In our series Looking Unto Jesus, we have traveled from the past eternity to the future eternity. We are meditating on heaven. It is a repeated biblical duty for us to meditate on heaven and develop a deep yearning for it. Thomas Watson said, “God will not bring us to heaven until He has, in some measure, brought heaven into us.” Richard Baxter added, “We must have Heaven in us before we can be in Heaven.” May the Holy Spirit do that for us; remember, He is given to us as a pledge and a foretaste of heaven.
We have used Solomon’s temple model as an illustrative framework to grasp, step by step, the escalating eternal blessings of heaven.
We saw the new heaven and new earth; the entire universe, rid of all curse and vanity, will become a garden of unimaginable beauty and wonder—the palace grounds of heaven. Scripture promises we will inherit this universe with its billions of galaxies. After glancing at the garden, we entered the Outer Court and crossed two primary items: the bronze burnt altar and the bronze sea, which deliver us from all effects of sin and curse. We climbed the five steps of this altar, representing the removal of the negative effects of sin:
- No more curse (Rev. 22:3).
- No more night (Rev. 22:5).
- No more hunger or thirst (Rev. 7:16).
- No more tears or crying (Rev. 21:4).
- No more pain (Rev. 21:4).
The Outer Court, with its bronze altar steps and brazen sea, removes what is bad—all the effects of sin. The second section, the Inner Court, takes us into what is eternally and infinitely good. Before we enter the Holy Place, we are symbolically washed in the brazen sea, the last item of the Outer Court. Then, unimaginably glorious things happen to you. We are glorified as the bride of Christ, without spot or wrinkle. Every atom of the body and soul is decorated and shining with perfections and beauty. The universe will eternally glorify God as never before because of what He has done for me.
For every true believer who sees themselves before God’s law, life is a struggle with sin. This thought of heaven is bliss! Even the God of holiness Himself, with His penetrating eyes, will scrutinize me and find absolutely no trace of sin. Every cell and molecule of my being will be absolutely, perfectly, and eternally holy. He will be so well-pleased with what His grace has done in me that He will rejoice and sing for joy looking at me. I will give infinite pleasure to the heart of God because He will see me perfectly like His Son! That is the beginning of heaven—a state of perfection for true believers.
Entering the Inner Court: The Holy Place
Now, today, let us enter the Inner Court, the Holy Place. It is a large room full of gold. There are primarily three items in the Inner Court of the Old Testament temple:
- The Lampstand (Menorah): On the left, with seven branches giving light.
- The Table of Showbread: On the right, where twelve loaves signify feasting fellowship with God, changed every Sabbath as a sign of rest.
- The Altar of Incense: In the center, closer to the Holy of Holies, indicating prayer and service.
In our model, we will look at 4 S’s: Sights, Saints, Sabbaths, and Services.
1. Sights: The Light of the Menorah
Only a blind man knows the value of light and rejoices when he gets his sight. Only a sick man knows the joy of health in a way others cannot. As soon as you come into the Inner Court, there is a bright, perfect light coming from the seven lampstands. You have never seen anything like it. This light is so perfect that you will see everything clearly, realizing that, until now, you have been blind. You will exclaim, “I was blind, but now I see!”
Here on earth, there is so much darkness and uncertainty. We are blind to the ways of God. His providence is mysterious. You often question: “Why, Lord, did that happen? Why this sickness, this joblessness, or this pain?” We grope like blind men. But in the Menorah light, every doubt and question will be answered. You will trace the great wisdom of God in every detail of your life. You will see how God orchestrated every event for your eternal good. All riddles will be cleared. When you come to the Father’s house, the looming shadows shall forever flee away. Looking down from the summit of the everlasting hills, every ransomed tongue will confess: “He has done all things well.”
2. Saints: The Fellowship of the Showbread Table
The Table of Showbread indicates that heaven will be an eternal feast. All the world’s feasts are but shadows. Heaven, in its consummate glory, is a vast banquet house. The joy of a feast is multiplied when we feast with family. Heaven is a corporate community. Part of the bliss is living with the people of God.
We will have two companies in heaven:
- Holy Angels: We will interact with the angelic beings who protected us during our earthly pilgrimage. It will be a thrill to learn how they helped us escape temptations and dangers we never even realized.
- Perfected Saints: We shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We will converse with Moses, Elijah, David, and Paul. Imagine hearing from their own lips the tales of their history! We will be a related family—Wycliff, Luther, Calvin, Bunyan, and Owen. Heaven will be a world of selfless love where everyone is admirable, attractive, and glorious, clothed in the beauty of Christ.
3. Sabbath: The Rest of the Loaves
The twelve loaves of bread were freshly changed every Sabbath. This symbolic act points to our eternal rest in heaven. Revelation 14:13 says, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord… that they may rest from their labors.” This is a rest from toil that causes bone-weariness. It is a sweet, eternal rest from sin, fears, and suffering. Here, nothing is permanent; earthly joy is like a water bubble. But the rest above is eternal—no foe can invade it, and no storms can disturb it. It is the rest of a final home where “a great eternal calm” reigns.
4. Service: The Altar of Incense
Closer to the Holy of Holies, we find the Altar of Incense, reminding us of unwearied eternal service. Revelation 7:15 says, “they serve him day and night in his temple.” You might ask, “How can it be both rest and service?” It is because this is the sacred service of worship. Our greatest natural rest is serving and worshiping God. We will serve Him as priests and kings, allotted kingdoms to rule. It will be a royal service of great honor.
Heaven is not a place of sedentary inactivity; it is a place of joyful, busy activity. We were created to work and serve. Sin brought laziness, but we find fulfillment when we achieve something for God’s glory. There is so much untapped potential in us. Scientists say we use only a fraction of our brainpower. In heaven, our oceans of talents and abilities will be fully used. We are made for more than seventy years; we are made for eternity. Your frustrations on earth—the things you wanted to achieve for God but couldn’t—are pointers to heaven. In the eternal state, you will grow, expand, and blossom, using all your faculties in the unwearied service of this glorious God.
Rejoice in Hope
Child of God, why are you sad? Sit no longer cowering in darkness. Light is streaming from your Father’s house, inviting you upward. A few more ticks of the clock, and your eternal Sabbath is coming. With such a glorious future, how can you be discouraged? Rejoice in hope!
Communion Application: Remember, Examine, Proclaim
- Remember: If depraved sinners ever set foot in heaven, it is only because Christ took our place on the cross. Our place should have been the horror of hell, but He paid the price of admission with His infinite sacrifice. Heaven is the purchased possession of Christ’s blood.
- Examine: Are you living with a yearning for this home? Does the reality of your remaining sin make you weary? If so, take heart—that is a sign of grace.
- Proclaim: We proclaim that the goal of Christ’s death is certain. You shall be holy and without blemish. Take fresh hope and courage as you come to the table. The same Lord who loved you will surely bring you to this glorious perfection
Revelation 5:9 says: “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘Worthy are You, for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.'” This new song shows us every morning the glorious value of Christ’s work for us.
What infinite, immeasurable love is the love of Christ! This love brought the Son of God from heaven to earth, from earth to the cross, from the cross to the grave, and from the grave to glory. It is a love that endured being weary, hungry, tempted, scorned, rejected, betrayed, denied, scourged, buffeted, spit upon, crucified, and pierced. That love made Him fast, pray, teach, heal, weep, sweat, bleed, and die. That love still lives; though He is the Sovereign Monarch of the universe, His great purpose is to intercede for us and subjugate all our enemies.
Imagine what it will be like when we meet Him face to face and He reveals all His glory. If the scene of Joseph revealing himself to his brothers—falling on their necks and weeping—melts the heart even after reading it a thousand times, how much more will this meeting with our heavenly Joseph break forth into pure, unmixed bliss?
The key intent of the Communion service—the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup—is a foretaste and a pledge of this heavenly reality. Today, we see His symbols in the bread and wine, and it sometimes overwhelms us; what will it be like when we see the living body of Christ and His wounds for us at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9)? This is the ultimate and eternal fulfillment of communion. It was the broken body and shed blood of our Lord that removed the barrier of sin and opened the gates of heaven for sinners like us.
Do we remember Christ with melting gratitude as we come to the table? If not, how will we eternally sing of the cross?
“Alas! and did my Savior bleed, and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I? Thus might I hide my blushing face while His dear cross appears, dissolve my heart in thankfulness, and melt mine eyes to tears.”
Examine Your Inheritance
If this coming glory is so certain and so magnificent, our great duty is to examine ourselves and ensure we have the full assurance that we will never miss it.
Imagine you are the named heir to a vast, immensely valuable tea estate and a grand mansion in Ooty—a sprawling estate that offers not just wealth, but permanent shelter and security for ten generations. This inheritance is legally finalized and requires only a successful claim. What would you do? You wouldn’t say, “Oh, let it be.” No! You would take a month off work and go to Ooty immediately to meet the lawyer. You would examine the will, the mother deed, the tax receipts, and the power of attorney. You would check every detail before quitting your job and settling there.
The greater the value of the land (Heaven), the greater the diligence required to check every document. A missing document could mean losing the entire inheritance to litigation. If a person would dedicate such unrelenting effort to verify a temporary worldly wealth, how much greater should our self-examination be for Heaven—a prize that is infinite and eternal?
Is such a glorious heaven so near at hand, and shall none enjoy it but true believers? What fools we are if we live contentedly without the assurance that we are going there. There is a sure way to know, but only if you honestly examine your heart and life before it is too late. Richard Baxter said most people in church who miss this glory will do so because they only thought they were Christians. Do not let that deception take you to hell.
Scripture shows that taking part in communion is not a guarantee of salvation. Unless a person is born again, they cannot enter the kingdom of God. Unless you have repented of your sins and have a saving faith revealed through obedience and a heavenly mind, you will never reach heaven. Merely coming to church or praying are just “means”; God hates outward sacrifices without obedience.
Do you believe the Word of God? Then how can you sit in such uncertainty, not knowing if you will live in heaven or hell? Examine your heart using the 4 S’s:
- Sights of Providence: Do you patiently believe everything in this life happens to take you to heaven? If so, why grumble at small things?
- Saints’ Fellowship: Is the church a growing joy in your life? Do you look forward to Sunday with eagerness? Communion demonstrates our union with one another. If you cannot get along with brothers and sisters here, how can you expect to live with them forever? Are you bearing burdens and forgiving bitterness, or are you holding onto anger?
- Sabbath: Is the Sabbath a delight? If giving one morning or evening to the Lord is a burden now, you are deceiving yourself about heaven. Heaven is an eternal Sabbath; if your heart does not love it now, ask God to change you.
- Service: Heaven is a place of eternal, joyful service. If you have no desire to serve the Lord here, how can you claim to be heading for a place of eternal service?
Some of you live as “practical atheists,” catching this world with a death grip. But what have you found here? Only confusing sights, selfish people, and no true rest. You are chasing shadows and wind. Very soon you will die, and your worldly things will not follow you beyond the grave.
Proclaim the Gospel
To those who have not yet believed and remain unrepentant: you are on the way to hell, for Jesus is the only way to heaven. Do not believe the lie that you can turn at the last minute while dying. Any change must happen now. As soon as you die, your state is sealed for all eternity. Revelation says, “He that is filthy, let him be filthy still.”
If you die outside of Christ, you will be cast into outer darkness. Your fellowship will not be with angels, but with demons and the wicked. You will live in the “garbage dump” of eternity. All the potential God gave you will be wasted in eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth. Every longing and aspiration you had will be extinguished.
Oh, that you were wise! Hear the voice of Jesus and come to Him. Why will you perish? Today, Christ calls you to repent. He offers the 4 S’s: perfect Sights to understand your life, the Fellowship of Saints, eternal Sabbath rest, and joyful Service where every talent is used for His glory.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 