Ecclesiastes 4:2 "Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive."
If we had the wisdom of Solomon, we too would "praise the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive." If we could see by faith that which John saw by revelation, if we could grasp something of the glory and happiness of God's saints in even, even now, at this very moment, we would say with that beloved disciple, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord" (Rev. 14:13).
The dead who have died without Christ, without his imputed righteousness, without his blood atonement, without the grace of God, are forever damned and forever tormented. But those who have died in Christ are forever blessed.
Tonight I want to talk to you about the blessedness of God's saints in heaven, even now, in that state between the death resurrection of their bodies. The title of my message is WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
Proposition: I want to show you that God's saints in heaven, our departed friends are alive and well. Though their bodies have died and been laid in the earth, they are more alive than ever and full of happiness.
Divisions:
1. In this tabernacle of clay all believers groan under the weight of a heavy burden (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).
2. As soon as this tabernacle of clay is dissolved, mortality shall be swallowed up by life, and we shall be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).
3. What are God's saints doing in heaven?
I. First, let me remind you once more of the fact that IN THIS TABERNACLE OF CLAY ALL BELIEVERS GROAN UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A HEAVY BURDEN (2 Cor. 5:1-4).
While living in this world, we seek to be content with God's good providence. We want to glorify him by living before him in faith, resigning all things to his will. And we would not change our lot in life, even if we could. Our heavenly Father knows and always does what is best. But here, in this world of time and sense, of sin and curse, those who know the grace of God, all who trust and love the Lord Jesus Christ, labor under the load of a heavy, galling burden, which causes us to groan. This is what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5.
Life in this world, at best, is a burden to the heaven born soul. In this tabernacle we groan in this body of death under the burden of sin. We groan for life! Our hearts cry, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from this body of death!"
Note: I read the book of Ecclesiastes again this morning. Unless I am mistaken, this is exactly what Solomon meant when he said, after looking over all life's experiences, "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!" Those are not the words of a morose, morbid old man, but the words of the wisest mere man who ever lived. They were written by divine inspiration. Solomon was saying, "In this tabernacle we groan!"
2 Corinthians 5:1-4 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (3) If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. (4) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life."
A. In this body we struggle with sin – In heaven we shall be free from sin!
B. In this body we are tempted and often fall – In heaven we shall never be tempted and shall never fall. C. In this body we weep much – In heaven we shall weep no more. D. In this body we long to be like Christ – In heaven we shall be like Christ. E. In this body we long for Christ's presence – In heaven we shall forever be with Christ!When an eagle is happy in an iron cage, when a sheep is happy in a pack of wolves, when a fish is happy on dry land, then, and not until then, will my soul be happy in this body of flesh! Death for this man will be a welcome relief (Psa. 17:15).
Psalms 17:15 "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."
II. Second, the Word of God tells us plainly and repeatedly that AS SOON AS THIS TABERNACLE OF CLAY IS DISSOLVED, MORTALITY SHALL BE SWALLOWED UP BY LIFE, AND WE SHALL BE PRESENT WITH THE LORD (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).
As soon as the believer closes his eyes in death he opens them in heaven. As soon as we leave this world of woe, we enter heaven's world of bliss. As soon as we cease from this life of grief, we enter heaven's life of bliss. As soon as we cease from this existence of groaning and burden, we enter heaven's state of glory and blessedness.
Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Our departed brothers and sisters in Christ have not gone to purgatory. Their bodies sleep in the earth; but they are not asleep. Our friends who have left us are in heaven.
We have all asked ourselves, "Where is heaven?" That is a question I cannot answer. God has not told us. Heaven is a place somewhere outside this world, somewhere outside time. But it is a place, a real place.
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Hebrews 10:11-14 "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: (12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; (13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. (14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
Romans 8:34 "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."
1 John 2:1-2 "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
John 14:1-3 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."
Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-8. In these eight verses Paul tells us several things about the believer's death and our entrance into heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:1-8 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (3) If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. (4) For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (5) Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (6) Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (7) (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (8) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."
A. Death is the dissolving of this earthly body.
B. In heaven, we shall have another house for our souls. "In my Father's house are many mansions," houses, dwelling places.
I really do not know what to say about this house, other than this – Paul is telling us that when our souls leave our bodies of flesh, our Lord has prepared another body suitable to that state between death and the resurrection. In other words, our souls shall be clothed with a body while we await the resurrection of these bodies. Heaven is not filled with disembodied ghosts or spirits floating around in the air. God's saints in heaven are clothed upon with a celestial body.
C. As soon as this earthly tabernacle is dissolved, we shall enter that house Christ has prepared for our souls in heaven.
As I have already shown you, there will be no lapse of time, no delay, between the dissolving of this body and our entrance into our house in glory.
Philippians 1:21-23 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. (23) For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better."
D. This is not a matter of conjecture, but a matter of certainty – "We know…"
What happens to the believer after death? Do you ask me, "Where have our departed friends gone?" They have gone to heaven. They have gone home. They have gone to be with Christ!
III. Now, let me briefly answer this question from the Word of God. WHAT ARE GOD'S SAINTS DOING IN HEAVEN?
The Scriptures speak sparingly with regard to the saints' employment in heaven. But there are four or five things revealed to us. We do not know much about that glory that awaits us, that glory that our family in heaven is presently enjoying, but we do know a little (1 Cor. 2:9-10).
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
A. God's saints in heaven are celebrating and adoring the perfections of God in Christ (Rev. 5:11-12; 7:11-12).
Revelation 5:11-12 "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; (12) Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing."
Revelation 7:11-12 "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, (12) Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen."
Yonder in Glory Land, where the Lamb is in the midst of his church, they ever celebrate him!
B. God's saints in heaven are delightfully employed in beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ (John 17:24).
John 17:24 "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."
Oh, my soul, what will it be to behold the glory of our Redeemer? We shall forever behold him as he is, with a constantly increasing knowledge of him.
Heaven is the Garden of God where the Rose of Sharon is in full blossom; and the fragrance of it perfumes the whole place. Heaven is to behold Christ forever, never taking our eyes off him, and never wanting to.
C. God's saints in heaven are employed in the constant exercise of every spiritual grace.
D. God's saints in heaven are employed in the unending service of Christ (Rev. 7:14-15).
Revelation 7:14-15 "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (15) Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them."
1. They are engaged in prayer (Rev. 6:10). "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"
2. They sing the songs of grace to the praise of God.
In heaven, "we shall not rest from our work but from our labors. There will be no toil, no pain in our work." …M'Cheyne
E. God's saints in heaven are engaged in constant, uninterrupted fellowship, communion, and conversation with one another and with the holy angels.
Someone once said, "It will be one of the felicities of heaven that saints shall no longer misunderstand each other."
I know this – "There are no regrets in heaven, no remorseful tears, no second thoughts, no lost causes."
Application:
1. Make certain that you are in Christ.
2. Take comfort with regard to those who have gone to heaven.
3. Be assured that our weary, troublesome lives will end soon – and they will end well (2 Cor. 4:17 - 5:1).
2 Corinthians 4:17-5:1 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (18) While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
Earth has no sorrow that heaven will not heal. A. W. Pink wrote, "One breath of paradise will extinguish all the adverse winds of earth."
"My whole outlook upon everything that happens to me should be governed by these three things: my realization of who I am, my consciousness of where I am going, and my knowledge of what awaits me when I get there." …Martin Lloyd-Jones
Ecclesiastes 4:1-2 "So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter. (2) Wherefore I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive."
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