WEBVTT 00:00:00.140 --> 00:00:03.320 If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn with me to two passages. 00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:05.679 One I'm just going to read and then make a brief comment on. 00:00:05.759 --> 00:00:06.940 The other is going to be our focus. 00:00:07.640 --> 00:00:12.980 The first is Hebrews chapter 11, and then that's going to set the stage for the message. 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:18.960 And then we're going to actually look, examine in detail, to some degree, Revelation chapter 21. 00:00:19.160 --> 00:00:20.879 So you can hold both those places. 00:00:21.019 --> 00:00:24.660 I just want to read chapter 11, and I'll do so in just a moment. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:28.500 But before I do that, let me preface the message by saying this. 00:00:28.500 --> 00:00:35.159 I retired five years ago this past February, and about two years before I retired, 00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:39.719 my wife and I began looking for a permanent retirement home. 00:00:39.939 --> 00:00:45.340 We live now in the house we've lived in about 18 years, had a little place down at the lake, 00:00:45.379 --> 00:00:49.100 and we thought about moving down there, and then we decided, no, we needed something with deeper water 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:51.439 before we were going to do that, and so we just began to search. 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:52.519 And we had a checklist. 00:00:52.780 --> 00:00:54.700 How many of y'all have looked for a house in the last 10 years? 00:00:54.760 --> 00:00:56.219 Anybody here look to move or something? 00:00:56.219 --> 00:00:59.740 Probably most people in this room, they say the average American doesn't say anywhere, 00:00:59.820 --> 00:01:00.780 but about seven years. 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:05.439 And so we developed a checklist, and we were looking for this and this and this, 00:01:05.519 --> 00:01:11.700 one and 10, five to 15 acres of land, a place where we could have some goats and, you know, 00:01:11.719 --> 00:01:14.700 some chickens and just have an outbuilding if I wanted to. 00:01:14.799 --> 00:01:16.159 I live in one of those little communities. 00:01:16.159 --> 00:01:20.359 You know, they've got an HOA, and, you know, they've got the Scopo coming around telling you, 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:21.719 can't do this, can't do that. 00:01:22.439 --> 00:01:26.979 So I was looking to, you know, get out of there and got great neighbors and great neighborhood and all, 00:01:27.039 --> 00:01:28.939 but just a little bit more freedom. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:33.319 So we looked for about four or five years, and finally about two, three years ago, 00:01:33.340 --> 00:01:35.759 we just gave that up, just said, you know, it doesn't exist. 00:01:35.859 --> 00:01:36.620 We're not going to find it. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:41.000 Abraham, in the Scripture, ran across a similar thing. 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:44.640 God spoke to him one day, and he says, I want you to leave Ur of the Chaldees, 00:01:44.739 --> 00:01:47.219 that had been his home, and I want you to go find this place, 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:50.120 and it's going to be a great, great, great place. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:53.040 And so I want you to read that with me, 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:56.680 because the other day we were doing our devotion about two weeks ago, in fact, 00:01:57.180 --> 00:02:00.240 and we read this passage, and I thought about ourselves. 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:03.240 By faith, verse 8, by the way, of chapter 11, 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:07.799 by faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place, 00:02:08.219 --> 00:02:10.159 he was going to receive as an inheritance. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:12.900 He went out not knowing where he was going. 00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:17.240 By faith, he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, 00:02:17.699 --> 00:02:22.199 living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise. 00:02:22.740 --> 00:02:27.120 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, 00:02:27.340 --> 00:02:29.519 whose architect and builder is God. 00:02:30.159 --> 00:02:31.939 Now, boy, he had a high checklist, right? 00:02:32.460 --> 00:02:34.560 He's looking for a city that is built by God. 00:02:34.800 --> 00:02:38.939 He's not just looking for a place to call home, to hang his hat. 00:02:38.939 --> 00:02:41.039 He'd been made a lot of promises. 00:02:41.719 --> 00:02:43.319 And I want you to read about that. 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:43.979 Verse 11, 00:02:44.300 --> 00:02:47.219 By faith, even Sarah herself, when she was barren, 00:02:47.680 --> 00:02:49.719 received power to conceive offspring, 00:02:50.219 --> 00:02:52.819 even though she was past the age since she considered 00:02:52.819 --> 00:02:56.500 that the one who had promised was faithful. 00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:02.300 And therefore, from one man, in fact, from one as good as dead, 00:03:02.300 --> 00:03:06.040 came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven 00:03:06.040 --> 00:03:10.939 and as innumerable as the grains of the sand by the seashore. 00:03:11.100 --> 00:03:14.080 Now, that's a fulfilled promise, isn't it? 00:03:14.620 --> 00:03:16.260 He says, I'm going to give you children, 00:03:16.400 --> 00:03:19.400 but I'm going to give you more than you could count, 00:03:19.480 --> 00:03:23.160 if you count the stars of heaven or the grains of the seashore 00:03:23.160 --> 00:03:26.000 of all the beaches on earth. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:27.960 Then he says in verse 13, 00:03:28.460 --> 00:03:29.879 These all died. 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:31.560 That includes Abraham. 00:03:32.539 --> 00:03:35.319 These all died without having received the promises, 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:37.879 but they saw them from a distance. 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:39.840 So here he is here, 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:42.300 and he's looking and he can see it going to be fulfilled, 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:44.979 but he hasn't realized it yet. 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:46.900 But they saw them from a distance, 00:03:47.099 --> 00:03:47.759 greeted them, 00:03:47.979 --> 00:03:50.099 and confessed that they were foreigners 00:03:50.099 --> 00:03:52.280 and temporary residents on earth. 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:54.939 He recognizes as he's roaming the earth, 00:03:55.020 --> 00:03:55.860 looking at this place, 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:57.360 he goes to the place God tells him, 00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:57.900 but he realizes, 00:03:58.560 --> 00:03:59.580 that's not it. 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:01.139 Nice track of land. 00:04:01.719 --> 00:04:04.020 Got a great place to raise sheep, 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:07.120 but it's not the fulfillment of the promise. 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:09.139 And so it says, 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:13.939 Now those who say such things make it clear 00:04:13.939 --> 00:04:15.319 that they are seeking a homeland. 00:04:15.920 --> 00:04:18.939 If they had been remembering the land they came from, 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:21.220 they would have had opportunity to return. 00:04:21.220 --> 00:04:23.000 I'm from Seneca, South Carolina, 00:04:23.340 --> 00:04:25.240 and a lot of us want to go back to our home 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:26.360 where we grew up, right? 00:04:26.700 --> 00:04:28.600 But that's not the case with Abraham. 00:04:28.960 --> 00:04:30.440 He's not thinking about the fact 00:04:30.440 --> 00:04:32.200 that he wants to go back to Ur of the Chaldees. 00:04:32.420 --> 00:04:33.940 He's looking for something better. 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:37.140 But they now aspire to a better land, 00:04:37.220 --> 00:04:38.320 a heavenly one. 00:04:39.020 --> 00:04:41.660 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, 00:04:41.900 --> 00:04:45.600 for he has prepared a city for them. 00:04:45.900 --> 00:04:48.820 Now go with me to Revelation chapter 21. 00:04:48.819 --> 00:04:51.899 Go with me to Revelation chapter 21. 00:04:52.139 --> 00:04:54.079 In Revelation chapter 21, 00:04:54.399 --> 00:05:00.000 you read about this land that Abraham was looking for. 00:05:00.740 --> 00:05:02.120 If we went across the room, 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:03.459 took the time to do that, 00:05:03.579 --> 00:05:05.060 and just went person to person, 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:05.879 family to family, 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:08.379 every one of you have a different dream. 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:10.120 Some of you want that white house 00:05:10.120 --> 00:05:11.199 with a little picket fence, 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:12.839 and some of you want to live in town. 00:05:13.219 --> 00:05:15.620 Folks in Greenwood are just paying huge bucks 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:18.040 to live right downtown in the thick of things, 00:05:18.160 --> 00:05:19.500 and they'll settle for something, 00:05:19.939 --> 00:05:22.459 a fifth as large as they might find out in the suburbs, 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:24.560 but that's what they want, right? 00:05:24.780 --> 00:05:26.780 And some folk want to live out in the country, 00:05:26.879 --> 00:05:28.620 and some folk want to live in the suburbs, 00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:31.699 and folk just want a variety of different things. 00:05:31.740 --> 00:05:32.939 Every one of us in this room do. 00:05:33.459 --> 00:05:34.319 But I want to tell you something. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:36.920 Every one of us in this room this morning, 00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:41.920 I would believe long for a land like Abraham was looking for, 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:46.000 a place of peace and tranquility. 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:46.879 I want to tell you something. 00:05:47.100 --> 00:05:49.020 I wouldn't really care where it's at. 00:05:49.400 --> 00:05:51.100 If I could find a place on this earth 00:05:51.100 --> 00:05:53.660 where I could go and just know you could live safely, 00:05:54.379 --> 00:05:55.819 and you could be happy, 00:05:56.600 --> 00:05:58.500 and you could know joy, 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:01.379 and there was no conflict, 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:03.819 wouldn't you love to live in a place where you say, 00:06:03.819 --> 00:06:07.120 wouldn't you like to say today you've had the last argument 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:08.620 you'll ever have in your life? 00:06:08.719 --> 00:06:09.659 Wouldn't it be a great thing 00:06:09.659 --> 00:06:12.839 that you'll never have another harsh word with another human, 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:16.259 that you'll never feel disappointment again in your life, 00:06:17.100 --> 00:06:19.339 that you'll never shed another tear? 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:23.100 That's the home that Abraham was looking for, 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:26.980 and that's the home we read about in Revelation chapter 21. 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:30.819 Now, there are a lot of things we could say about this place, 00:06:31.139 --> 00:06:33.079 but the first thing I want to tell you about this place, 00:06:33.079 --> 00:06:35.139 it's a place of absolute, 00:06:36.379 --> 00:06:39.399 undescribable, unparalleled beauty. 00:06:40.439 --> 00:06:42.500 A lot of you in this room travel a lot of places. 00:06:42.659 --> 00:06:44.439 I've had the privilege of going a few places. 00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:46.699 I'm not a big world traveler or anything, 00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:48.740 but I've been a few places in the world, 00:06:48.860 --> 00:06:49.399 and I want to tell you, 00:06:49.719 --> 00:06:52.579 this is a gorgeous planet that we live on, right? 00:06:53.219 --> 00:06:54.579 But this place, 00:06:55.219 --> 00:06:58.019 boy, it is of unparalleled beauty. 00:06:58.019 --> 00:07:02.359 I want you to look with me to chapter 21 and verse 1 and 2. 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:04.299 John says, 00:07:04.379 --> 00:07:07.459 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, 00:07:07.659 --> 00:07:10.899 for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. 00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:13.639 The sea existed no longer. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:16.719 And I also saw the holy city, 00:07:17.419 --> 00:07:18.319 new Jerusalem, 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:22.240 coming down out of heaven from God. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:23.740 Now, the Jews, 00:07:24.280 --> 00:07:28.780 they loved and still love Jerusalem. 00:07:29.780 --> 00:07:32.100 It was the city of David, Zion. 00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:34.879 They loved Jerusalem. 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:37.040 There are places in the Old Testament where you can read, 00:07:37.180 --> 00:07:37.860 it appears, 00:07:38.540 --> 00:07:39.379 at times, 00:07:39.639 --> 00:07:41.060 like the Muslims do Mecca, 00:07:41.579 --> 00:07:43.860 they would turn toward Jerusalem, 00:07:44.120 --> 00:07:45.280 even to pray. 00:07:45.279 --> 00:07:47.359 It was a holy, 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:49.099 holy city. 00:07:50.459 --> 00:07:51.039 But he says, 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:52.179 I saw the new, 00:07:52.299 --> 00:07:52.959 not the old, 00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:55.139 the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. 00:07:56.179 --> 00:07:56.679 Can I tell you, 00:07:56.779 --> 00:07:58.979 the old Jerusalem was a war-torn city. 00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:03.359 The Babylonians had ransacked that in 586 B.C. 00:08:04.059 --> 00:08:04.379 I mean, 00:08:04.439 --> 00:08:05.699 they destroyed the temple, 00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:07.119 they tore down the walls. 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:09.919 When they marched out of town with those exiles, 00:08:10.159 --> 00:08:12.239 it was in smoldering ruins, 00:08:13.299 --> 00:08:13.639 right? 00:08:13.639 --> 00:08:15.300 They built it back. 00:08:15.719 --> 00:08:18.319 They rebuilt Solomon's temple back, 00:08:19.079 --> 00:08:23.300 but never to the level of spectacular glory it once knew. 00:08:24.099 --> 00:08:27.680 The Romans later would do war in the city of Jerusalem. 00:08:28.019 --> 00:08:31.539 The Greeks before them would do war in the city of Jerusalem. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:35.120 The Assyrians would do battle in the city of Jerusalem. 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:37.120 It was a war-torn city. 00:08:37.379 --> 00:08:37.879 But he says, 00:08:38.019 --> 00:08:40.879 I saw the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven. 00:08:41.220 --> 00:08:42.299 And then notice what he says. 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:43.059 I love this. 00:08:43.659 --> 00:08:45.019 It's so captivating, 00:08:45.099 --> 00:08:45.619 the idea. 00:08:46.339 --> 00:08:47.479 He says in verse 2, 00:08:48.659 --> 00:08:52.619 prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 00:08:54.619 --> 00:08:55.879 Isn't that a great image? 00:08:56.839 --> 00:09:00.139 Prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 00:09:00.139 --> 00:09:01.259 Now, 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:01.960 as a pastor, 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:05.819 I've seen as many brides as probably anybody in the room. 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:08.539 Because I've done a lot of weddings, 00:09:08.659 --> 00:09:08.919 right? 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:11.699 And can I tell you something? 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:16.419 I have never seen an ugly bride. 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:20.079 I've seen some brides, 00:09:20.139 --> 00:09:20.919 to be quite honest, 00:09:20.979 --> 00:09:23.979 who outside of that wedding were a little bit... 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:29.580 I'll let you use your imagination. 00:09:29.580 --> 00:09:32.899 But on their wedding days, 00:09:33.539 --> 00:09:36.300 four brides are just beautiful, aren't they? 00:09:36.299 --> 00:09:38.879 Let me show you the prettiest bride ever walked down the aisle. 00:09:41.199 --> 00:09:45.240 That was made December 31st of this last year. 00:09:45.319 --> 00:09:47.339 My daughter, Angela, got married. 00:09:48.139 --> 00:09:50.479 And boy, it was a great, great, great day. 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:52.899 And when I escorted her down the aisle, 00:09:52.980 --> 00:09:54.220 and then I gave her away, 00:09:54.300 --> 00:09:55.039 and I sat down, 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:57.759 and the pastor of the church did some preliminary things. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:09:58.779 And then during prayer, 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:00.039 he sat down, 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:01.259 and I slipped up on the safe. 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:01.879 When they opened it out, 00:10:01.940 --> 00:10:02.680 I'm standing there. 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:04.399 And I get to do the vows. 00:10:04.820 --> 00:10:05.899 First thing out of my mouth was, 00:10:05.980 --> 00:10:07.200 I turned to Adam, her husband, 00:10:07.379 --> 00:10:08.039 and I said, 00:10:08.600 --> 00:10:09.940 boy, you are one lucky guy. 00:10:09.980 --> 00:10:11.320 You are getting a gorgeous girl. 00:10:12.180 --> 00:10:12.940 Isn't she gorgeous? 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:14.180 I mean, to me, she is. 00:10:14.180 --> 00:10:15.759 She's just a good-looking gal. 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:17.420 Looks just like me. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:20.279 No, she looks like her mama. 00:10:21.139 --> 00:10:22.000 But I'm telling you, 00:10:22.399 --> 00:10:24.440 brides are just beautiful on their wedding day, right? 00:10:24.860 --> 00:10:25.659 Because you know what? 00:10:25.800 --> 00:10:27.920 You pay a ton to get that makeup job done. 00:10:29.620 --> 00:10:31.639 You pay for that hairdo. 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:35.039 I mean, you buy that beautiful dress 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:36.279 that they all want, right? 00:10:36.800 --> 00:10:37.940 And so they're looking there. 00:10:38.580 --> 00:10:39.659 The best they can look, 00:10:39.740 --> 00:10:41.080 they look on their wedding day. 00:10:41.600 --> 00:10:42.879 And that's what he's saying. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:45.379 Hey, this is a breathtaking image. 00:10:45.759 --> 00:10:47.340 She's absolutely gorgeous. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:50.159 And that's the way you'll find this heavenly city. 00:10:50.480 --> 00:10:52.220 I want you to notice another thing he says. 00:10:52.800 --> 00:10:53.220 He says, 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:55.379 The walls, they are diamond-like, 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:56.700 of pure jasper. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:59.039 Look at Revelation 21, verse 10, 00:10:59.240 --> 00:11:00.240 and verse 11. 00:11:01.039 --> 00:11:02.620 Then he carried me away in the spirit 00:11:02.620 --> 00:11:03.740 to a great and high mountain 00:11:03.740 --> 00:11:05.240 and showed me the holy city Jerusalem 00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:06.879 coming down out of heaven from God. 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:08.580 Arrayed with God's glory, 00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:10.560 her radiance was like a very precious stone, 00:11:10.560 --> 00:11:12.420 like a jasper stone, 00:11:12.580 --> 00:11:13.879 bright as crystal. 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:15.120 You know what that is? 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:16.360 That's diamond. 00:11:17.639 --> 00:11:19.700 Can you imagine the walls of this city? 00:11:20.340 --> 00:11:22.419 And they are pure diamond. 00:11:23.279 --> 00:11:26.440 Now, if you want to see a small diamond, 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:27.879 you come up after the surface 00:11:27.879 --> 00:11:30.060 and look at my wife's ring, right? 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:33.480 I mean, it looks like it came out of a cracker jack box. 00:11:33.580 --> 00:11:34.879 I was a sophomore in college, 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:35.860 and it's a tiny... 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:37.539 When Adam gave the angel of the ring, 00:11:38.019 --> 00:11:40.399 I mean, he just showed me up real, real bad. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.799 He got a real rock, right? 00:11:42.459 --> 00:11:43.480 But I'm telling you, 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:46.799 this city is a city that is built 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:49.079 with walls of diamond. 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:52.159 And then notice yet a fourth thing 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:53.519 about this beautiful place. 00:11:54.019 --> 00:11:55.399 There are massive gates, 00:11:55.579 --> 00:11:58.959 and each one is made of a single pearl. 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:01.539 Look, if you will, at Revelation 21, 00:12:02.199 --> 00:12:03.899 and verse 21. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:07.079 The gates are 12 pearls. 00:12:07.079 --> 00:12:10.159 Each individual gate was made of a single pearl. 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:13.620 The broad street of the city 00:12:13.620 --> 00:12:17.480 was pure gold-like transparent glass. 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:19.559 And so what he says is, 00:12:20.199 --> 00:12:22.120 there are four walls around the city. 00:12:22.259 --> 00:12:23.559 On each wall, three gates. 00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:26.539 Each of these gates is of a giant pearl. 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:28.840 Can you imagine that? 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:30.740 Wouldn't you like to see the orchestra 00:12:30.740 --> 00:12:31.840 they got that out of? 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:36.439 I mean, I don't know about you. 00:12:37.400 --> 00:12:40.460 There are fancier gems than pearls, 00:12:40.780 --> 00:12:43.960 but I don't think a woman ever looks more elegant. 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:45.820 If you're just going for a look of elegance, 00:12:46.060 --> 00:12:47.160 this is just Ralph's opinion. 00:12:47.960 --> 00:12:49.680 When a woman has on a black dress 00:12:49.680 --> 00:12:51.880 and a white string of pearls, 00:12:52.280 --> 00:12:54.760 that's about as elegant as it gets, isn't it? 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:56.180 And he says, 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:57.400 when you come into this city, 00:12:57.480 --> 00:13:00.640 here are these giant gates of a giant pearl. 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.960 He's giving us a picture of absolute, 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:04.779 breathtaking elegance. 00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:06.279 And then he says, 00:13:06.699 --> 00:13:08.259 on the foundation stone, 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:12.139 you read about that in chapter 21 and verse 14 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:13.620 and then verse 19 and 20, 00:13:14.699 --> 00:13:15.120 he says, 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:17.399 they're each one a different stone. 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:21.319 And each one is a different color. 00:13:22.299 --> 00:13:23.899 And on those stones are written 00:13:23.899 --> 00:13:26.199 the names of the 12 apostles 00:13:26.199 --> 00:13:28.720 of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:13:29.439 --> 00:13:32.779 Now, this city has no artificial lighting. 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:35.379 Jesus is the light of the city. 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:37.379 And so here's the idea again. 00:13:37.539 --> 00:13:39.879 As the brilliance of Jesus shines through, 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:41.179 radiates through that city, 00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:43.220 here are these 12 foundation stones, 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:44.299 each a different color, 00:13:44.980 --> 00:13:47.259 walls of transparent glass, 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:50.939 streets of pure transparent gold. 00:13:50.940 --> 00:13:55.940 My, the prism effect must absolutely be incredible. 00:13:56.800 --> 00:13:59.700 I can't begin to even imagine what it looks like. 00:14:00.540 --> 00:14:02.380 Now, here's the million dollar question. 00:14:03.660 --> 00:14:04.940 Is John speaking figuratively 00:14:05.680 --> 00:14:08.960 because he does so often in the book of Revelation? 00:14:09.880 --> 00:14:11.960 Or is he speaking literally? 00:14:13.380 --> 00:14:16.240 Is he describing literally what he sees 00:14:16.240 --> 00:14:17.600 or has he seen something 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:20.100 and he's just wanting to paint for us a picture 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:21.159 of something so breathtaking 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:24.019 and he uses this imagery that he gives us? 00:14:24.560 --> 00:14:25.600 I can't answer that. 00:14:26.740 --> 00:14:28.019 Because you see, I don't know. 00:14:28.120 --> 00:14:28.940 I didn't see it. 00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:29.659 And I can't say, 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:32.680 he's telling us exactly what he saw 00:14:32.680 --> 00:14:35.040 and it's literally going to be that way in heaven. 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:37.500 Or if he's just describing for us something 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:39.759 that he wants to paint a picture for us, 00:14:39.860 --> 00:14:43.060 this is beyond your wildest imagination. 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:44.660 I don't know. 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:45.879 I can't tell you. 00:14:46.040 --> 00:14:46.860 I'm going to tell you this. 00:14:46.860 --> 00:14:49.039 I don't have any trouble believing 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:52.879 that God has created exactly what John described. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:55.820 The only reason I say it could be 00:14:55.820 --> 00:14:58.620 that he's describing this figuratively is this. 00:14:58.720 --> 00:14:59.399 A couple of reasons. 00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:01.019 One is, 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:04.000 have you ever been someplace 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:06.300 and come back and you're so excited 00:15:06.300 --> 00:15:08.320 because you've seen this thing that's so magnificent 00:15:08.320 --> 00:15:09.620 and you can't wait to tell your friend 00:15:09.620 --> 00:15:12.120 and you sit down across them at Hardee's 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:13.320 with a sausage biscuit and say, 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:16.019 we just got back from such and such place, 00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:17.560 Niagara Falls, for instance. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:19.080 And how do you describe it to them? 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:22.120 We got there and man, it was so cool. 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:23.840 You could just feel the spray off the water 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:26.320 and just tons and tons and tons of water 00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:28.779 ran over this cliff and man, it was great. 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:32.659 Kind of anticlimactic, isn't it? 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:36.600 I mean, they're going, hmm, yeah, great, great. 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:41.460 Or you say, we went out, you know, to the Grand Canyon 00:15:41.460 --> 00:15:45.040 and we found this spot where we could make pictures. 00:15:45.159 --> 00:15:46.180 We made a ton of pictures. 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:46.879 What was it? 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:50.220 It was huge hole, man, huge hole. 00:15:51.700 --> 00:15:52.180 Wow. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.240 Huge hole. 00:15:55.500 --> 00:15:56.240 You understand what I'm saying? 00:15:56.879 --> 00:15:59.220 There are some things that are so great 00:15:59.220 --> 00:16:02.660 you can't capture it with words. 00:16:03.180 --> 00:16:05.800 In fact, how many of you go and make a lot of pictures 00:16:05.799 --> 00:16:07.599 when you go on vacation are those beautiful, 00:16:07.859 --> 00:16:09.679 you make snap tons of pictures, right? 00:16:09.819 --> 00:16:11.240 And you come back and you look at your picture 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:13.419 and you say, that's good, but, eh, 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:16.319 it's not like being there, is it? 00:16:17.099 --> 00:16:19.799 Even pictures can't capture the essence 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:22.539 of everything that you see. 00:16:23.979 --> 00:16:28.199 And so it could be that John is writing to us 00:16:28.199 --> 00:16:31.419 about something that's just beyond description. 00:16:32.339 --> 00:16:34.319 He does the best that he can do with it. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:39.320 There's another reason, too, that I wonder if it's figurative, 00:16:39.480 --> 00:16:40.560 and let me tell you what that is. 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:42.600 A few years ago, I was preaching in India. 00:16:42.660 --> 00:16:44.480 I went there for about a week and preached in India, 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:48.200 and on the way back from India, we stopped in Dubai. 00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:50.480 My daughter was booking the flight, 00:16:50.660 --> 00:16:52.780 and I was going with a couple people from my church, 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:55.140 and she was along with us, and she booked the flight, 00:16:55.260 --> 00:16:57.740 and she planned for us to spend 24 hours in Dubai. 00:16:57.740 --> 00:17:00.200 If you ever get to go there, boy, go there. 00:17:00.320 --> 00:17:03.620 It's the most opulent city in the world. 00:17:04.180 --> 00:17:05.019 There's just nothing. 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:06.799 I don't care what city you've been to, 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.940 there's nothing like Dubai. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:13.500 The skyscrapers, the tallest building in the world by three times is in Dubai. 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:19.019 But not only that, it's surrounded by architectural just masterpieces, right? 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:24.639 I could just take several moments telling you about the different buildings in Dubai. 00:17:25.559 --> 00:17:26.299 But I want to tell you something. 00:17:26.379 --> 00:17:28.279 For all their splendor and all their glory, 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:33.339 they don't begin, to me, to measure up to some of the natural things that I've seen 00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:36.460 that God created when he created the world. 00:17:37.639 --> 00:17:40.339 I don't know about you, but man-made structures, 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:45.160 buildings and streets of gold and even walls of jasper, 00:17:45.160 --> 00:17:51.200 they don't begin to match the things in my mind at any rate 00:17:51.200 --> 00:17:55.120 that I've already seen God produce here on this earth 00:17:55.120 --> 00:17:56.779 when he spoke the world into existence. 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.740 And I want to tell you something. 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:01.340 I've not seen the world as God created it, and you haven't seen it. 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.840 We've seen some beautiful things, 00:18:03.600 --> 00:18:07.259 but just about everything we've seen has been marred by sin, hasn't it? 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:09.880 Man, he's lived here for so long, 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:12.240 and we've not taken care of what God has prepared, 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:14.559 and sin has been introduced, 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:18.640 and so it's not the creation that God first established. 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:20.240 And so I just got to tell you, 00:18:20.299 --> 00:18:22.759 if you want a beautiful place in eternity, 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.519 you want to go to heaven. 00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.980 There's a second thing I want you to see, 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:28.440 and this is something I like even more than the beauty of heaven. 00:18:29.059 --> 00:18:32.079 It's a place of joy, peace, and happiness, and comfort. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:34.740 I want you to think about those words for just a moment. 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:36.299 A place of joy. 00:18:36.940 --> 00:18:40.140 How many of you would like to have any less joy in your life than you have now? 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:42.800 How many of you would say, 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:45.460 I'd sign on, I'd move tomorrow if I could find a place 00:18:45.460 --> 00:18:48.720 where there was more joy and more peace and more contentment, 00:18:48.840 --> 00:18:51.100 more happiness, and more comfort? 00:18:52.080 --> 00:18:53.520 That's what this place is like. 00:18:53.600 --> 00:18:55.900 Look at verse 4 of chapter 21. 00:18:56.840 --> 00:18:59.520 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:01.800 Death will exist no longer. 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:03.000 Everybody say praise God. 00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:03.700 Isn't that great? 00:19:05.020 --> 00:19:06.460 Death will exist no longer. 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:10.440 Grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer because, 00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:12.559 underscore that word because, 00:19:13.340 --> 00:19:16.960 the previous things have passed away. 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:19.220 And here's the picture. 00:19:19.860 --> 00:19:21.440 John says, the moment you enter heaven, 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:24.039 God wipes away your tears for the last time. 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:26.360 I want to ask you to raise your hands, 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:29.620 but everybody in this room would raise their hand if I ask, 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:32.559 saying, there have been plenty of times you shed tears. 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:36.679 When you've cried in the past, and it wasn't tears of joy, 00:19:36.779 --> 00:19:38.200 we can have tears of joy, 00:19:38.899 --> 00:19:41.079 but when we've cried in the past, 00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:42.679 you know what we cry over? 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.619 We're not so different. 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:45.480 We're all alike. 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:48.460 When you've cried, it's been over one of three things. 00:19:48.740 --> 00:19:50.220 You've cried over death. 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:52.679 The doctors looked you in the face and said, 00:19:52.740 --> 00:19:54.879 you're going to be dying before long. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:56.899 This disease is inoperable. 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:57.700 It's untreatable. 00:19:58.399 --> 00:20:00.980 You've only got X number of weeks, months to live. 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:05.720 You've cried even more over the death of those you love, 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:07.400 those friends, those family members, 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:11.079 those children and grandchildren you've had to say goodbye to. 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:13.240 Boy, that breaks your heart. 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:19.799 It's a time of deep, deep emotion and sorrow and suffering. 00:20:20.559 --> 00:20:23.299 And then there's a second thing you've cried over, 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.220 and that's disease. 00:20:25.299 --> 00:20:28.079 Not just the loss of a loved one, but disease. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:31.659 It's why I've sat across from just hundreds, 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:34.399 if not thousands of people over the years of my ministry 00:20:34.399 --> 00:20:37.199 who've told me about some disease they've developed, 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:39.000 and I've seen tears go up in their eyes, 00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:40.539 and I've cried for them. 00:20:40.919 --> 00:20:42.740 In fact, you don't even have to know people. 00:20:42.879 --> 00:20:45.339 You just, if you're healthy emotionally 00:20:45.339 --> 00:20:47.419 and healthy spiritually and healthy intellectually, 00:20:47.639 --> 00:20:49.039 you can go home this afternoon, 00:20:49.179 --> 00:20:51.119 and your wife can read you something on Facebook 00:20:51.119 --> 00:20:52.740 about some child you've never met 00:20:52.740 --> 00:20:54.259 and their condition, 00:20:54.259 --> 00:20:56.140 and it'll break your heart. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:58.039 We just don't like to hear about suffering, do we? 00:20:58.980 --> 00:21:00.339 Disease brings tears. 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.400 Death brings tears. 00:21:01.660 --> 00:21:03.799 And the final thing is disappointment brings tears. 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:07.299 Every one of us in this room have known disappointment. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:10.519 Every one of us have had that moment in our life 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:12.660 where things didn't go the way we thought they would. 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:14.720 Some of you got into a marriage, 00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:16.240 and you went south. 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:19.720 And man, is there any greater heartache 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:21.640 than a marriage that goes bad? 00:21:22.620 --> 00:21:24.160 See a family split up in divorce? 00:21:24.779 --> 00:21:27.220 That's about as tough as it gets emotionally. 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.740 We've known what it is to take a job 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:31.759 and have great promise about this job 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.620 only to find out that we're working for somebody 00:21:33.620 --> 00:21:35.700 that we just can't make it happen. 00:21:36.099 --> 00:21:37.019 We can't please them. 00:21:37.620 --> 00:21:38.660 And there's that disappointment. 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:41.380 We had kids that we began to raise, 00:21:41.420 --> 00:21:42.500 and we had such high hopes. 00:21:42.579 --> 00:21:44.200 We thought they would do this or this in life, 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:46.759 and then they got strung out on drugs, 00:21:46.840 --> 00:21:48.220 so they got to run with the wrong crowd, 00:21:48.380 --> 00:21:49.740 and their life went south. 00:21:49.819 --> 00:21:51.900 Maybe it came back, but still, in that moment, 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:54.500 you had great, great heartache, right? 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:57.660 Life is full of disappointments and heartache. 00:21:57.720 --> 00:21:59.900 But I'll tell you, here's why there are no tears, 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.980 if you've wondered that, 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.799 because it almost sounds too good to be true. 00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:03.779 It sounds magical, right? 00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:05.220 But he tells me why. 00:22:05.480 --> 00:22:09.519 He says, because all the former things are passed away. 00:22:10.360 --> 00:22:11.460 There is no disappointment. 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:12.480 There is no disease. 00:22:12.600 --> 00:22:13.380 There is no death. 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:14.039 And I'll tell you something. 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:16.120 Where there are none of those things, 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:17.500 there are no tears, 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:21.240 because those are the very things that bring us to tears. 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:23.779 Those are the very things that break our heart. 00:22:24.200 --> 00:22:26.980 But in heaven, all that's been taken away. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:29.279 I want to tell you, here's something else I like about heaven, 00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:29.779 third thing. 00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:33.799 It's a place where no one lives in fear. 00:22:35.180 --> 00:22:40.180 There are good emotions, joy and comfort and happiness, 00:22:40.180 --> 00:22:42.360 but there are bad emotions. 00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:44.220 One of those bad emotions is fear. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:49.100 I don't know about you, but of all the emotions I've ever experienced, 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:51.640 I hate fear worse than them all. 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:55.279 Fear just paralyzes us, doesn't it? 00:22:55.279 --> 00:22:58.519 A lot of psychologists have said, 00:22:58.519 --> 00:23:01.539 and I read in magazines like all of you have read, 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:06.399 that the number one fear among people is the fear of public speaking. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.180 But I want to tell you something. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:09.720 I know that's not true. 00:23:09.800 --> 00:23:10.720 Not because I'm a speaker. 00:23:10.860 --> 00:23:12.640 I just know it's just not true. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.660 That's what people think they fear. 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:19.180 And I hear things like claustrophobia, 00:23:20.060 --> 00:23:20.780 tight spaces, 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:24.019 or being in crowds for some folk, 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:26.059 or spiders or snakes. 00:23:26.940 --> 00:23:29.000 That's not the greatest fear that man has. 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:31.660 I can tell you with absolute confidence 00:23:31.660 --> 00:23:33.180 what the greatest fear we have is, 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:34.440 and that is the fear of death. 00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:38.539 And the reason is because we have lived long enough 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:41.099 and we know enough about the history of the earth to know this. 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.559 Every one of us, 00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:44.720 from the youngest person in this room to the oldest, 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:47.440 every one of us has a date with death. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:52.160 You see, Adam's children saw Adam and Eve die. 00:23:53.539 --> 00:23:58.059 And their great, great, great children saw their parents die. 00:23:59.160 --> 00:24:00.759 And all through the Old Testament, 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:01.960 those younger died. 00:24:03.180 --> 00:24:05.039 And all through the New Testament, 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.220 and even until today, 00:24:06.299 --> 00:24:07.259 we just know this, 00:24:07.840 --> 00:24:08.779 we're all going to die. 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:10.960 For every one that's ever been born, 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:11.759 one has died. 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:14.720 And the writer of Hebrews understood that. 00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:16.220 And I want you to hear what he says. 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:18.460 Go with me quickly to Hebrews. 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:21.579 Just turn back quickly to Hebrews chapter 2. 00:24:23.299 --> 00:24:25.120 I just want you to read two verses. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.960 Two of the most powerful verses I've ever read. 00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:29.759 Chapter 2, verse 14. 00:24:30.660 --> 00:24:33.500 Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:36.759 he also shared, speaking of Jesus, in these. 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:39.039 In other words, he came as a flesh and blood human being. 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.940 So that through his death, 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:44.920 he might destroy the one holding the power of death. 00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:47.560 That is the devil. 00:24:48.100 --> 00:24:49.480 Jesus came through his death. 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:52.900 He destroyed the devil and the power that he had, 00:24:53.360 --> 00:24:54.360 which was death. 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:56.000 And listen to verse 15. 00:24:56.240 --> 00:25:00.279 And free those who were held in slavery all their lives 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:02.940 by the fear of death. 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.519 When Jesus came, 00:25:04.860 --> 00:25:07.340 he set free every human being, 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.940 potentially on the planet, 00:25:08.940 --> 00:25:12.120 who were held in the slavery. 00:25:12.120 --> 00:25:13.620 I love that phrase he uses. 00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:16.380 The slavery of the fear of death. 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:17.180 Because I'm going to tell you something. 00:25:17.620 --> 00:25:19.340 If you're in constant fear, 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:21.940 you're a slave to fear. 00:25:23.600 --> 00:25:24.299 Well, I'm going to tell you something. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:25.799 Last thing any of us want to be 00:25:25.799 --> 00:25:27.039 is to have our freedom take away 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:28.100 and for us to be a slave. 00:25:28.860 --> 00:25:30.900 There's not a worse life on this planet 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.759 than to be a slave. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:36.819 And many of us are slaves to the fear of death. 00:25:36.879 --> 00:25:38.240 But he says Jesus has come 00:25:38.240 --> 00:25:40.640 and he's taken that away. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:44.180 And so this is a place where people, 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:46.779 they live without any fear at all. 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:48.940 Now, I'm going to talk very practically to you 00:25:48.940 --> 00:25:50.920 and especially the older ones in this crowd. 00:25:51.059 --> 00:25:51.420 For just a minute, 00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:53.099 those of you who are younger and this doesn't apply, 00:25:53.559 --> 00:25:55.140 you just call a time out 00:25:55.140 --> 00:25:56.859 and hang here with me for a second. 00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:59.359 But when you get a little older, 00:25:59.439 --> 00:26:00.179 you get 65. 00:26:00.459 --> 00:26:01.199 When I was 25, 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:02.379 I never thought about death 00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:03.139 unless I was doing something 00:26:03.139 --> 00:26:04.899 really, really, really stupid or dangerous. 00:26:06.240 --> 00:26:07.379 But when you get 65, 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:09.000 you don't have to be doing anything dangerous. 00:26:09.979 --> 00:26:12.000 You can be sitting there in your easy chair 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:14.479 and suddenly be overwhelmed 00:26:14.479 --> 00:26:16.299 with thoughts of death. 00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:18.359 There are a lot of people, 00:26:18.439 --> 00:26:19.099 they get up in the morning 00:26:19.099 --> 00:26:20.879 thinking about how long I'm going to live. 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.919 And they go to bed wondering 00:26:22.919 --> 00:26:24.099 why I wake up in the morning. 00:26:25.439 --> 00:26:26.139 Because you see, 00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:27.280 they see they're getting closer 00:26:27.280 --> 00:26:29.620 and closer and closer to death. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:31.640 And I want to tell you something, 00:26:31.900 --> 00:26:33.259 you shouldn't beat yourself up over that. 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:36.220 God has created us to want to live. 00:26:37.300 --> 00:26:38.460 You're not a bad Christian. 00:26:38.540 --> 00:26:38.840 If you say, 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.600 well, I just want to live. 00:26:39.660 --> 00:26:40.280 I want to stay here. 00:26:40.340 --> 00:26:41.060 I know this. 00:26:41.280 --> 00:26:42.200 It's all you know. 00:26:42.680 --> 00:26:43.100 You understand? 00:26:44.060 --> 00:26:44.740 It's all you know. 00:26:44.780 --> 00:26:46.020 You shouldn't feel bad about that. 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:47.540 But I want to tell you something. 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:48.940 In this new land, 00:26:49.040 --> 00:26:50.420 this is a good word for you 00:26:50.420 --> 00:26:51.460 if you're in that category. 00:26:52.820 --> 00:26:54.360 When you get to this new land, 00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:56.859 that will never cross your mind again. 00:26:58.059 --> 00:26:58.819 Isn't that a great thing? 00:26:58.959 --> 00:26:59.979 You'll be free of that. 00:27:00.719 --> 00:27:02.059 You'll never worry again 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.740 about death's coming. 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:04.839 It's coming. 00:27:04.939 --> 00:27:05.619 It's on the horizon. 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.359 In this new land, 00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.579 that's forever gone. 00:27:10.639 --> 00:27:11.579 It is a place 00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:13.679 where no one lives in fear of death. 00:27:13.899 --> 00:27:14.859 Here's the fourth thing. 00:27:15.299 --> 00:27:17.159 It is a place that is safe. 00:27:17.160 --> 00:27:18.620 I really do like this one. 00:27:19.400 --> 00:27:20.500 It is a place that is safe. 00:27:20.800 --> 00:27:21.300 You know what I did 00:27:21.300 --> 00:27:23.160 about 15 years ago? 00:27:23.840 --> 00:27:25.540 The world was getting so crazy 00:27:25.540 --> 00:27:26.980 and schools were being shot up 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:28.259 and people were coming in churches 00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.779 and we had a security team 00:27:29.779 --> 00:27:30.560 at Brushy Creek 00:27:30.560 --> 00:27:31.560 and they said, 00:27:31.640 --> 00:27:32.279 we got your back 00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.320 and all that kind of stuff. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.420 But you know what I did? 00:27:34.560 --> 00:27:35.680 The world got so crazy, 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:37.040 I went and applied 00:27:37.040 --> 00:27:38.800 for a carry permit 00:27:38.800 --> 00:27:39.580 to carry a gun. 00:27:40.120 --> 00:27:41.420 I went and took the test 00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:42.540 and I got my permit 00:27:42.540 --> 00:27:44.040 and I carried that gun 00:27:44.040 --> 00:27:45.519 about three days. 00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:48.299 And then I just put it away. 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:48.799 I thought, 00:27:48.900 --> 00:27:49.839 I'm not going to live like this 00:27:49.839 --> 00:27:50.660 and I ain't going to carry no gun 00:27:50.660 --> 00:27:51.960 and I'm not saying anything about it. 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:52.759 Some of you may be 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.700 talking right now, right? 00:27:53.839 --> 00:27:54.079 Okay? 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:56.240 Please don't pull that thing 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:56.759 out in here. 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:01.059 But I'm just telling you something. 00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:02.599 I understand why people do that. 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:04.079 It's because they don't feel safe 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:06.039 going into any public place, 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:06.720 into restaurants 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.519 and all kinds of places. 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.579 And you know why? 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.619 Because our world 00:28:09.619 --> 00:28:11.359 is not a safe place. 00:28:12.220 --> 00:28:12.920 I'm not saying 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:13.700 you're in danger now. 00:28:13.700 --> 00:28:15.119 You're not going to be in danger 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.939 in all likelihood 00:28:15.939 --> 00:28:17.119 when you go to eat this afternoon. 00:28:17.479 --> 00:28:18.239 But I just want to tell you something. 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:20.019 We live in an unstable, 00:28:20.199 --> 00:28:20.779 unsafe world 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:22.339 because there are folk out there 00:28:22.339 --> 00:28:24.159 who are twisted mentally 00:28:24.159 --> 00:28:25.099 and spiritually 00:28:25.099 --> 00:28:26.439 and morally 00:28:26.439 --> 00:28:28.159 and emotionally. 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:30.519 And we see it every day. 00:28:31.459 --> 00:28:32.599 You don't need me to tell you. 00:28:32.779 --> 00:28:33.679 I'm just telling you something 00:28:33.679 --> 00:28:34.659 you already know. 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:35.599 I'm just bringing it 00:28:35.599 --> 00:28:36.599 to your conscious thought. 00:28:37.239 --> 00:28:38.199 There are twisted folk 00:28:38.199 --> 00:28:38.659 in our world. 00:28:38.919 --> 00:28:40.439 When a woman like Susan Smith 00:28:40.439 --> 00:28:41.539 can take her children 00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.639 and strap them in the back seat 00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:43.119 of the car 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:44.219 because she's having 00:28:44.219 --> 00:28:44.959 an affair with some guy 00:28:44.959 --> 00:28:46.679 and drive it off into a lake 00:28:46.679 --> 00:28:47.699 and see them drown. 00:28:48.659 --> 00:28:49.519 Boy, that's twisted. 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.179 You understand? 00:28:51.379 --> 00:28:52.139 That's twisted. 00:28:54.179 --> 00:28:55.639 That's a sick human being. 00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:57.000 And we live in a world 00:28:57.000 --> 00:28:58.359 where it's twisted. 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:01.179 Our world wasn't safe 00:29:01.179 --> 00:29:02.979 altogether when I was a boy. 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:05.099 But you can't imagine 00:29:05.099 --> 00:29:06.599 how more unsafe it is today. 00:29:07.659 --> 00:29:09.259 My mother would send me 00:29:09.259 --> 00:29:10.059 out of the house in the morning 00:29:10.059 --> 00:29:11.079 and she didn't want to see me 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.679 until dark. 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:15.960 Parents would go crazy today 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:17.099 if they didn't see their child 00:29:17.099 --> 00:29:18.059 from morning to dark. 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:21.460 Because we live in fear. 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.440 It's unsafe. 00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:24.599 I want to read you a verse. 00:29:25.019 --> 00:29:25.879 Look at the last verse 00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:26.940 of Revelation 21. 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.919 Revelation 21, 27. 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:32.000 Nothing profane will ever enter it. 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:32.940 No one who does 00:29:32.940 --> 00:29:34.359 what is vile or false 00:29:34.359 --> 00:29:36.399 but only those written 00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:38.619 in the Lamb's book of life. 00:29:38.619 --> 00:29:40.759 This is a safe place. 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.219 You know why? 00:29:42.699 --> 00:29:43.439 Manuel Scott, 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:44.439 the great black preacher. 00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:46.099 Man, I loved him 00:29:46.099 --> 00:29:47.479 when I was a young preacher. 00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:48.619 I just, I like, 00:29:48.679 --> 00:29:49.579 every time I could go here 00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:50.419 and I'd go to hear him, 00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.719 he'd take those suspenders 00:29:51.719 --> 00:29:52.979 he wore and he'd pull them out here 00:29:52.979 --> 00:29:54.399 and this is something he said 00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.399 one time he's preaching on heaven. 00:29:55.859 --> 00:29:56.959 He said, you know what I like 00:29:56.959 --> 00:29:57.659 best about heaven? 00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.219 There ain't gonna be 00:29:58.219 --> 00:29:59.139 no heathen there. 00:30:01.679 --> 00:30:03.119 Now I want you to understand this. 00:30:03.199 --> 00:30:04.039 It's not that there won't be 00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:05.079 people who've not sinned 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:06.299 and sinned horribly there. 00:30:06.299 --> 00:30:07.859 It's that there won't be 00:30:07.859 --> 00:30:08.839 any people there 00:30:08.839 --> 00:30:10.539 who don't have a changed heart. 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.259 A lot of people 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.220 have done wrong things 00:30:14.220 --> 00:30:14.879 and have come into 00:30:14.879 --> 00:30:15.700 the kingdom of God 00:30:15.700 --> 00:30:17.019 because they came to Christ 00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:18.279 and he gave them 00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.419 a new nature. 00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.940 They were born again. 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:23.519 And now they're safe. 00:30:25.079 --> 00:30:26.579 Boy, don't you long for a safe, 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.919 wouldn't you to date 00:30:27.919 --> 00:30:29.159 move from wherever you are 00:30:29.159 --> 00:30:30.779 if you knew I could take my family 00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:33.220 and go to a perfectly safe place. 00:30:34.019 --> 00:30:35.899 Heaven is such a place. 00:30:35.900 --> 00:30:37.240 It is a place 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:38.560 where we're always safe. 00:30:38.660 --> 00:30:39.060 Fifthly, 00:30:39.400 --> 00:30:40.400 it is a place 00:30:40.400 --> 00:30:41.100 where we'll be 00:30:41.100 --> 00:30:42.600 a much better version 00:30:42.600 --> 00:30:43.420 of ourselves. 00:30:43.540 --> 00:30:44.140 This is one of the things 00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:45.200 I like best about heaven. 00:30:45.940 --> 00:30:47.019 It's one of the places, 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:48.720 it's one of the things 00:30:48.720 --> 00:30:49.560 is that we will be 00:30:49.560 --> 00:30:50.500 a much better version 00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:51.640 of ourselves there. 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:55.360 I don't know about you, 00:30:56.540 --> 00:30:58.759 I like a lot about me 00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.880 and I don't mean that bragging. 00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:02.000 I like a lot about me 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.700 and I hope you like 00:31:02.700 --> 00:31:03.620 a lot about you. 00:31:04.440 --> 00:31:05.660 If you have a good self-esteem, 00:31:05.660 --> 00:31:06.980 I think that'll be the case. 00:31:07.960 --> 00:31:08.940 But I gotta tell you, 00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:10.160 there are a lot of things 00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:11.320 I don't like about me. 00:31:12.580 --> 00:31:13.340 There are some things 00:31:13.340 --> 00:31:14.480 I detest about me. 00:31:15.540 --> 00:31:16.920 There are times in my life 00:31:16.920 --> 00:31:17.820 when I look at myself 00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:18.720 and I've done something, 00:31:18.820 --> 00:31:19.440 I've said something, 00:31:19.540 --> 00:31:20.300 I've thought something, 00:31:20.420 --> 00:31:21.320 and I think to myself, 00:31:21.540 --> 00:31:22.519 you've been a Christian 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.740 since you were 14. 00:31:25.000 --> 00:31:26.259 How in the world 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.480 can you think that way? 00:31:28.360 --> 00:31:29.000 How in the world 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.800 can you have that thought? 00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:30.320 How in the world 00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:31.480 can you entertain that thought? 00:31:31.540 --> 00:31:32.040 How in the world 00:31:32.039 --> 00:31:32.859 can you say that? 00:31:33.059 --> 00:31:33.539 How in the world 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:34.759 is it you did 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:36.339 this stupid thing you did? 00:31:37.559 --> 00:31:38.019 I tell you, 00:31:38.039 --> 00:31:38.879 I disappoint me 00:31:38.879 --> 00:31:40.000 more than anybody else. 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:42.759 Is it that way with you? 00:31:43.779 --> 00:31:44.379 Aren't there times 00:31:44.379 --> 00:31:44.839 you just wish, 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.700 what in the world 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.579 is wrong with me? 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:49.399 What made me say that? 00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.519 What made me do it? 00:31:50.579 --> 00:31:51.960 Why do I think this way? 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.639 I'm gonna tell you something, 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.379 when you get to heaven, 00:31:55.000 --> 00:31:55.879 you're gonna like you 00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:56.399 a lot better 00:31:56.399 --> 00:31:57.159 than you do now. 00:31:58.120 --> 00:31:58.820 You know why? 00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.960 Because you're a work 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.519 in progress, 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:01.600 but you're not there yet. 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.740 Romans 8, 28 says 00:32:03.740 --> 00:32:04.640 he's molding us 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:05.580 and fashioning us 00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:06.440 and changing us 00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:07.440 into the image of his son. 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:08.740 But I got news for you, 00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.600 you may think you're there, 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.820 but you're not there yet. 00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:13.200 And 1 John, 00:32:13.440 --> 00:32:14.700 chapter 3 and verse 2 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.480 says this. 00:32:16.400 --> 00:32:16.880 John says, 00:32:17.019 --> 00:32:17.440 I don't know 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.440 what we'll be like 00:32:18.440 --> 00:32:21.240 because I have not yet seen him, 00:32:21.279 --> 00:32:21.900 but I know this, 00:32:22.019 --> 00:32:23.640 I will be like him. 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.900 Isn't that a glorious thought? 00:32:25.900 --> 00:32:27.680 Just to say, 00:32:27.980 --> 00:32:28.460 you know why 00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.259 when I get to heaven, 00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:31.240 I'll be just like Jesus. 00:32:32.320 --> 00:32:33.280 I'm gonna like myself 00:32:33.280 --> 00:32:33.880 a lot better, 00:32:33.960 --> 00:32:34.620 I don't know about you, 00:32:34.860 --> 00:32:36.200 a lot better than I do now 00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:38.560 when I come to be like Jesus. 00:32:39.560 --> 00:32:40.580 It is a place, 00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:42.000 finally, 00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:45.000 where we will continually 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.900 dwell with God. 00:32:47.060 --> 00:32:48.660 Look at Revelation 21, 3 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.380 and I close. 00:32:50.100 --> 00:32:51.120 Then I heard a loud voice 00:32:51.120 --> 00:32:51.720 from the throne, 00:32:51.940 --> 00:32:52.180 look, 00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:53.500 God is dwelling with men 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:54.820 and he will live with them 00:32:54.819 --> 00:32:56.319 and they will be his people 00:32:56.319 --> 00:32:57.079 and God himself 00:32:57.079 --> 00:32:57.879 will be with them 00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:59.679 and be their God. 00:33:00.839 --> 00:33:01.539 It is a place 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:02.700 where we will eternally 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:04.079 be with God. 00:33:06.159 --> 00:33:07.240 It doesn't get any better 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:07.619 than that. 00:33:09.139 --> 00:33:10.359 I've seen the talk shows 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:11.059 and you have too 00:33:11.059 --> 00:33:12.000 where they are 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:13.339 asking people, 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:14.599 if you could spend 00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:16.000 two hours 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.539 with anybody 00:33:16.539 --> 00:33:17.740 on the planet 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.480 living now 00:33:18.480 --> 00:33:19.759 or has lived in the past, 00:33:20.460 --> 00:33:21.079 who would it be? 00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:22.899 And you know the drill, 00:33:22.900 --> 00:33:24.120 they say politicians 00:33:24.120 --> 00:33:24.940 from the past 00:33:24.940 --> 00:33:25.480 or the present. 00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:27.420 They name some athletes 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:28.259 from the present 00:33:28.259 --> 00:33:28.960 or the past. 00:33:29.140 --> 00:33:30.019 They name some 00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.519 great folks 00:33:31.519 --> 00:33:32.460 in human history. 00:33:33.580 --> 00:33:34.280 Some of them 00:33:34.280 --> 00:33:35.120 think of relatives 00:33:35.120 --> 00:33:36.200 who've gone on to glory. 00:33:36.400 --> 00:33:37.340 I'd spend it with my mother 00:33:37.340 --> 00:33:37.880 and my dad. 00:33:38.340 --> 00:33:38.800 I'll tell you something, 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:40.380 if everybody on the planet 00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.740 had time to think that through 00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:43.100 and they knew 00:33:43.100 --> 00:33:44.940 what the New Testament 00:33:44.940 --> 00:33:46.220 says about Jesus, 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:48.540 there'd only be one answer 00:33:48.540 --> 00:33:49.140 to that question. 00:33:49.140 --> 00:33:51.640 I'd spend it with Jesus 00:33:51.640 --> 00:33:52.740 above everybody else 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.480 because I'm going to tell you something, 00:33:53.560 --> 00:33:54.720 when you're spending it with Jesus, 00:33:55.560 --> 00:33:56.920 you're spending it with God. 00:33:58.080 --> 00:33:59.160 When you're spending it with Jesus, 00:33:59.320 --> 00:34:00.500 you're spending it with the one 00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.020 who said 00:34:01.020 --> 00:34:03.140 be and the world was. 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.780 Can you imagine that? 00:34:05.680 --> 00:34:06.780 You're spending it with the one 00:34:06.780 --> 00:34:08.160 who loved you enough 00:34:08.160 --> 00:34:10.000 that he left the glory of heaven 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:11.820 and came to earth 00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:14.000 in a flesh and blood body 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.720 like mine 00:34:14.720 --> 00:34:15.480 and yours 00:34:15.480 --> 00:34:17.460 and spilled his blood 00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:18.000 on the cross 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:19.739 because he loves you that much. 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:21.860 I'll tell you, 00:34:21.900 --> 00:34:22.320 hands down, 00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:22.780 you'd say, 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:24.320 I want to spend two hours 00:34:24.320 --> 00:34:24.900 with Jesus. 00:34:25.840 --> 00:34:26.500 I want to tell you something, 00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:27.880 in heaven you're going to spend 00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:28.519 all eternity 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.420 with Jesus. 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:31.980 Jesus, 00:34:32.159 --> 00:34:33.099 on the eve of his death, 00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:34.119 he's getting ready to die. 00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:35.860 All day long, 00:34:36.039 --> 00:34:37.119 even that night at the supper, 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:38.059 he's been talking about 00:34:38.059 --> 00:34:39.019 his impending death. 00:34:39.139 --> 00:34:39.659 They've been arguing, 00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:40.460 well, you're not going to die. 00:34:40.739 --> 00:34:41.320 Yes, I am. 00:34:41.400 --> 00:34:42.000 No, you're not. 00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.760 We're not going to let you. 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.619 I'm going to die. 00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:45.840 So by the time 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:47.159 they get ready to go to the garden, 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:49.599 it'd be like you and I, 00:34:49.639 --> 00:34:51.320 if your loved one today 00:34:51.320 --> 00:34:52.539 started saying, 00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:53.659 I know I'm going to die tomorrow, 00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:54.599 I know I'm going to die tomorrow, 00:34:54.679 --> 00:34:55.480 I know I'm going to die tomorrow. 00:34:56.280 --> 00:34:56.679 You just, 00:34:57.159 --> 00:34:57.320 huh. 00:34:58.599 --> 00:34:59.559 So he looks in their faces 00:34:59.559 --> 00:35:01.260 and he sees they're just so despondent. 00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:02.440 This is what he says, 00:35:02.500 --> 00:35:03.400 fellas, fellas, fellas, 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:03.780 listen, 00:35:04.119 --> 00:35:04.380 listen. 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:06.559 You believe in God, 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:07.019 don't you? 00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:11.360 Well then believe also in me. 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:13.980 Because you see, 00:35:14.059 --> 00:35:15.039 in my Father's house, 00:35:15.140 --> 00:35:17.620 there are many, many, many dwelling places, 00:35:17.840 --> 00:35:18.120 mansions, 00:35:18.220 --> 00:35:19.140 whatever you want to say. 00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:21.519 If it were not so, 00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:22.360 I would have told you. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:26.079 I'm going to prepare a place for you 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:27.579 that where I am, 00:35:28.700 --> 00:35:31.120 there you may be also. 00:35:33.240 --> 00:35:34.720 And the way you know, 00:35:35.780 --> 00:35:36.720 and whither I go, 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:37.220 you know. 00:35:37.219 --> 00:35:39.759 Now Thomas, 00:35:39.879 --> 00:35:41.099 the other's just standing like a deer 00:35:41.099 --> 00:35:42.259 in headlights kind of looking at him. 00:35:43.799 --> 00:35:45.179 And Jesus looked at Thomas 00:35:45.179 --> 00:35:46.419 and Thomas is scratching his head 00:35:46.419 --> 00:35:47.439 because he don't get it 00:35:47.439 --> 00:35:49.339 because he's right. 00:35:49.459 --> 00:35:50.399 It doesn't make sense. 00:35:51.679 --> 00:35:52.419 And Thomas says, 00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:53.899 what the others may be thinking, 00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.299 he says, 00:35:54.719 --> 00:35:56.679 you haven't told us where you're going, 00:35:56.759 --> 00:35:57.699 how can we know the way? 00:35:59.439 --> 00:36:00.639 Imagine you walk out on the streets 00:36:00.639 --> 00:36:01.539 picking and somebody says, 00:36:02.079 --> 00:36:03.079 pardon me, sir, 00:36:03.339 --> 00:36:04.399 could you tell me how to get there? 00:36:05.839 --> 00:36:06.199 Where? 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.399 Where are you going? 00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.460 And when he tells you where, 00:36:09.539 --> 00:36:10.199 you can tell him where he's going. 00:36:10.359 --> 00:36:11.339 But Jesus hasn't told him 00:36:11.339 --> 00:36:11.799 where he's going. 00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:14.239 And then Jesus looked at him, 00:36:14.279 --> 00:36:14.899 this is what he says, 00:36:15.879 --> 00:36:16.199 Thomas, 00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:17.819 I am the way. 00:36:18.679 --> 00:36:19.659 I am the truth 00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:20.639 and I am the life. 00:36:21.279 --> 00:36:22.960 And no man comes to the Father 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:24.000 but by me. 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:24.839 Now get this, 00:36:24.939 --> 00:36:25.539 get this. 00:36:26.339 --> 00:36:27.039 He doesn't say, 00:36:27.139 --> 00:36:27.879 I'm going to heaven. 00:36:29.239 --> 00:36:29.679 He doesn't say, 00:36:29.719 --> 00:36:30.939 I'm going to streets of gold. 00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:32.460 He doesn't say, 00:36:32.519 --> 00:36:33.839 I'm going to walls of Jasper. 00:36:33.840 --> 00:36:36.640 He doesn't say he's going any place. 00:36:38.240 --> 00:36:38.820 He says, 00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:39.320 I'm the way, 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:39.700 the truth, 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:40.000 life. 00:36:40.120 --> 00:36:41.320 No one comes to the, 00:36:41.860 --> 00:36:42.559 say it with me, 00:36:43.019 --> 00:36:43.440 Father, 00:36:44.140 --> 00:36:44.880 but by me. 00:36:45.700 --> 00:36:46.860 When Jesus thought of heaven, 00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:47.559 you know what he thought about? 00:36:47.680 --> 00:36:48.280 One thing. 00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:49.780 The Father. 00:36:50.760 --> 00:36:51.980 I'm going to the Father. 00:36:53.200 --> 00:36:54.640 And the way you get to the Father 00:36:54.640 --> 00:36:55.480 is through me. 00:36:55.800 --> 00:36:56.539 And I want to tell you this 00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:57.140 and I close. 00:36:57.139 --> 00:36:59.739 The world has just missed that 00:36:59.739 --> 00:37:00.759 by a million miles 00:37:00.759 --> 00:37:03.139 since we were created. 00:37:04.139 --> 00:37:05.000 Because you study 00:37:05.000 --> 00:37:06.259 all the religions of the world 00:37:06.259 --> 00:37:07.440 and all the nations of the world 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:08.920 and all the continents of people 00:37:08.920 --> 00:37:09.539 of the world. 00:37:10.460 --> 00:37:11.859 And it's pretty obvious 00:37:11.859 --> 00:37:13.119 what man thinks. 00:37:13.239 --> 00:37:14.519 Man thinks he gets to heaven 00:37:14.519 --> 00:37:16.159 by being good. 00:37:16.359 --> 00:37:17.420 You watch all the newscasters, 00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.339 they don't even believe in heaven. 00:37:18.420 --> 00:37:18.960 They'll say this, 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.799 well, so and so must be looking down 00:37:20.799 --> 00:37:21.579 on us now in heaven 00:37:21.579 --> 00:37:23.960 because he was such a good guy. 00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:24.960 Right? 00:37:24.960 --> 00:37:26.940 But you don't get to heaven 00:37:26.940 --> 00:37:27.659 by being good 00:37:27.659 --> 00:37:30.059 because you're not good enough. 00:37:30.880 --> 00:37:31.980 Because you're not perfect. 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:34.000 And you never can be. 00:37:34.679 --> 00:37:35.539 And you can start 00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:37.400 undoing all the wrongs 00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:37.940 you've ever done, 00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:38.519 trying to. 00:37:38.639 --> 00:37:39.659 You can never make them up. 00:37:40.519 --> 00:37:41.179 Can you imagine 00:37:41.179 --> 00:37:42.659 how offensive that is to God? 00:37:43.340 --> 00:37:44.260 It'd be like this, 00:37:44.300 --> 00:37:45.460 that I come up to you today 00:37:45.460 --> 00:37:46.079 after the service 00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:47.579 and you just make me 00:37:47.579 --> 00:37:48.260 a little crossbar 00:37:48.260 --> 00:37:49.280 and I just punch you 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:49.980 right in the nose. 00:37:51.260 --> 00:37:52.480 And then I reach my wallet 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:53.280 and I pull out $20 00:37:53.280 --> 00:37:53.659 and say, 00:37:53.699 --> 00:37:54.800 here, take this, forgive me. 00:37:54.960 --> 00:37:57.300 You'd say, 00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:58.240 are you crazy? 00:37:59.400 --> 00:38:00.599 You can't give my forgiveness 00:38:00.599 --> 00:38:01.519 because you punched me 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:01.840 in the nose 00:38:01.840 --> 00:38:02.460 and gave me $20. 00:38:02.699 --> 00:38:03.360 Are you nuts? 00:38:04.740 --> 00:38:05.420 That won't happen. 00:38:06.260 --> 00:38:06.820 I'll tell you something. 00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:08.400 We can't give the forgiveness 00:38:08.400 --> 00:38:09.360 of God by, 00:38:09.860 --> 00:38:10.860 okay, I'll go to church. 00:38:11.760 --> 00:38:12.800 Okay, I'll give some money. 00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:14.500 I'll be better. 00:38:15.300 --> 00:38:15.619 Really? 00:38:17.199 --> 00:38:17.760 God says, 00:38:17.840 --> 00:38:18.599 the only way you can 00:38:18.599 --> 00:38:19.639 have forgiveness 00:38:19.639 --> 00:38:19.779 forgiveness, 00:38:20.500 --> 00:38:23.099 is to have your sins 00:38:23.099 --> 00:38:24.019 pardoned. 00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:25.739 You have to receive 00:38:25.739 --> 00:38:26.819 a divine pardon. 00:38:27.779 --> 00:38:29.440 And God can grant you 00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:29.900 that pardon 00:38:29.900 --> 00:38:31.420 because He came 00:38:31.420 --> 00:38:32.559 and paid for your sin 00:38:32.559 --> 00:38:33.139 and my sin 00:38:33.139 --> 00:38:34.159 Himself 00:38:34.159 --> 00:38:35.099 on the cross. 00:38:36.039 --> 00:38:36.799 And He's made it 00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:37.500 available to you. 00:38:38.139 --> 00:38:38.779 And the only way 00:38:38.779 --> 00:38:39.460 you're ever going to get there 00:38:39.460 --> 00:38:40.219 is through Jesus. 00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:42.239 You can be good. 00:38:42.319 --> 00:38:43.079 You can have your name 00:38:43.079 --> 00:38:44.079 on this church roll 00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:45.559 or a thousand church rolls. 00:38:46.259 --> 00:38:46.699 But the only way 00:38:46.699 --> 00:38:47.380 you'll ever get there 00:38:47.380 --> 00:38:48.860 is have your sins pardoned. 00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:49.579 Have you ever asked 00:38:49.579 --> 00:38:50.159 for that pardon? 00:38:51.299 --> 00:38:51.779 Have you ever said, 00:38:51.860 --> 00:38:52.340 Lord Jesus, 00:38:52.500 --> 00:38:53.380 I believe You came 00:38:53.380 --> 00:38:54.519 and died for my sins. 00:38:54.739 --> 00:38:55.679 I am a sinner. 00:38:55.779 --> 00:38:56.840 I confess that to You. 00:38:57.159 --> 00:38:58.619 I want my sins pardoned. 00:38:58.679 --> 00:38:59.860 I want this eternal home. 00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:00.539 I want to spend 00:39:00.539 --> 00:39:01.639 eternity with You. 00:39:02.360 --> 00:39:03.279 I know I'm not going 00:39:03.279 --> 00:39:04.199 to get out of here alive. 00:39:05.199 --> 00:39:06.380 I know that this is 00:39:06.380 --> 00:39:07.539 all going to end one day. 00:39:07.739 --> 00:39:08.659 But when it's over, 00:39:08.980 --> 00:39:09.519 I want to go 00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:10.279 and live with You. 00:39:11.179 --> 00:39:12.420 I want that pardoned. 00:39:13.019 --> 00:39:13.799 Would You forgive me 00:39:13.799 --> 00:39:14.480 of my sins? 00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:16.300 You can have it 00:39:16.300 --> 00:39:17.380 right now here today 00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:18.500 by just praying 00:39:18.500 --> 00:39:19.380 something like this, 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:20.039 Lord Jesus, 00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:21.920 I don't know a lot 00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:22.440 about You, 00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:24.280 but I believe You came 00:39:24.280 --> 00:39:24.940 and died for me. 00:39:24.980 --> 00:39:25.780 I believe what this man 00:39:25.780 --> 00:39:26.800 said about You today. 00:39:27.659 --> 00:39:28.679 I'm willing today, 00:39:28.740 --> 00:39:29.500 I want today 00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:30.179 to receive You 00:39:30.179 --> 00:39:30.679 as my Savior. 00:39:30.800 --> 00:39:31.420 I'm asking You 00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:31.980 to forgive me 00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:32.599 of my sins. 00:39:33.300 --> 00:39:34.480 I want to follow You. 00:39:34.900 --> 00:39:35.980 I give You my life 00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:36.480 going forward. 00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:37.360 I give You my life. 00:39:37.440 --> 00:39:38.579 I surrender my life to You. 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:40.440 Would You do that today? 00:39:41.240 --> 00:39:42.079 If You've never done that, 00:39:42.119 --> 00:39:42.679 I'm going to ask You 00:39:42.679 --> 00:39:43.219 in just a moment 00:39:43.219 --> 00:39:44.199 to get up out of Your seat 00:39:44.199 --> 00:39:45.139 and just come here 00:39:45.139 --> 00:39:45.359 and say, 00:39:45.419 --> 00:39:45.659 Pastor, 00:39:45.879 --> 00:39:46.679 I want that. 00:39:47.179 --> 00:39:48.179 Even if you don't come, 00:39:48.339 --> 00:39:50.019 if fear of embarrassment 00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:50.919 would keep you from coming, 00:39:51.259 --> 00:39:52.239 you pray that right there 00:39:52.239 --> 00:39:52.839 where you are. 00:39:53.779 --> 00:39:55.099 You just turn Godward 00:39:55.099 --> 00:39:55.339 and say, 00:39:55.399 --> 00:39:55.619 God, 00:39:55.699 --> 00:39:56.480 I want You. 00:39:56.539 --> 00:39:57.139 I need You. 00:39:57.879 --> 00:39:58.619 Would you do that? 00:39:59.699 --> 00:40:00.519 Let's stand and sing 00:40:00.519 --> 00:40:01.639 their hymn of invitation. 00:40:01.639 --> 00:40:02.960 KiCON in, 00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:03.139 and make you Dep、、, 00:40:03.239 --> 00:40:04.099 Thank you, 00:40:04.259 --> 00:40:04.500 you're welcome. 00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:05.239 You have to take down 00:40:05.239 --> 00:40:05.559 your patience in the 00:40:05.559 --> 00:40:06.179 factory, 00:40:06.400 --> 00:40:06.539 and how much God 00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:07.119 does the happen are 00:40:07.119 --> 00:40:08.299 were going to participate 00:40:08.299 --> 00:40:09.219 in the karma law. 00:40:09.420 --> 00:40:10.239 You're damaging it. 00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:10.579 I've thrown the place 00:40:10.579 --> 00:40:11.139 and I move on 00:40:11.139 --> 00:40:11.739 until I leave you 00:40:11.739 --> 00:40:12.219 with the empresarial 00:40:12.239 --> 00:40:12.259 and direction, 00:40:12.259 --> 00:40:13.159 all of my- 00:40:13.159 --> 00:40:13.759 ahr programmation. 00:40:13.759 --> 00:40:14.619 And how about it 00:40:14.619 --> 00:40:15.059 is offered to enable the 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:15.139 ready? 00:40:15.539 --> 00:40:16.599 I don't have to seize 00:40:16.599 --> 00:40:16.960 and come to come. 00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:17.079 I should not have 00:40:17.079 --> 00:40:18.059 but be fit ine 00:40:18.059 --> 00:40:18.219 if I don't really 00:40:18.219 --> 00:40:18.460 want to assist in 00:40:18.500 --> 00:40:18.699 and instead 00:40:18.699 --> 00:40:19.480 go other than 00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:20.480 you're going to 00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:20.859 ぶpare.