When We All Get to Heaven

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 John 3:1-3Adrian Rogers says, “A rich man is poor without Jesus, a strong man is weak without Jesus, and an educated man is ignorant until he comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ.”Without Jesus, man is ignorant of his past and afraid of his future; he lives somewhere in between mystery and misery. But when we know the Lord Jesus Christ, we experience the sweetest fellowship on Earth and can anticipate joy beyond comprehension when we all get to Heaven.1 John 3:1 says: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!”First, this passage identifies what we are; it describes our Christian dignity.We are children of God; He loves us as He loves Jesus, and nothing we do can make Him love us any less. Because of this love, we have our Father’s care; we can rest assured that we are provided for. We have His correction as well; He will lovingly chastise us that we may be sanctified and holy in His sight. We have our Father’s compassion; His heart is broken when ours is broken. We have his companionship, and we will never be alone ever again.This passage also reveals what we will be, it outlines our Christian destiny.“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Christ is going to appear; He is coming back to this Earth, and we will see Him as He is, in all of His glory. And this verse confirms that we are going to be like Him.Finally, this passage confirms what we should be; it challenges us to our Christian duty: “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3). The biblical definition of “hope” is absolute certainty mingled with anticipation. We should live with the hope of His return, looking and longing for His coming. And we should be living for His coming, striving for purity and holiness as we wait with expectancy.Apply it to your lifeAre you living in anticipation of the fellowship we’ll have when we all get to Heaven? Remember your dignity, your destiny, and your duty today.