THESIS: To prod believers into “laying up treasures in heaven.”
INTRO.:
A. A classic book and later movie called “A Portrait of Dorian Gray” dealt with a very handsome aristocrat who had his portrait painted when he was a young man. He made a deal with the devil that he would always look like his portrait. He did not age, but his portrait revealed his age, and every evil deed, word and thought added another line, scar or horrible growth on the face of the portrait. When he died the grotesque face on the portrait became his and the portrait returned to normal.
B. We are doing something similar. That is, we are becoming here what will determine what we will be in the future. We are sending on ahead of us our works. We are projecting an image into eternity! (“Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven...”) What will you be like in heaven?
WHAT WILL FOLLOW YOUR FUNERAL?
ILLUS.: After your preacher is notified of your death the words said over your body will mean very little! What matters is what you DO and ARE here and now!
I. WHERE WE WILL BE IS FREE:
NOTE: If we are saved heaven has been purchased for us by our Savior – it won’t cost us anything.
A. The Salvation Package Includes:
1. Heaven, eternal life, sonship and righteousness 2. Forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, authority and our inheritance “joint heirs with Christ”
B. The Salvation Package Does Not Include:
1.Obedience: We receive commands, but what we do is up to us. 2.Maturity: We receive the means to maturity, but what we do is up to us. 3.Faithfulness: We have liberty in Christ, but what we do is up to us.
ILLUS.: The difference is DIRECTION. What God does is towards us; what we do is towards God.
2 Corinthians 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
II. WHAT WE WILL BE LIKE IS DEVELOPED:
A. We Cannot Avoid the Consequences of a Wasted Life
ILLUS.: Immediately after death believers go to heaven. “Absent...present...” but many are in for a rude awakening when they stand before the Judge of the Universe. They are safe in glory, but they still must face the Judgment Seat of Christ! It would obviously be unfair of God to treat the faithful and unfaithful saints alike. God is always Just!
B. We Cannot Be Something in Heaven We Never Were on Earth:
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
ILLUS.: We are developing NOW into what we will be following our funeral. There are no changes made in the soul or spirit (personality) after death. The only change will be in the body. Let’s compare this with the photo process. There are three stages: 1️⃣Developer, 2️⃣Fixer, 3️⃣Display. 👉Our Life Now is the Development Stage. 👉Death is the Fixing Stage. 👉Eternity is the Display Stage. 🔅There is no “retouching” the image once the developing process stops. 🔅There are no “second takes” or second chances. 🔅We will enter heaven JUST AS WE ARE when death strikes! We will remain that way forever. There is no Photoshop editing program in Heaven.
1. The conditions for maturity are only present down here in this life.
ILLUS.: Tribulation works patience...no tribulation in heaven. Forgiveness takes place when we are hurt...no one can hurt us there. “Man is like a tea bag, he doesn’t come to full strength till placed in hot water.” There is no “hot water” in heaven.
✨We will all be in heaven, but we will not all be equal. ✨We will all be perfect, but we will not all shine as brightly or ✨hold the same positions of honor there or in the Millennium with Christ. ⭐*LIGHT BULB ILLUSTRATION. All “perfect” bulbs, but not all shine as brightly or with the same intensity or color! (*I used 3 new bulbs of different wattage and colors to illustrate this.)
2. Only on earth are the stresses for change present.
ILLUS.: Geography doesn’t change a person. If you are not interested in winning souls here, an ocean voyage to a foreign country will not change you. So with heaven.
a. Paupers presently will be paupers in Paradise! (with no further opportunity to gain wealth) b. Poverty in Paradise is predicated on poverty on this planet! (with no further opportunity to lay up treasures.
III. WHAT WE WILL DO IS EARNED:
A. We Must Be Motivated to Work:
1. Some are motivated by love: a. Love for family or self in the material realm. b. Love for Christ and God in the spiritual realm.
2. Some are motivated by rewards: a. A paycheck, promotion or fame in the material realm. b. A crown, position or popularity with Christ in the spiritual realm. (John the Beloved)
ILLUS.: This is what motivated the disciples in Christ’s earthly ministry. They desired a position of prominence in the King’s court. They wanted a place of preeminence in His Kingdom.
3. Some are motivated by fear: a. Maybe fear of criticism, rejection or starvation in the material realm. b. Maybe fear of fire and loss in the spiritual realm at the J.S. of Christ.
B. We Will Only Have in Heaven What We Work for Here:
1. Listen to Paul.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2. Listen to Peter.
1 Peter 1:17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
3. Listen to Christ:
Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and wherevthieves do not break through nor steal:
ILLUS.: Christ used fourparables to illustrate this truth.
1. The Parable of the Wise Stewards in Luke 16:1-13 – showing the foolishness of God’s people in failing to prepare for the day of accounting they knew was coming.
2. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 showing that while Christians have different opportunities it is their faithfulness that will be rewarded.
3. The Parable of the Pounds in Luke 19:11-27 showing those with equal opportunity do compete with each other and those serving with different degrees of faithfulness receive different rewards. (1 to 10 pounds – reward = 10 cities; 1 to 5 pounds – reward = 5 cities; 1 to 0 pounds – reward = 0 [heavenly arithmetic].
4. The Parable of the Laborers in Matthew 20:1-16 showing that time is not a controlling factor in rewards.
CONCL.: What will you BE in heaven? What will you DO in heaven? What follows your funeral depends on YOU here and now.