11-29-98 Heaven in the Real World? Isaiah 2

by Ronald E. George Jr. at the Sand Fork Baptist Church

A little boy, caught in mischief, was asked by his mother: "How do you expect to get into heaven?"

He thought a minute and then said: "Well, I'll just run in and out and in and keep slamming the door until they say, 'For goodness sake, come in or stay out.' Then I'll go in."

A Sunday School teacher had been telling a class of little boys about crowns of glory and heavenly rewards for good people. "Now tell me," she said at the close of the lesson, "who will get the biggest crown?"

There was a moment's silence, then little Johnnie replied, "Him that's got the biggest HEAD!"

WHO WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN?

A Sunday School teacher was telling her class about heaven. She spoke of the happiness they would experience there, and the beauty they would see. Finally, she said, "How many of you want to go to heaven?" Everyone put up their hand, except little Robbie. The Sunday School teacher asked, "Don't you want to go to heaven, too, Robbie?"

"Oh yes, I do," said Robbie, "but I thought you were making up a group to go right now!"

A little girl was walking with her daddy under a starlit sky. After several moments of silence, she remarked, "Father, I've been thinking. If the wrong side of heaven is so beautiful, just imagine what the right side will be!" ---Christian Endeavor World

Scripture Text: Isai 2:1 (KJV) The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Most folks want to go to heaven, but how many of us realize that Heaven can come to the real world. Has heaven come to the real world of your life? If it has what does it look like? Heaven is experiencing the presence of God in an intimate relationship. Can we know good without God? Do you really know God? Can we have heaven without God? Do we need God? Do we want God?

Virtue without the trimmings by Rick Stengel writer for MSNBC

"VIRTUE WITHOUT THE TRIMMINGS Thanksgiving is the only holiday without some crass ulterior motive. It is a holiday without oneupsmanship, drunkenness, violence, or conspicuous consumption.

The other thing I like about Thanksgiving is that it endorses virtue without dressing the argument with any religious trimmings. Thanksgiving essentially endorses the Golden Rule without recourse to citing the Bible or God or religion of any kind. Sharing, helping, joining, are good in and of themselves, not because some preacher says they are. What Kant’s categorical imperative is to ethics, Thanksgiving is to holidays. It is America’s universal and unconditional endorsement of the communitarian ethos. One nation, but not under God. Pass the turkey with one hand and get it back with two. "

Searching for the presence of the Living God. This is Heaven on Earth.

AN ASTRONOMER used to go out at night to observe the stars. One evening, as he wandered through the suburbs with his whole attention fixed on the sky, he fell accidentally into a deep well. While he lamented and bewailed his sores and bruises, and cried loudly for help, a neighbor ran to the well, and learning what had happened said: "Hark ye, old fellow, why, in striving to pry into what is in heaven, do you not manage to see what is on earth?'

What does Heaven in the real world look like?

1.God will come to be the highest importance on the earth and in your life.

2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Are you willing to make room in your life for heaven? Then are you ready to make room in your life for God? Is he the most important part of your life? If he is not then he wants to become your God, your only God. Will you put him in the stable again this year? Heaven comes to the real world when God becomes the most important thing in your life. Do you want to come to him to be with him and enjoy his presence?

2. God will be the instructor himself and we will want to listen to him.

3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

When heaven comes to the real world of our homes we all will want to hear him, be with him, and live with him. He has given us the opportunity to hear him today through the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speaking through his Word and through his servants. Will we hear him? Will we hear them? Will we allow him to instruct us in his way?

3. God will judge and make peace between all people.

4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

The Father wants his children to have peace in their lives and in their world. Nations will not be at war because people are not at war. Salvation is more than just pie in the sky. It is heaven on earth. Will we allow God bring peace to our lives, to our relationships, and to our world?

Invitation is to come an let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Is 2:5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD. Will we allow the Lord to lead us in his paths for his sake?

Although Christians may have their sight fixed on Heaven, they cannot neglect their duties and responsibilities on earth.