Why Should We Win People to Jesus? (Part 3)

Originally Posted on December 3, 2017

JESUS TELLS US THAT HEAVEN IS A REAL PLACE

In John 3:3 Jesus told Nicodemus, a religious leader, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  The Kingdom of God is Heaven.  The New Testament refers to Heaven 225 times.  People who have truly repented of their sins and made Jesus their Lord and Savior will be in Heaven.  Have you been born again?  A number of years ago, a precious lady shot and killed her husband. She had endured many years of physical and verbal abuse. She just could not take it anymore. A school teacher who loves the Lord took a man who loves the Lord to see her at her home. He told her about the great love of the Lord Jesus, and she repented of her sins and made Jesus her Lord and Savior by faith. Not long afterward, she became very ill and the prognosis from the doctor was not good. This same man who loves the Lord went to see her in the hospital as she was dying. She was very weak and frail. The man walked by her bedside and leaned over to speak with her.  He asked her where she would be living if she did not leave the hospital alive. She pointed her tiny weak finger to heaven!  Within a few days, this precious lady was in heaven! She is more alive today than she has ever been!  She will not have to stand trial for murdering her husband, nor will she have to go to prison.  What is Heaven like? In Luke 23:43 Jesus told the thief who was hanging on his own cross beside Him: “Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.” In Psalm 16:11 David said: “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore.” No pleasure in this life can compare with the inexpressible joys of heaven.  In 1 Cor.2:9 Paul states: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”  For men who are at mid-life, you will not have to experience the three B’s of mid-life: Balding, Bulging, and Bifocals.  A man who truly loves the Lord was asked to visit a lady who was dying in the hospital. It was alleged  that she was not ready to go to heaven. He began to talk to her and she knew that he was about to ask her if she was ready to meet the Lord in heaven.  She interrupted the conversation as she stated: “Brother, I am ready for my new body.”  The physical attributes of Heaven are likened unto one gigantic brilliant jewel. The city is pure gold and the walls are made of jasper (Rev.21:11-21).  Heaven is a reflection of the glory and power and wealth of the God of the universe. The group Mercy Me sings the song I Can Only Imagine by Bart Mallard.  “I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by Your side.  I can only imagine what my eyes will see when Your face is before me. I can only imagine. Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for You Jesus, or in awe of You be still? Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?  Will I sing ‘hallelujah’, or will I be able to speak at all?  I can only imagine…I can only imagine. I can only imagine…when that day comes, and I find myself standing in the Son.  I can only imagine…when all I would do, is forever, forever worship you.  I can only imagine…”  I must admonish you.  Heaven is only the home of those who have truly repented of their sins and made Jesus their Lord and Savior by faith. It is called being born again. Have you ever been born again?  In the Bible in 1 Cor.6:9-10 it states: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor reviler, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”  Who will be in heaven? Only those who are born again. Why Should We Win People to Jesus? Jesus Tells us That Heaven Is A Real Place.