[0:00] And go to Revelation 21 again, Revelation 21. We were talking this morning about the fact that Christ is going to rule, we said he's going to rule over a new earth, and we talked about the fact one of the great things about that new earth is going to be the presence of Christ himself.
[0:33] Christ will be there with us. And we talked about all the different things that were going to happen there. If you're listening through online, go back to the Sunday school time.
[0:46] We were talking about this this morning. It will be up there. And then we were talking about the fact that not only is Christ going to be there, but it's going to be a new city.
[0:57] We talked about the new Jerusalem coming down and how big that was going to be. It's got like two-thirds of the United States for the size of the thing. And then, thirdly, this afternoon, Christ's new earth.
[1:13] Christ's new earth. Revelation 21, look at verses 1 and 2. If I get to the right place, it'll help.
[1:24] Revelation 21, verses 1 and 2. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
[1:40] Let's have a word of prayer. Father, again, we just thank you for the anticipation of seeing what you have for us.
[1:53] You have been preparing for 2,000 plus years now. Lord, we just thank you for the fact that you have prepared great things. When we get there to heaven, we get to be in your presence.
[2:07] We get to see this new city that you've been preparing all this time. We get to see this new earth. Lord, you're just doing things that our minds can't comprehend.
[2:19] And, Lord, we just thank you for all that you're doing. Thank you for the way you're taking care of us. Lord, even now, we may not have all the new stuff, but you're watching over us and taking care of us day by day.
[2:31] And we just thank you for that. Lord, bless, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. So, New Jerusalem descends, settles on the new earth.
[2:42] And we don't know a lot about the new earth except no more sea. It talks about that there in verse 1. There was no more sea. So, like I said, first time I ever read that, I'm like, wait a minute.
[2:58] I like the sea. I've lived in Maine most of my life. I've lived in Florida part of my life. I like the sea. But it doesn't really make a difference because it's going to be heaven wherever it is.
[3:13] And, you know, we don't know a lot about it. But one thing is why would we need large bodies of water? You know, when you think of the earth we have now, three-fourths of it is covered in water.
[3:26] I was reading a thing the other day about different things geographically. And when you look at a map and see Canada and you see the United States, you say, oh, Canada is so much bigger than the United States.
[3:39] It actually is not because most of what you see when you look at that block of Canada is water, a big chunk of it. So, all the water that we have on the ground is pretty much to control the volcanic activity underneath the water and all that kind of thing.
[3:59] So, we could assume that the earth is going to be totally different. Yeah. Yes. It will be totally different. We won't have earthquakes and tornadoes and all that.
[4:10] We'll talk about that some more in a minute. You know, we won't need water because we won't be drinking stuff and things. We won't necessarily need to do that. And the earth is going to be quite an impressive place just based on what we look at for the new Jerusalem.
[4:30] Think of what the earth is going to look like. I mean, if we look out there now and we see springtime, gorgeous green leaves coming out everywhere, green grass, we won't have those.
[4:45] Okay. So, all those things. No more black flies. Yep. Mosquitoes. We'll get to that in a minute. So, the new earth is going to be a perfect environment for us.
[4:58] We won't have those things. The weather is going to be enjoyable all the time. We've been enjoying this weather we've had lately. Why? Because we had a whole stretch of bad, rainy, cold, whatever.
[5:12] Now we've got sunshine. 70 degrees. Oh, so nice to be out there. We won't have any reason to complain about God's creation. That's one of the things that will make it.
[5:24] Heaven right there. We won't have to complain about things. You think about the current earth that we have. This is kind of getting to what you guys were talking about. What is it that you're glad about that we have on this present earth that we will not have on the new earth and in heaven?
[5:44] You've already mentioned black flies and ticks. What else? Huh?
[5:55] Spiders and snakes. Spiders and snakes. Well, we might have because they were in the Garden of Eden, but they won't be the same. We won't be scared of them. I've lived in Florida and Alabama, like I said.
[6:09] Hurricanes and tornadoes. Can definitely do without those. Especially if you've been watching the news. All the tornado activity lately. What's been happening there?
[6:19] We won't have to pay bills. Won't have to pay bills. No taxes. No taxes? No hospitals. No ambulances. There you go. All kinds of things. It will not be there.
[6:33] Huh? Yeah. Yeah. I think so. So we'll have bees.
[6:47] So we'll have bumblebees. We'll have bumblebees. So apparently there's going to be people groups and nations in that new earth because look at verse 24.
[7:01] It says, and the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it and the kings of the earth to bring their glory and honor into it. There are saved rulers.
[7:15] Saved kings. Saved presidents. Saved. They're going to go into that with us. But they're going to give all their glory to God. It's not going to be them.
[7:27] We're not going to be worshiping them. We're not going to be following them. We'll be following God and they will be doing the same thing. I would think so. Yep.
[7:38] Talks about that. So. Yep. Right. He's king of kings and lord of lords over everything. So all the glory, all the honor belongs to Jesus Christ.
[7:56] Anybody who might have, like I said, had a position or something like that, they're going to throw all the glory to God. We might go up and see somebody like an Abraham Lincoln.
[8:08] Abraham Lincoln is going to be bowing and praising God. Giving everything to him. Look at verse 25 and 26. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day.
[8:19] For there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. All the glory is going to go to God. And who's going to be there?
[8:30] Look at verse 27. And there shall be no wise enter into it anything that defile it. Neither whatsoever worketh abomination or maketh a lie.
[8:42] But they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. What's your entrance into? How do you get into this city? There are names written in the Lamb's book of life.
[8:55] So those that are saved are going to be able to be there. There will be never anything else because there will not be any sin. So the gates are open all the time because there's nothing to keep out.
[9:10] Because there's no more sin. No one who's going to defile anything. No one who lies. You know, none of that. Those that are written in the Lamb's book of life.
[9:20] But to kind of go along with something else you guys are talking about. What are we going to do all that time? Do you know there will be work?
[9:32] You're like, really? There's going to be work in heaven? Look at chapter 22, verse 3. And there shall be no more curse. But the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it.
[9:46] And his servants shall serve him. Wait a minute. Yeah, we're going to serve the Lord Jesus. We're going to serve God. But, to catch the first part of the verse.
[10:00] There shall be no more curse. Where did the... Let's put it this way. Go back to the Garden of Eden again. Before sin. Did Adam have a job?
[10:12] Yeah. He was to tend the garden. He would take care of things in the garden and stuff. But did he care? No. It was something for him to do. It wasn't until the curse came that work became a problem.
[10:27] It wasn't until... Hmm? So some people might learn a new trade. So some people might learn a new trade. Yes. I think that's just there, right? It's so easy and we're so quick to forget.
[10:39] Obviously, the purpose of the plan that God has appeared. And what he's getting us ready for. Yeah. Because obviously we're not going to work up to that perfection. But we're working that way towards when we will be perfect like him.
[10:51] And we will be doing... Like now. We're serving now. Why? Because we're serving for eternity. We're going to get the practice in now. Get the practice in now. And we're going to do it without sweating. And without back aches.
[11:02] And without all the other stuff. You just retired. Well, get ready for your second job. You're getting another job. Jerry better talk.
[11:14] Jerry's going to have to hang up his handcuffs. That's true. Jerry's going to have to hang up his handcuffs. He will have to have another job. I don't think I'm here, then. Mow the lawn without sweating.
[11:27] Without your back hurting. The thing that's really hard for me to fathom. Is this 1,400 mile cube? Yep. So where are the streets?
[11:37] And how do we get one place to another? I mean, there's God made means. I mean, it's just something we can't figure out. I can't even fathom playing 3D chess.
[11:50] You know, much less than that. Yep. So it's just going to blow our minds. It is. Yep. We'll probably stand around the first 1,000 years just going.
[12:02] You stand around the first 1,000 years going. Yeah. Whoa. Whoa. Now, is it who we really know? Good and perfect like him. So will we know everything like him?
[12:13] Good question. I don't know. Because it can't be God. Eventually, I would think we would. Because if we don't know everything, we can always ask.
[12:26] Like, why did you allow so-and-so to do this? And why did you have Abraham do this? And why did you, you know, we'll learn. I just want to, I mean, you've got to be careful. Because I have part of the other believers.
[12:37] Like, oh, yeah, well, not everything. We're going to heaven. How do you, where is the scripture to back that up? Yeah. And it makes sense. God is still going to be God. Right. And we're not. Yes. All these words that you have, why, why, that's true.
[12:51] You have a second. Right? Yeah. Okay, wait a minute. Say that again. Yeah. The thoughts that we have, why this, why that, we won't have those. That's true. That's true.
[13:02] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We don't know.
[13:14] Yeah, that's what I'm saying. So it's like, I've heard other believers say that. I'm like, but where is the scripture to back it up? Yeah. Yeah. But that's a mind of service.
[13:30] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if we'll know everything or not. But I don't, I think not because, like I said, God is still God.
[13:42] And if we're just like him, then we don't need him. So I think he'll still be God. You said this morning, God, I want you to love the tismer, right?
[13:53] I don't need the threats, I don't need the guilt. So we won't be asking questions about the thing that could have been covered. Yep. We don't need direction on life, right? We'll be what?
[14:04] We don't need direction on life. We don't need direction on life. Right. Yeah. We won't be running into each other. See, go back.
[14:17] Work is not a part of the curse. Work in eternity will be fulfilling and enjoyable. The work you have to do. Now, you're all human, so I'm going.
[14:31] There have been times when you've been at work and you can kind of go. How much longer I get? It won't be like that. We won't be doing that in heaven.
[14:42] So everybody's going to love what they have to do because they're serving their Lord. We can't fully comprehend the new Jerusalem or the new earth.
[14:54] But God's told us enough details to know that I want to be there. I want to be a part of it. And so as I anticipate what all that's going to be, I should want to live for him now.
[15:08] Get in the practice like we were just talking about. Get used to the idea. Be ready for it. All right. Number two. Our anticipation of eternity. Our anticipation of eternity.
[15:21] Go with me to Colossians chapter 3. Colossians chapter 3. Look at verse 1.
[15:39] Paul's writing to the church of Colossians.
[15:58] He says, Is that where our mind is set? Again, looking unto Jesus.
[16:09] If I'm looking unto Jesus, my mindset should be there where he is. We talked about his position in heaven back a while ago.
[16:20] And he's seated in heaven because of his work on the cross, his resurrection. His presence in heaven should help us to seek heavenly things.
[16:34] It should show us that where he is, if I'm going to be a joint heir, and the Bible says I'm seated in the heavenlies with him, it should be where my mind is.
[16:46] It should be on heaven, on Christ, doing the things that he has. My position here is temporary. The things that are going on in this world should not be the things that I focus on.
[17:01] He uses the word seek there. And actually, if you were to take that word straight from the Greek, it has the idea of seek, but it's also the idea of keep on seeking.
[17:14] Our focus should constantly be on keep on seeking the things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. You know, everything in our life should be focused on that.
[17:30] Our work that we do, yes, we have to work to earn money, or make a living and stuff. But even while we're at work, our focus should be on heaven above and what we're doing for him.
[17:44] We're acknowledging that the things above are important. We think things here are important things here. We're doing so much concern and so much of our focus.
[17:56] He says, don't forget. Seek the things which are above. And we're seeking the things which are above. It takes more than just talking about it.
[18:09] It takes action. It takes direction. It takes putting our focus there. The things above. What did I talk about this morning?
[18:20] God's will. What is God's will? What does God want me to do? What does he have for me that I should be following and making a big part of my life?
[18:35] His desire for people to be saved should be a big part of what we're doing as we go throughout this world. Am I taking the knowledge of Christ to this world who needs to know who he is?
[18:53] Do I focus on my service to him? Do I focus on my growth to be Christ-like? Those are all things that should be a part. In other words, we've been talking about reality.
[19:05] Is the reality of our life the fact that God is everything? He is almighty. When you read through the epistles, especially Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, what is Paul's focus there?
[19:27] Paul's focus is becoming like Christ. That's what he wants us to do. So we need to do that. Matter of fact, if you want to hold your finger there in Colossians 3 and flip back to Philippians 3 for just a second.
[19:44] Just a couple of pages back probably for you. Look at what he says in Philippians 3 beginning at verse 12. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after.
[19:58] If that, I may apprehend that for which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
[20:21] He said, one thing I'm after. One thing. He said, my goal is to reach for those things which are before, that I might reach the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
[20:36] That's my goal. That's my one focus of everything that I do. You know, think about Paul. What is his personal testimony of seeking things above?
[20:53] Knowing what you know about Paul, knowing about what he has written, how would you describe Paul's thinking of things above?
[21:04] How would you describe Paul's focus and outlook on life? Anybody?
[21:17] Got an idea? Yeah. There's an old saying, somebody's so heavenly minded that they're no local good. But he's very heavenly minded.
[21:29] And he has a purpose on the way for that. I mean, that theory talks about he's perfect toward the mark. So he's moving forward.
[21:40] He's not extending himself doing nothing. He is looking forward to that time when he will be in the presence of God. Okay. And to expand on that, he has got his view.
[21:55] He's looking unto Jesus. He's got his view there. But included in that view, like you said, is moving forward. And what do I do? If I'm looking to Jesus, how do I move forward?
[22:07] I'm taking the gospel to people in front of me. But I need to let them know. Taking people with us. Good. The prize was to be glorified by Christ when he reaches heaven.
[22:21] We use that word glorification. What does it mean to be glorified? Glorification is God taking away our sin nature, giving us a new body untouched by sin and unable to sin.
[22:39] When we have glorified bodies, we will not be able to sin. We will not have sin in our life. And we will have that new body.
[22:49] That's going to take place at the rapture. When we're at the rapture, he says we're going to be changed instantly. Blink of an eye, and we will be changed. See, we're going up to heaven, enjoying Christ, the resurrected Christ, and we're going to be resurrected like him.
[23:15] Philippians 1, 21, you know, well, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. So he says, to me is to live is Christ.
[23:25] I'm going to be as much like Christ as I can here and now. But when I die, that's gain because I will be like Christ. I'm trying to get as much like him now, but I will be like him when that happens.
[23:41] Second thing, set your mind on things above. Set your mind on things above. Back in Colossians, chapter 3, look at verse 2.
[23:53] Set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. He says, set your affection. Stay mentally focused. Make your desires on things above.
[24:08] We're responsible to be the stewards of the possessions that God gives us, but we are not to let those possessions possess us. What do I mean by that?
[24:19] God gives us things. God grants us things. God knows we have to have things to function in this world. But do not make those the ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to take those things and use them for Christ.
[24:34] God bless you. You know, how do you, how do you know what your mind is centered on? Think about what you think about.
[24:48] What is foremost in your mind most of the time? What are, what are some questions you could ask yourself to kind of figure out, where is my mind at this time?
[25:02] What am I thinking of? Well, what do you get excited about? Mountain Dew. What occupies your thoughts when you have a moment to think?
[25:21] You're just sitting back, you're relaxing for a minute. What pops into your head? What do you think about? What do you look forward to? What do you do when you're alone?
[25:40] Do you use the time that you have to make plans or how you can serve Christ? Think about what you think about. Is it what God would have you to do?
[25:51] He says, the worldly mind is focused on earthly things. I won't take you back there, but back in Philippians 3.19, it talks about the fact, thinking about earthly things.
[26:02] Paul said, consider the worldly mind to be enemies of the cross, of Christ. Don't let your mind go to the worldly things. Keep your focus on what Jesus has done for you.
[26:14] See, the cross that Jesus went to is all about humility. It's all about love for others. He says, keep your mind focused on those things.
[26:26] That's having the mind of Christ. Somebody mentioned earlier today to me, we're supposed to have the mind of Christ. Well, having the mind of Christ is about service. Having the mind of Christ is about loving others. Having the mind of Christ is serving God, doing what the Father's will is.
[26:42] That's the mind of Christ. So keep your mind there. It's a humbling thing. It's not an uplifting thing. It's a humbling thing. Listen to Philippians chapter 3 starting at verse 17 through 19.
[26:56] Brethren, be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example. Paul's saying, my mind is focused on Christ so use us as an example.
[27:12] Follow us. Verse 18, for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is their shame who mind earthly things.
[27:33] He says, be careful about who you follow. Be careful of what they're trying to do and trying to teach you. Help them to be examples. So, what is the focus of the enemies of Christ?
[27:48] They're focused on worldly thought. They're focused on the things of this world, not on the things of God. They're focused on sinful habits, sinful desires. Excuse me.
[28:00] Their focus is not aimed toward Christ. See, our society treats the present as eternal. this is all there is.
[28:12] And so, therefore, go for all the gusto you can. You have to be older and understand that expression. He says, go for it. You know, they deny that death is coming.
[28:24] They deny there's anything after death. You know, they look at the signs of what's happening to them and just kind of let it go and say, you know, well, I'm getting older, but, you know, nothing really matters after that.
[28:40] You think how obsessed our world is with cosmetic injections, Botox, and things like that.
[28:50] Got to make myself look younger. Yours isn't working, Chuck. You didn't hear me. I said, yours isn't working. He's, you know, the things that we try to do to keep ourselves young, keep the old age away, it's not going to affect me.
[29:08] It's not going to affect, yes, it is. See, our, our, our things should not be what I look like here, how much I have here, what do I have in heaven?
[29:19] Again, in Philippians chapter 3, verse 20 and 21, for our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
[29:41] He says, you're going to have a new body, it's going to be subject and be like my glorious body. Think of what we have to look forward to. Paul says, look, view, view the earth as a foreign country.
[29:57] Heaven's your home. be ready for heaven and the citizenship there. And then he says, look, everything you have, be getting it ready for heaven.
[30:13] You're packing for a trip. What are you going to pack to get ready for your trip? Well, the attitudes of a person who's packing for a trip usually are they're grateful, they're content, they're joyful, they're looking forward to it.
[30:30] That's the way we should be about our trip to heaven. And then lastly, I'm actually taking longer than I plan to, lay up treasure in heaven. Lay up treasure in heaven.
[30:43] Paul's instruction to the Colossians and the Philippians is like that that Jesus gave to us in Matthew chapter 6 where he says, lay up for yourself treasures in heaven where moth and rust does not corrupt.
[30:57] He says, look, be looking for heaven. You know, we get down here, we got a little shed over here. We keep things in. Some of the things that are in there are not things we kept in there.
[31:12] We got critters in there who like to build nests and things and stuff. They're doing, those things are not going to happen with our stuff in heaven. The treasures in heaven are eternal.
[31:23] Treasure in heaven are going to last forever. You know what that includes? It includes the crowns that we talked about before. The crowns that we cast at his feet, those are part of the treasures in heaven. He says, lay up treasures in heaven.
[31:37] Why is it so important? What does he also say about the treasures we do? That's where your heart will be also.
[31:49] Where's your heart today? Is it with Christ? He says, set your affection on things above, not on things of the earth. He says, make your, the fact that you're going to heaven be the foremost in your mind.
[32:04] share toward the goal of being Christ-like now because that is what you're going to be like when you get to heaven. Christ is going to rule and we get to be there with him.
[32:20] What a great and glorious thing that is. Let's pray. Father, thank you. Father, in heaven, let's pray. Amen. Amen.
[32:32] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[32:45] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.