We have had a lot fun this summer looking at heaven: what it will be like, what we will do there, how we get in, why we need it; and I have tried to focus on the things that have maybe been kind of a blank for us, and since that has been my focus, there has been something, or shall I say, someone I have not focused on: God! Hey folks, God is the great prize. Without God, Heaven is Hell. There is no joy, no pleasure, no significance apart from Him.

What I hope last week and this week help us to see is that heaven is not boring. Heaven is not a place where we just float around in some eternal bliss. We will live in a purposeful, meaningful and productive way; because that’s what God always intended.

What I hope last week and this week help us to see is that heaven is not boring. Heaven is not a place where we just float around in some eternal bliss. We will live in a purposeful, meaningful and productive way; because that’s what God always intended.

I have great news for you this morning: the best parts of this world are a taste of heaven. If you don’t get anything else from today, maybe just take that line with you. I think one of the reasons we struggle with understanding heaven and what it is like is because we divorce it from reality.

I have great news for you this morning: the best parts of this world are a taste of heaven. If you don’t get anything else from today, maybe just take that line with you. I think one of the reasons we struggle with understanding heaven and what it is like is because we divorce it from reality.

A couple of quick of observations from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

1. God wants us to have an understanding of what is going on in death.

2. It is okay to grieve; and God provides a way we can do that with hope.

3. God knows what is happening next. He has a plan. We could spend time understanding these verses more, but suffice for today, God has a plan and knows where He’s going. Death creates an unknown for us. What we need in that moment is to remember that this moment is not an unknown for God. He knows exactly what is going on, exactly what comes next, and He cares about you.

A couple of quick of observations from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

1. God wants us to have an understanding of what is going on in death.

2. It is okay to grieve; and God provides a way we can do that with hope.

3. God knows what is happening next. He has a plan. We could spend time understanding these verses more, but suffice for today, God has a plan and knows where He’s going. Death creates an unknown for us. What we need in that moment is to remember that this moment is not an unknown for God. He knows exactly what is going on, exactly what comes next, and He cares about you.

This might sound strange, but I kind of struggled with adding this message to the series today. I think there is so much to understand about heaven, so many questions you would like to hear addressed and I have limited time; so why take a whole message to talk about membership in heaven, especially in a group where I would assume so many are already members.

This might sound strange, but I kind of struggled with adding this message to the series today. I think there is so much to understand about heaven, so many questions you would like to hear addressed and I have limited time; so why take a whole message to talk about membership in heaven, especially in a group where I would assume so many are already members.

I think mentally we believe in a heaven and we believe it is better than here. Perhaps we know the Bible on teaches heaven is a place where there is not death and disease. There are no bad days. There is reward and good. Heaven is where we see God. But that does that belief translate into real life excitement, desire, hope?