tears are the common lot of humanity. The first death is recorded in Genesis 4:8; and, since that time, death has brought emotional pain, grief, and painful separations. In this life, we experience sickness, sorrow, and heartbreak. But think about it. In heaven there will be no more pain, suffering, sorrow, tears, and no more sad and heartbreaking farewells. John wrote, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death; neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

• Heaven will be a place of rest. The Bible states, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God” (Heb. 4:9). The Holy Spirit said that those in heaven will “rest from their labors” (Rev. 14:13). The “rest” of heaven means that we will never be tired, weak, sick, or unfulfilled. A glorified spiritual body will know nothing of fatigue or exhaustion.

• There will be no sin in heaven. Sin robs one of joy, peace, and contentment and brings shame and guilt. But John writes, “there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie, but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life’ (Rev. 21:27). There will be no sinfulness of any kind in heaven.

• Heaven will be a place of activity. There will be joyous worship. We will serve in heaven. We will be fully engaged in worshipping God. John, the beloved writes that “…his servants shall serve him” (Rev. 22:3). Service without time demands; service without frustration; service without fear of failure for the enemy will have been overcome; and service without growing tired for our spiritual bodies will never grow weary and old. We will also commune with the patriarchs of old, the faithful of the Old Testament, the faithful of Christianity; and we will enjoy the fellowship of God.

• Heaven is a realm of Righteousness. Rev. 4:8; Lk. 9:26;, Heb. 12:23.

• A place of reunion and recognition. Cf. Gen. 25:8; Gen. 37:35; 2 Sam. 12:23; Matt. 8:11.

• A place for reliability of our Hope. Acts 24:15; cf. 23:6, I Cor. 15.

V. CONCLUSION

Heaven is a real place, a city made not with hands (2 Cor. 5:1) prepared for
• righteous saints (Matt. 25:34, 37; 13:43),
• the saved (John 3:5, 18, 21)
• those who endure (Rev. 2:10)
• obedient (Rev. 22:14; John 5:29)
• persecuted (Matt. 5:11, 12)
• those whose name had been enrolled (Luke 10:20; Heb 12:23).

Heaven is a beautiful place we should all be.Let us all yield to the call of Hezekiah who pleaded with the children of Israel that “serve the Lord your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you” (II Chro. 30:8; cf. 29:8, 10; Ezra 9:4; 10:3).

Do you you want to get to Heaven? God want you there. Jesus had gone several years ago to prepare you a place, why should you prefer otherwise. Let us examine ourselves and make necessary corrections so as to be with GOD in that beautiful and everlasting place of joy, where there is no night, sorrow, pain, heartache, trouble, fear and all that ache.We can get there if and only if we are FAITHFUL.God bless you. Amen.