11.09.2025 | Why Heaven? - Pastor McLean Faw
WHY HEAVEN?
John 14:1-2 (NKJV) -- Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3-4 (NKJV) -- And if go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.
John 14:5-6 (NKJV) -- Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
John 14:1 – Let not your hearts be troubled.
Troubled – fearful, disturbed, in distress, agitated
John 14:1b – You believe in God, believe also in Me. (Keep believing)
John 14:2 – In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you.
Mansions – dwelling places
John 14:2b-3 (NKJV) -- I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am there you may be also.
2 Corinthians 5:8 (NKKJV) – We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Luke 23: 43 (NKJV) – And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
John 11:25 (KJV) – Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
1. BELIEVE HEAVEN IS REAL
a. Jesus declared it:
John 14:2 (NKJV) – In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
b. The Word describes it:
Revelation 21:10 (NKJV) – And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.
c. The resurrection of Jesus confirms it:
John 14:19b (NKJV) – Because I live, you will live also.
d. Believers have had a glimpse of it:
2 Corinthians 12:2 (NKJV) – I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago- whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows- such a one was caught up to the third heaven.
2 Corinthians 12:3-4 (NKJV) -- And I know such a man-- whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
e. Our hearts yearn for it:
Ecclesiastes 3:11a (NKJV) – He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts…
84% of Americans believe in some kind of heaven. 7 out of 10 say it is absolutely true.
Truly believing in heaven should impact the way we live on earth.
2. ANTICIPATE THE JOY AND BEAUTY OF HEAVEN
Hebrews 12:22-24 (NKJV) -- But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men, made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Revelation 21:21 (NKJV) – The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
Revelation 21:23 (NKJV) – The city had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.
What will not be there:
a. Sickness, sorrow, dying and crying will not be there.
Revelation 21:4 (NKJV) – And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former thing have passed away.
b. The devil will not be there.
Revelation 20:10 (NKJV) – The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
c. The curse of sin and lack will not be there.
Revelation 22:3a (NKJV) – And there shall be no more curse…
d. Unbelievers will not be there.
Revelation 20:15 (NKJV) – And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
What will be there:
a. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit will be there.
Revelation 22:1 (NKJV) – And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
b. Angels will be there.
Revelation 5:11 (NKJV) – Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.
c. Believers will be there.
Revelation 21:7 (NKJV) – He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.
d. Worship will be there.
Revelation 4:8b (NKJV) – …And they do not rest day or night, saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
e. Service will be there.
Revelation 22:3b (NKJV) – His servants shall serve Him.
f. The Face of God will be there.
Revelation 22:4a (NKJV) – They shall see His face…
Charles Spurgeon – The Glory of Heaven is that we shall see Him, the same Christ who died upon Calvary’s cross.
I couldn’t take my eyes off of Jesus. He’s beyond beautiful. He’s everything I’ve ever longed for.
Psalm 27:4 – One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.
3. LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF ETERNITY
a. Live heaven ready.
John 14:6 (NKJV) – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except though Me.”
b. Live to help others get ready.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV) – Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
c. Live from heaven to earth.
Matthew 6:10 (NKJV) – Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
We want to see heaven invade earth, through us.
Discussion Questions
1. Do you have an absolute conviction about the reality of heaven? Why or why not?
2. Have you ever had a glimpse of eternity? Would you be willing to share that experience?
3. What are some of the things you are most looking forward to about heaven?
4. How does believing in heaven impact the way you live your life on earth?
5. Do you have any doubt about where you will spend eternity?