SESSION 6 GOD S PROMISE OF A NEW HOME What s the most homesick you ve ever been? QUESTION #1 #BSFLstandstrong BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 53
THE POINT A life in Christ means a life with Christ forever. THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE At one time or another, you may have suffered from what doctors call the distress and functional impairment caused by an actual or anticipated separation from home and attachment objects. 1 You probably just called it being homesick. It may have been: the first time you stayed overnight at a friend s house. the first time you went to summer camp. the first few weeks at boot camp or the freshman dorm. When you re homesick, you don t miss your actual home. You miss the security, protection, and love your home represents. But have you ever been homesick for a place you ve never seen? Followers of Christ have been adopted into God s family. We are citizens of heaven, our true home. The Book of Revelation gives us a brief glimpse into what this new home is like and what waits for us when we finally stand in the presence of Christ. 54 SESSION 6
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? Revelation 21:1-8 (NIV) 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Look! God s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. 5 He who was seated on the throne said, I am making everything new! Then he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. 6 He said to me: It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. The Alpha and the Omega (v. 6) The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Symbolically, they refer to God (and Jesus) being the beginning and the end, a description of His eternal nature and sovereignty, as well as His total and complete preeminence. The fiery lake of burning sulfur (v. 8) This phrase refers to hell, God s final place of punishment for the unsaved and the fallen angels. The second death (v. 8) This term is synonymous with an eternity in hell after judgment. It is a death in that it is a separation from God, and is called the second death because it follows physical death. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 55
THE POINT A life in Christ means a life with Christ forever. What are some ways our culture expresses the concept of heaven? Revelation 21:1-3 QUESTION #2 God has promised His children an eternal home that eclipses even the finest neighborhoods in the most exclusive zip codes. God s home is perfect because it s in the presence of God Himself. Revelation 21 paints a beautiful picture of God s perfect home. And that perfection is made real by the fact that God Himself will live with us in that place for eternity. Revelation 21 begins with a wonderful picture. The pain we presently experience will no longer be an issue because the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (v. 1). In their place will be a new heaven and a new earth. They will be new not merely in a chronological sense, but in the sense of quality. The new heaven and earth will be far superior to the earth we know now; they will transcend everything we ve experienced. John also called the new Jerusalem the Holy City (v. 2). The place is holy because everyone and everything inside it is holy and righteous. This is the city of God s redeemed people. Interestingly, living in a city means we will live together and together we will be in perfect harmony. What truly makes our future home so wonderful is that, as John declared in verse 3, God Himself will inhabit this city with His children: Look! God s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. God has been among His people in the past, but never like this. God dwelt among the Israelites in the tabernacle, and later in the temple: The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34). God dwelt among us during Jesus earthly life: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14). God s presence in our new home will neither be temporary nor only for a select few. We will have an eternal home in God s eternal presence. 56 SESSION 6
ETERNAL LIFE Many people have questions and misconceptions about eternal life. Record how you would respond to one of the following statements. There s no place in heaven for a person like me. All roads lead to heaven. This life is all there is and all we can hope for. What questions would you like to have answered about the afterlife? BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 57
THE POINT A life in Christ means a life with Christ forever. Revelation 21:4-5 Almost every week, I minister to people suffering loss. Parents whose children died far too young as a result of accidents, drownings, or home fires. Young children whose beloved grandfather died after years of chronic pain. Fathers who try to explain to young children why their moms won t be coming home from the hospital. How can we find hope in those moments? It s only through the promises in God s Word specifically the promise that we will one day live in the presence of God. When we re in His presence forever: He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain (v. 4). No death. Our new home in heaven will be a place of total victory. John wrote previously that death would be thrown in the lake of fire (see Rev. 20:14). Consequently, Death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Cor. 15:54). No mourning. No sin, regrets, or loss will afflict us. No crying. Crying is an outward expression of our grief, which will be no more. No pain. Painful experiences were first mentioned as a consequence of the fall (Gen. 3:16-19). Since our sin will be removed completely, all pain will be gone. Jesus spoke from His throne with hope: I am making everything new! (v. 5). At the end of His earthly ministry, Jesus said, I am going there to prepare a place for you (John 14:2). Now, in Revelation 21, we see Jesus making this promise an eternal reality. Jesus won t simply give a makeover to what we currently know. In Christ, we become a new creation (see 2 Cor. 5:17) and we will dwell eternally with Him in His new creation our eternal home. What are some experiences on earth that help you trust in the hope of heaven? QUESTION #3 58 SESSION 6
Revelation 21:6-8 The gift of our eternal home is not automatic, however. Jesus offer of life is open to all people, but the only ones who can enter this new heaven and new earth are those who follow Him. 1. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Water is a symbol for eternal life (see John 7:37). When we come to Jesus to receive the water He gives, to partake of eternal life, He quenches our life-long thirst. 2. Those who are victorious will inherit all this. We are victorious when we stand strong and remain faithful to Christ. We can t do this in our own power, but only when we rely on Jesus. All this is tied to our relationship with Jesus. When we come to Christ, we are adopted into God s family (see Rom. 8:14-15). We will fully experience all the benefits of that family relationship in our future home, which is heaven. Unfortunately, Jesus made it clear that not everyone will enjoy those benefits. In verse 8, He listed the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars as people who will be excluded from heaven. It s not the specific sin that matters, however it s the choice to remain in sin rather than seeking forgiveness from Jesus. So, looking for the perfect home? You can find it in Christ and with Christ. I hope you will. What are the essential truths that verses 1-8 communicate about heaven? QUESTION #4 How will the truths expressed in this passage impact your life this week? QUESTION #5 BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 59
THE POINT A life in Christ means a life with Christ forever. LIVE IT OUT The reality of heaven has major implications for life on earth. Consider taking one of the following steps this week in response to the promise of a life with Christ forever: Remember the promise. Memorize Revelation 21:4 as a constant reminder of God s eternal promise: He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Simplify your possessions. Earthly treasures and possessions can distract us from the promise of our eternal home (see Matt. 6:19-20). So take an inventory of your stuff. What can you get rid of or donate in order to maintain an eternal focus? Take note of heavenly moments. Our lives on this world are temporary, but we still experience moments of joy, peace, and contentment moments that reflect and foreshadow life in our heavenly home. Keep an eye out for such moments this week. Consider keeping a journal or recording notes in your phone so that heavenly moments don t pass unnoticed. It s good and natural for followers of Jesus to long for heaven. Spiritual homesickness is a happy symptom of our life in Christ a life we will enjoy with Him forever. 1. http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/119/1/192.full (Accessed 02/18/2015). 60 SESSION 6