The Bible Makes is Very Clear
By David Ettinger
Do you want to know what Heaven is?
First, how about what Heaven is not?
According to First Orlando Senior Pastor David Uth, Heaven is not people on clouds wearing robes and playing harps. And another thing Heaven is not: boring.
“Those are very sad views of Heaven,” Pastor Uth said on Sunday, April 26 during his series on Heaven. “In fact, 87 percent of Americans believe in Heaven, but very few have an accurate view of what it is. Most views are a patchwork derived from TV, movies, books and stories which are all kind of mixed together.”
In order to set the record straight during the message called “What Is Heaven Like?” he explained that there are only two places to go to get the proper view of Heaven.
“One place we learn about Heaven is through experience,” Pastor Uth explained. “Don Piper [author of “90 Minutes in Heaven” and who spoke at First Orlando the week before] is one of those people.”
However, Pastor Uth was quick to give this caution.
“Whenever you hear from someone or read a book by someone who says he went to Heaven and back, listen to or read what he saw. Then, compare that to Scripture. I guarantee you — they did not see what God does not allow. If that person’s account does not line up with Scripture, than you know that it is not the truth.”
That is the perfect lead-in to the second source of how we can know what Heaven is like — the Bible, which has much to say about the subject.
“If experience does not match Scripture,” Pastor Uth said, “then guess which one isn’t right. But what you should know about Heaven is this: Heaven is the literal fulfillment of all your God-oriented desires.”
Having laid that groundwork, Pastor Uth then painted the biblical picture of Heaven, highlighting three specific characteristics.
“First of all,” he said, “let’s look at what Jesus said about Heaven. In John 14:6 he says, In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going. Therefore, Heaven is a real place. The Scripture is very concrete about this. More specifically, Heaven is the place where Jesus is.”
Continuing in the same passage, Pastor Uth said the second characteristic of Heaven is that it is a person — Jesus.
“Remember, Jesus said, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. In other words, Heaven is the place where Jesus is. He is the centerpiece of Heaven. He is the reason that Heaven needs no sun or light.”
Which brings us to the third characteristic of Heaven.
“Heaven is home,” Pastor Uth said. “Philippians 3:20 says, But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I really do believe that Heaven is the Father’s house and that we have rooms in His house.”
Having established what Heaven is, Pastor David then gave instructions how to get there.
“At the end of the passage in John 14, verse 6 quotes Jesus as saying, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. There is no way you will ever know Heaven without Jesus. He is the absolute only way. If you don’t know Jesus, then you need to give your life to Him. He is way to Heaven and He longs to take you there.”
Pastor Uth’s series continues this weekend, May 2 at 6 p.m. and May 3 at 9 and 10:45 a.m. in the Worship Center.
Purchase the CD or DVD, or view the archive of Pastor David’s message.