Here is a strange and wonderful statement, made by the Apostle Paul in the inspired Word of God: “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain…Paul is saying, here that for a Christian, it is far better, to go to heaven than to remain here on earth. He said, the only reason he would choose to stay here, would be to finish the work God has given him to do. But to be with Christ would be far better, and to die is gain. Oh the praise and joy that filled Paul’s heart, whenever he thought of heaven.
I would like to speak to you today about, “Why is heaven gain” what is there about heaven that makes so many people want to go there. Why is heaven gain? Heaven is gain, because Jesus said, “In heaven there are many mansions, if it were not so I would of told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” Now consider those mansions. Most people don’t live, in the kind of a house they dreamed of living in. Millions never live to own such a thing as a house, and even the finest houses soon grow old. The paint begins to peel. The house needs to be repaired, the steps get worn out, the walls crack, he carpets need to be replaced. Everything fades. But in heaven we have mansions that have been prepared for us by Jesus himself. And best of all, he will be there with us, as we enjoy them.
Heaven is gain because it is a place of unimaginable beauty: Listen to this beautiful language from Revelation chapter 21 that describes a little bit of heaven. “Having the Glory of God and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even as Jasper stone, clear as crystal. And the city was pure gold. Like unto clear glass. And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon to shine in. For the Glory of he Lord did lighten it. There shall be no night there.”
Heaven is gain, because it is a placed, of unspeakable beauty, but there is more: in Revelation Chapter 22, we see another reason why heaven is gain. It says: “He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the lamb.” Every city has its graveyard whether it is a modern city of skyscrapers and subways or a lonely outpost in the far regions of the frigid north. The hand of death cannot be stayed…this world is the valley of death. But heaven is a place of life, and no death. For there the river of life flows from the throne of God. This river of life is as clear as crystal the Scripture says. No defilement, no decay, no pollution, no smog, no infection in God’s beautiful heaven.
Heaven is gain, because there the Tree of Life will be restored to God’s people: Think of it!!! Not only the River of Life but the Tree of Life. None of us have ever seen the Tree of Life, but Adam and Eve did. It was there in the Garden of Eden. But after they sinned God drove them out of the Garden, lest they eat of it, and live in their sin forever. An Angel with a flaming sword, kept them from ever entering back into it. But one day we will see, and we will partake, of those Trees of Life.
Heaven is gain because as the Bible says, “There shall be no more curses, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.” Now we have thorns and thistles and deserts and tundra’s and famines and earthquakes and tornadoes: but there shall be no more curses there!
Heaven is gain because there, we will have no more old age. Weakness, sickness, poverty, or no more parting: The people that I love the most, I don’t see very often. It will be a happy day when we will have no more goodbyes to say. The Bible says “Neither wasthere anymore sea.” The sea many people believe, represents, separation. It also says, “There shall be no night there” no need to rest. We’ll never grow old, or tired there, No wonder the Apostle Paul said: “To die is gain” Who wouldn’t want to gain a possession such as this.
But notice, to die is gain only for the Christians: – Only for those that love Jesus Christ more than anything else in the world! Do you? The only way to be sure, is to surrender over your heart to Him. For He said, “I am the way…“no man comes unto the Father but by me.” Ask Jesus to become your own personal Savior from sin today, and I know He will: For He says: “He that comes unto me I will in no wise cast out!”
That is something To Seriously Reflect Upon.
He’s Only a Prayer Away,
Pastor Bob