Of the lives of the unborn being destroyed by abortion.
Of the repeated garbage & violence being shown on TV.
Of the mud slinging in politics.
Of the crimes I read about in the newspapers.
Of tobacco smoke being blown in my face.
Of the vulgar language I hear spoken by people around me
Of the compliant & criticism that come from people’s lips.
Of the drugs being sold on our streets, in our schools, & in our neighborhood.
Of the filth of pornography across America.
Of the way gambling has spread in various forms across our Nation.
Of the single-sex marriages that are occurring in various cities.
I am not a prophet -- nor the son of a prophet -- but I believe God in Heaven is saying: “I’ve had enough! It is time for the Return of My Son!”
I further believe that God has spoken to a well known movie actor -- Mel Gibson, and led him to produce the film, The Passion of the Christ -- in one final effort to allow people to either accept or reject His Son, Jesus Christ!
Whether you decide to see The Passion of the Christ -- or not, I do hope that you will take some time in the coming weeks, during this Lenten Season with Easter on the horizon -- to reflect upon Christ’s death & resurrection -- & to consider the significance of these events.
Jesus Christ, God’s Son -- paid the penalty for our sins so that we might be reconciled with our Father in Heaven!
I am looking for a better land! - That better land is heaven!
Heaven will not only be heaven because of what is there -- but also for what is not there!
There will be no abortion clinic in heaven.
There will be no casinos or gambling halls in heaven.
There will be no drugs sold on those golden streets of heaven.
There will be no pornography on the billboards of heaven.
There will be no one telling lies up in heaven.
There will be no more pain -- neither sorrow nor sickness -- in heaven.
Heaven is a place where everything bad is kept out!
It’s a place where there is absolutely no evil -- no grime -- no crime! It’s a place where there is no sin -- no filth!
The final 2 chapters in the Bible (Rev 21 & 22) constitute a magnificent climax to the Holy Scriptures!
They depict the conclusion of human history -- the final victory of God & the Lamb -- & the eternal blessedness of all the redeemed.
These two chapters -- tell us what is included & what is excluded from heaven.
They are both words of HOPE -- & also words of WARNING!
From the fall of Lucifer -- to the battle of Armageddon -- the devil & the powers of evil have fought God & His kingdom in an unrelenting struggle!
But God’s final victory is now complete according to Rev. 21 & 22.
The great victory of Christ -- predicted in the Garden of Eden & prosecuted on Calvary -- has at last come to its fulfillment.
These last two chapters of the Bible tell the final part of the great redemption story!
No place in the Bible has a brighter more beautiful picture of what heaven will be than is found here in Rev. 21 & 22.
What a scene -- what a bright & glorious report!
What a bright -- bright picture of joy & victory!
But suddenly -- across this peaceful & pastoral scene -- falls a dark, threatening shadow -- as John the revelator reminds us of the terrible results of sin!
We are reminded that not all of earth’s men & women shall enter into this eternal rest!
Some are forever excluded from God’s presence by their own perversity & unrepentance.
Oh, what a recurring & chilling shadow is cast upon these bright pages of Scripture -- as the Bible warns us of the awful tragedy of a sinful, wasted, & unrepentant life!
Some people believe in a utopian universalism -- where everybody in the Universe in the end makes it into heaven!
But there is no utopian universalism presented here!
No! No easy-going divine benevolence that simply ignores sin!
This repeated shadow that falls on the sacred pages of the Bible solemnly declares that sin -- unless confessed to Christ & repented of -- will put the sinner -- the unbeliever --outside God’s presence forever!
Look at this shadow with me as it comes & goes throughout these two glorious chapters of Rev. 21 & 22.
Look at 21:8 -- and again at 22:11.
The coming of Jesus will forever seal the destiny of the soul -- either to eternal blessedness -- or everlasting loss & destruction.
There will be no room - or time - or place to hide or repent once the Lord has come!
Look at 22:15 -- & before the book of God closes with its final revelation -- one more shadow of warning falls across the page in 22:18-19.
Tampering with the Book of Holy Scripture is nothing less than spiritual suicide!
Obedience to the Word of God will bring us to the heavenly Jerusalem.
Ignoring it -- or worse, altering it -- will plunge us into the darkness that has no dawn!
I believe this entire truth can best be summarized in the words found in -- Rev. 21:27 --
“There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
According to this verse -- there are three groups of people who will not make it into the gates of Heaven! --
The Bible says -- they “shall in no wise enter.”
Let’s look at them in greater detail!
1. No one who defiles will enter in!
“any thing that defileth” -- Nothing evil will be allowed to enter!
Nothing dirty or defiled will get into the City of God!
Webster defines “defiles” as “to tread underfoot -- to pollute or corrupt -- or to soil”
Anyone who shows disrespect toward the things of God will in no way enter Heaven!
Disrespect toward the people of God
Disrespect toward the house of God
Disrespect toward the messenger of God
Disrespect toward the altar of prayer
Disrespect toward the Word of God
Disrespect toward the Son of God
Disrespect toward the blood of Christ
Disrespect toward the Holy Spirit
You may laugh at the things of God today -- you may ridicule & make fun of God’s people -- you may mock that which is holy -- but someday you will weep & cry out with pain & without hope!
You may ignore the preaching of the Word -- the alter call -- the prayers of loved one -- you may defile it all -- & as a result -- you shall in no wise enter into the gates of Heaven!
All those who refuse God’s forgiveness shall enter eternity -- never again to be offered the remission of sin.
2. No one who is unclean shall enter in! - “neither whatsoever worketh abomination” -- no one who practices shameful deeds.
Abomination is anything that is hateful & disgusting -- repulsive to God Himself!
In other words - no sinful thing -- or act -- nor unclean person shall enter in.
Oh, how clear the Bible is in describing that which is unclean -- an abomination!
Listen again to the list of that which is unclean in these two final chapters of the Bible -- the fearful -- the unbelieving -- murderers - whoremongers - sorcerers - idolaters - all liars!
The LB gives us this list -- cowards -- the unfaithful -- the corrupt -- murderers -- the immoral -- those conversing with demons -- idol worshipers -- & all liars!
My friends -- you cannot sin & win! Sin is no laughing matter!
God may love the sinner -- but He hates sin!
That is why he gave His only begotten Son to die on Calvary that we might be delivered from such sinfulness.
There is mercy in the loving heart of God -- but if we refuse His mercy & forgiveness -- we place ourselves in the position of eternal condemnation!
Sin sickens the conscience - sin destroys the sense of shame
Sin decreases love of that which is good & increases love of that which is evil.
Sin weakens the will -- & fixes the habit of choosing evil.
Sin sends the sinner to bed every night ready to be damned
The sinful in heart & in deed shall in no wise enter heaven
Heaven is the place God has prepared for those who accept the Savior!
Heaven will be flawless & free from the things that make this life a struggle!
There will be no disease - no prejudice - no hatred - no fighting - no envy - no tears - no sin!
Heaven is a holy place -- prepared for a holy people!
3. No one who lives a lie shall enter in!
-- “maketh (or lives) a lie.” -- dishonesty!
Plan & simple -- it means to give a false impression -- or hypocrisy!
Illus: A S.S. teacher asked: “Johnny, can you tell me what a hypocrite is?”
Johnny answered: “Yes ma’am, it’s a boy who goes to school with a smile on his face!”
Hypocrisy! --
To talk one way & to walk another way!
To profess perfect love while not loving everybody.
Saying we are laying up treasures in heaven while not paying our tithe here below.
We say we are committed, but we complain whenever we are asked to do something.
We profess that Jesus Christ is our Burden Bearer - but we fret & stew when we are tried & tested.
We say we love the Lord -- but we show far more interest in the things of this old sinful world!
We profess to love Christ supremely -- & yet manifest indifference to the lost condition of those around us!
We say we enjoy sweet fellowship with our Lord & Savior -- yet we totally neglect our private devotions & prayer!
Too many church goers are singing “Standing on the Promises” when all they are doing is sitting on the premises!
You may fool the preacher -- your SS teacher -- even those closest to you -- but you cannot fool God!
Such a life of hypocrisy just produces increase guilt!
If you don’t daily walk the walk -- then don’t talk the talk!
God desires holiness -- not hypocrisy!
Holiness demands transparent honesty!
Conclusion:
We are told that in the end -- only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life shall enter into Heaven.
A record book is being kept by God Himself!
The final judgment is based upon whether or not your name is “written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
Your place of origin - ethnic background - social status - personal achievement - & even your church affiliation - have no bearing on where you will spend eternity
The one determining factor will be your faith in Jesus Christ!
There are some documents keep in this world!
My name is recorded in the birth records of the county in which I was born -- Portage County, OH.
My name is recorded as a graduate of the college I attended.
My name is recorded in the wedding records at Granite City
My name is recorded in the favorable credit reports.
My name is recorded in the telephone directory.
My name is even recorded on a list of church members.
These & others listings are of more or less importance -- here -- now -- for a while!
But all such records fade into insignificance when we turn our attention to the eternal listing of our name!
Is my name written there,
On the page white & fair?
In the book of Thy Kingdom
Is my name written there?
The Bible is of great importance because it tells us how to get our names placed in that “Book of Life.”
The Bible tells us the story of redemption -- And God is keeping His record -- those who faithfully serve Him have the promise of great reward!
If today at 2:00 you were told you would meet the Lord --
Would your heart be filled with fear?
Or would you be able to rejoice?