WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.480 --> 00:00:04.639 Are Heaven and Hell real places? 2 00:00:04.879 --> 00:00:06.599 And what are they like? Today? 3 00:00:06.719 --> 00:00:10.199 On Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the Bible Teaching Ministry of 4 00:00:10.279 --> 00:00:15.039 Rick Warren, we continue his series called Eternal Realities Heaven 5 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:18.320 and Hell. In these lessons, Rick shares what the Bible 6 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:20.920 says about heaven and Hell and how you can be 7 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:24.920 absolutely certain you'll go to heaven. And now here's part 8 00:00:24.960 --> 00:00:27.760 two of a message called the Reality of Heaven. 9 00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:30.440 Did you know that the Bible says God has stored 10 00:00:30.519 --> 00:00:34.759 up every tear in Heaven that you've ever cried. He's 11 00:00:34.840 --> 00:00:39.000 kept a record of it, that your tears, your pain, 12 00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:42.560 God knows about, he cares about. But when you get 13 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:44.840 to Heaven, there's going to be no more sadness. 14 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:47.119 That's a good thing. 15 00:00:48.560 --> 00:00:53.640 No more broken hearts, no more rejection, no more loneliness, 16 00:00:54.600 --> 00:01:01.640 no more sorrow, no more sadness, no more grief, more heartache. 17 00:01:01.840 --> 00:01:04.879 That is Heaven. That is Heaven. 18 00:01:05.079 --> 00:01:08.159 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There 19 00:01:08.200 --> 00:01:11.319 will never be a split second in the billions and 20 00:01:11.359 --> 00:01:14.000 trillions of years you'll live that you will have sadness 21 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:19.280 or grief again, or depression. Now, those of you who 22 00:01:19.319 --> 00:01:22.680 are right now going through grief and you're carrying the 23 00:01:22.680 --> 00:01:25.120 grief of a loved one, or you've been going through 24 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.920 a period of depression. One of the things that that 25 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:30.200 does in our lives is it just makes Heaven be 26 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:34.599 a little bit more close. We want to go to 27 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:39.319 Heaven when we're in pain. Why because there is none there. 28 00:01:39.480 --> 00:01:42.599 Not only no sickness, no sadness. The Bible says, no suffering. 29 00:01:42.719 --> 00:01:45.519 Look at this verse. The Bible says, no more hunger, 30 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:52.000 no more thirst, no more scorching heat. You know what, 31 00:01:52.079 --> 00:01:55.519 when I get to Heaven, my wife and I won't 32 00:01:55.560 --> 00:01:59.719 have different controls on the thermostat anymore, because we're all 33 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:04.200 Why is that that you marry somebody who's so much 34 00:02:04.239 --> 00:02:05.680 hotter or colder than you are. 35 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:07.519 I don't know. 36 00:02:08.199 --> 00:02:11.199 But the truth is there's no suffering. Every one of 37 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:14.960 your needs will be satisfied. Not only that, no suffering, 38 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.039 no sadness, no sickness, no sin. 39 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:18.759 Look at this verse on screen. 40 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:22.400 The Bible says God will bring you into His glorious presence, 41 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:26.639 innocent of all sin and with great joy. Now we 42 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:29.919 talked about this last week. Heaven is the perfect place, 43 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:33.479 and I'm not perfect, and neither are you. So God 44 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:37.000 has to come up with the solution, because there's no 45 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:40.639 way I'm getting I stopped being perfect many many, many 46 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:44.159 years ago, and you did too. All have sinned, all 47 00:02:44.199 --> 00:02:46.759 have fallen short, we've all blown it. We're all sinners, 48 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:51.800 we've all made mistakes. Nobody lives a perfect life, zip nobody, 49 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:55.759 but heaven's perfect. So how can God let imperfect people 50 00:02:55.759 --> 00:02:59.639 into heaven without messing it up? Well, that's what Jesus 51 00:02:59.719 --> 00:03:02.159 Christ came to do, to die on the cross and 52 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:05.120 pay for all our sins, to wipe it all out, 53 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:09.800 to forgive us and to make us perfect inside, so 54 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:12.120 that when we go into heaven, he says, we'll go 55 00:03:12.280 --> 00:03:14.719 innocent of all our sin. One of the things that's 56 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:17.240 going to happen is when you see Jesus Christ face 57 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:19.199 to face. The Bible says your character. 58 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:23.360 Will be instantly changed to be like him. Still going 59 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:24.199 to be the same you. 60 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:28.080 People gonna recognize you. You're still going to have your personality, 61 00:03:28.280 --> 00:03:30.639 you're going to be. God would not waste what He's 62 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.639 put into you. God didn't going to take what he 63 00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:36.039 made you to be and then turn you into robot. 64 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:38.199 When you get heaven, do you understand that you'll still 65 00:03:38.240 --> 00:03:41.879 be you? And that's why He made you to be you, 66 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.840 and he wants you to be you not only an 67 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:47.479 eternity but here on earth. But he says, your character 68 00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:50.120 is going to become like Jesus. I don't know about you, 69 00:03:50.280 --> 00:03:53.319 but I'm looking forward to the moment that I no 70 00:03:53.400 --> 00:03:57.199 longer have any hang ups, that I no longer have 71 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:01.599 any fears. Can you imagine what it will be to 72 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:10.719 live no fear, no guilt, no resentment, no worry, no bitterness, 73 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:18.240 no anger, no envy, no jealousy, no loneliness, perfection. But 74 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:21.519 it's still gonna be you. You'll be a whole lot 75 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:26.160 more fun to live with and I will too. And 76 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:27.680 when we get to heaven, you come over to my 77 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:29.839 house for a million years and we'll hang out, and 78 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:31.720 then we'll go over to your place for a millionayears, 79 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:35.600 and you know, we'll just it's gonna be fun, man, Okay, 80 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:39.319 So it's gonna be great. No sadness, no suffering, no sin, 81 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:44.560 and number five, no death, immortality. The Bible says this, 82 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:51.360 there shall be no more death, no sorrow, no crying, 83 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:55.560 and no pain. All of that will be gone forever. 84 00:04:55.759 --> 00:04:57.959 For those of you who are living in chronic pain, 85 00:04:58.199 --> 00:05:03.639 that's good news for those who've suffered with that pain 86 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:06.879 in whatever part of your body that you've suffered with 87 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:11.639 because your body is not perfect. It is broken here 88 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:13.560 on this planet. God says, when you get there, you 89 00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:17.160 get a new body, you get new emotions, you get 90 00:05:17.240 --> 00:05:21.959 new character, and there's no death. I'm glad that I 91 00:05:21.959 --> 00:05:24.639 don't have to live for eternity with my habits and 92 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:28.759 my hurts and my hang ups, but all God's gonna 93 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:29.040 make me. 94 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:30.399 If it were, that'd be hell. 95 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:33.360 But God says, no, I'm going to make it all 96 00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:36.079 perfect and then there'll be no death. Those are five 97 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:38.639 things you won't find in heaven. Now I'll look at 98 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:42.000 the list five things you will find in heaven. First 99 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:46.079 thing you're gonna find in heaven is reunion with every 100 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:51.079 other believer and those all those people that I love who. 101 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:51.759 Know the Lord. 102 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:53.959 When we get to heaven, as I said, we're gonna 103 00:05:53.959 --> 00:05:57.439 have a party, and we're gonna we're gonna be reunited together. 104 00:05:57.560 --> 00:05:59.879 The Bible says this, we looked at this verse ear 105 00:06:00.199 --> 00:06:03.079 This was God's purpose that when the time is right, 106 00:06:03.160 --> 00:06:06.360 he will gather us all together. There's going to be 107 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:09.560 a reunion. He will gather us all together from wherever 108 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:16.120 we are to be with Him in Christ forever. Now, 109 00:06:16.120 --> 00:06:19.079 who's going to be in heaven? Big question, Who's going 110 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:22.360 to be in heaven? Well, God, the Father, the Son, 111 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:25.600 the Holy Spirit, theyre going to be in heaven. Angels 112 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.439 are going to be in heaven. Of the Church is 113 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.240 going to be in heaven. Everybody who has put their 114 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:37.240 trust in Christ. And all the believers who were believers 115 00:06:37.279 --> 00:06:40.839 in God before Jesus came in the Old Testament, who 116 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:44.120 we look back to the Messiah. They looked forward to 117 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:48.000 the Messiah. The people in the Old Testament were saved 118 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:51.560 the same way. The people today are saved by looking 119 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:56.480 forward to a savior, and we look back to a savior. 120 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:59.399 But we're saved the exact same way. Let me show 121 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:03.600 you verse Hebrews twelve. He says, you have come to 122 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:08.480 the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. This 123 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:11.800 is heaven, and to the gathering. Now notice all the people. 124 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:15.959 He mentions, the gathering of countless happy angels. Angels will 125 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:18.920 be there, and to the church. Church are going to 126 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:22.319 be there, every believer composed of all those registered in 127 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:25.319 heaven and to God. Obviously, God's going to be there 128 00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:28.079 who is the judge of all and to the spirits 129 00:07:28.120 --> 00:07:29.920 of righteous people made perfect? 130 00:07:29.959 --> 00:07:30.639 Who's that? 131 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:34.639 That's the people born before Jesus Christ, who in faith 132 00:07:35.079 --> 00:07:38.519 lived and listened and looked forward to the promise that 133 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:42.480 God had made. One day, I'm sending a savior and 134 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:44.199 to Jesus himself. 135 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:48.399 They're all going to be there in heaven. Now. 136 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:50.600 One of the most common questions I hear is what 137 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:51.680 about babies. 138 00:07:52.519 --> 00:07:54.160 What about babies who died? 139 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:58.800 Friend, They're all going to be in heaven, every single 140 00:07:58.959 --> 00:08:00.519 one of them. 141 00:08:00.680 --> 00:08:01.839 Yeah, you need to know that. 142 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:09.720 Why Because we are not responsible for what we cannot understand. 143 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:14.800 The same is true of a child. 144 00:08:14.600 --> 00:08:18.040 Who grows up to full adulthood but does not have 145 00:08:18.120 --> 00:08:23.519 the mental capacity to understand the love of Jesus Christ. 146 00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:26.759 Now they can understand some sometimes. 147 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:26.920 You know. 148 00:08:26.959 --> 00:08:30.720 It's interesting when they first communicated to Helen Keller, who 149 00:08:30.800 --> 00:08:35.480 was blind and death, and they communicated to her the 150 00:08:35.559 --> 00:08:39.440 concept of God. She said, I've always known him, I 151 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:44.480 just didn't know his name. Isn't that interesting? I've always 152 00:08:44.519 --> 00:08:47.159 known him in my heart. In fact, often children are 153 00:08:47.159 --> 00:08:50.080 more in contact with God than we are. They're much 154 00:08:50.080 --> 00:08:52.320 more sensitive, and that's why the Bible says, unless you 155 00:08:52.480 --> 00:08:55.639 become as children, you shall not enter the Kingdom of God. Why, 156 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:58.840 because kids are humble, they're open to God. We close 157 00:08:58.919 --> 00:09:01.080 off with our pride and we say no, no, no, no no. 158 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:05.879 God says no no. They're gonna be in heaven. Now 159 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:09.639 when they have not reached an age old enough to 160 00:09:09.879 --> 00:09:13.679 understand the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, 161 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:17.879 God and evil, and they have known how the age 162 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:21.519 of which they could come to Christ and make that 163 00:09:21.639 --> 00:09:26.279 decision to come to Christ, the Bible says they are safe, 164 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:31.759 not saved, but safe. In fact, the Bible says in 165 00:09:31.799 --> 00:09:36.840 the book the Psalms, the Lord preserves the simple. Now, 166 00:09:36.840 --> 00:09:39.240 you may have grown up in a religion that taught 167 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:43.320 unless the child is baptized before they die, they'll go 168 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:47.159 to hell. It's wrong. It is not in the Bible. 169 00:09:47.200 --> 00:09:49.799 It is unscriptural, and it just is wrong. And the 170 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:53.360 Bible tells us very clearly that children who are not 171 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:55.840 old enough to make a wise decision, they have not 172 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:58.799 come to the age of accountability. They are not old 173 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:04.879 enough to understand. End that if they die before they understand, 174 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:08.000 before they have a chance to choose Christ, well they 175 00:10:08.039 --> 00:10:10.799 certainly haven't rejected him because they haven't even chos him. 176 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:14.480 And they haven't they don't have enough knowledge to understand. 177 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:19.480 They go straight into the loving arms of Jesus. Every miscarriage, 178 00:10:20.519 --> 00:10:23.039 every still birth, every abortion. 179 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:24.320 You know. 180 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:26.519 I actually I've had people tell me. You say, Rick, 181 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:29.039 why don't you why don't you talk about the babies 182 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:32.519 who are boreded more? Well, I tell you why, because 183 00:10:32.559 --> 00:10:35.480 I'm interested in reaching the people who had the abortions, 184 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.799 because all those babies instantly go to heaven, but the 185 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:44.879 adults don't. And they need to understand the grace of 186 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:48.279 God and the forgiveness of God, and the and what 187 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:52.360 God has offered to us. We know this many times 188 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:55.559 in scripture. Here's an example. David had a child that 189 00:10:55.759 --> 00:11:00.000 died at birth, and David said this in Second Sam. 190 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:03.200 Now that the baby is dead, I can't bring him 191 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:06.399 back to life, but someday I will go to be 192 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:11.679 with him. If you've had a miscarriage, that baby is 193 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:16.600 in heaven. If you've lost a young little one, that 194 00:11:16.759 --> 00:11:21.399 child is in heaven. The Bible says they are safe. 195 00:11:21.440 --> 00:11:25.480 The Lord preserves the simple. So the first thing we're 196 00:11:25.480 --> 00:11:27.360 gonna have in heaven is we're gonna have a reunion 197 00:11:27.639 --> 00:11:31.000 with these that we love in the family of God. 198 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:34.279 The second thing, we're gonna have rewards. Now, there's so 199 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:36.360 much material in this, I'm gonna have to come back 200 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:40.279 and teach an entire series just on the rewards in heaven. 201 00:11:41.240 --> 00:11:43.440 You say, what are we going to be rewarded for. 202 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.679 Everything? Literally? Everything? 203 00:11:47.799 --> 00:11:50.799 The Bible makes it very clear that God is watching 204 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:53.799 everything in your life. You will be rewarded for your 205 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:58.279 actions that we're good. You will be rewarded for your 206 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:01.759 words that were good. You will be rewarded for your 207 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:05.440 thoughts that were good. You will be rewarded for your 208 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:08.879 character and your decisions that were good. You will be 209 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:13.159 rewarded for your prayers. You will be rewarded for your generosity. 210 00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:16.960 You will be rewarded for your service. You will be 211 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.919 rewarded for your sacrifices. 212 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:20.240 You will be. 213 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:23.279 Rewarded for your persistence in not giving up when you 214 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:26.399 felt like giving up, and doing the right thing. The 215 00:12:26.440 --> 00:12:29.480 Bible says, you will be rewarded for loving your enemies 216 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:33.600 and over know every single thing. I wish you had 217 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:35.600 time to go into this and show you all of 218 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:38.759 the things that God says. You will be rewarded for 219 00:12:39.080 --> 00:12:43.200 in heaven you will be rewarded for bringing other people 220 00:12:43.320 --> 00:12:48.480 to Jesus Christ. I want you to have that reward. 221 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:53.480 Is anybody gonna be in heaven because of you? I 222 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:56.360 want you to have that reward that somebody's in heaven 223 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:59.960 because of you. The Bible says that you will be 224 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:03.559 rewarded for putting up with criticism, for being a Christian. 225 00:13:04.279 --> 00:13:07.519 That you will be rewarded for being persecuted as a believer. 226 00:13:08.039 --> 00:13:11.840 That's why Jesus said, blessed or you. When men shall 227 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:15.639 revile you and persecute you, and say all manner of 228 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:19.799 evil against you falsely for my sake, rejoice and be 229 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:23.879 exceeding glad, for great as your reward is in heaven, 230 00:13:24.120 --> 00:13:28.159 for soaks persecuted day the prophets which were before you. 231 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:32.799 God says, I'm watching it all, and I'm going to 232 00:13:32.879 --> 00:13:35.440 reward it all. Now, this has nothing to do with 233 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:40.399 your salvation. The only way you get into heaven is 234 00:13:40.440 --> 00:13:43.840 by faith in what Jesus Christ has already done for you. 235 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:45.240 You can't get into heaven. 236 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:45.879 By your good works. 237 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:50.759 But the Bible says that when you're there, you will 238 00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:54.759 be rewarded according to your good works. 239 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:55.720 Let me show you a. 240 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:58.320 Couple verses theres I could give you five hundred one 241 00:13:58.360 --> 00:14:01.639 this if the Bible says, if you even give a 242 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:05.679 cup of cold water to one of the least of 243 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:11.679 my followers, you will surely be rewarded. I think about 244 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:15.639 all the rewards that all the volunteers in our children 245 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:19.639 ministry are going to get every time they change a diaper. 246 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:30.320 Why don't we just appreciate the children's ministry right now? Yeah, 247 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:32.799 every time they give a cup of cold water, a 248 00:14:32.879 --> 00:14:37.639 Graham cracker, change a snotty nose, or blow a snotty 249 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:42.000 nose or whatever God says. I'm writing that one down. 250 00:14:42.080 --> 00:14:45.360 I'm writing that one down. The Bible says this, look 251 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:50.399 on the screen. Love your enemies, do good to them, 252 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.519 lend to them, and don't be concerned that they might 253 00:14:53.559 --> 00:14:57.840 not repay. I know this, then your reward in heaven 254 00:14:58.200 --> 00:14:59.960 will be very great. 255 00:15:00.679 --> 00:15:01.399 And here's the thing. 256 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:05.559 You got to decide where you want your rewards in life. 257 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:07.120 You want it in this life or do you want 258 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.440 it in the next. If you get your rewards in 259 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:12.480 this life, the popularity, the wealth, the fame, and all 260 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:14.679 that kind of stuff, and that's what you live for. 261 00:15:15.159 --> 00:15:17.279 How long do you get to use it eighty years. 262 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:22.799 You build up treasure in heaven, rewards in heaven, how 263 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:25.559 long do you get to enjoy those rewards forever? 264 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:29.120 It's just a matter of perspective. Here. 265 00:15:29.440 --> 00:15:31.200 There's more to life than here and now. And you've 266 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:33.200 got to decide whether you're going to live for here 267 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:38.960 and now and pleasure and popularity and principles and all 268 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:43.600 these things of possessions here on earth, power on earth, 269 00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:46.200 or are you going to live in light of rewards 270 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:49.960 that you get to live in forever and ever. There 271 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:53.480 will be rewards in heaven. Third thing that's going to 272 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:57.840 be in heaven is responsibilities. You're not gonna sit around 273 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:01.759 on a cloud doing nothing in heaven. That's one of 274 00:16:01.799 --> 00:16:04.559 the reasons why people don't like heaven. They think I'm 275 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:07.440 going to be so bored in heaven there will be 276 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:12.919 nothing to do. Are you kidding? God is the one 277 00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:16.440 who wired you, He shaped you. He knows what you're 278 00:16:16.519 --> 00:16:19.039 interested in. Where do you think you got your interest? 279 00:16:19.200 --> 00:16:21.559 Where do you think you got your hobbies? Where do 280 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.120 you think you. 281 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:24.759 Got your skills and talents? And where do you think 282 00:16:25.080 --> 00:16:26.519 your spiritual gift? Heart ability? 283 00:16:26.559 --> 00:16:29.440 Person on experiences came from They came from God. And 284 00:16:29.559 --> 00:16:32.799 you think He's only going to use your shape on earth. No, 285 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:39.240 he's going to use your shape in eternity. And when 286 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:44.840 you will have work in eternity, here's the difference. You're 287 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:49.080 gonna enjoy it. Here's the difference. There aren't gonna be 288 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:53.480 any heartaches with it. Here's the difference. You're gonna be 289 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:59.279 fulfilled one hundred percent. And your role and your responsibility, 290 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:03.120 the Bible says, in heaven will be meaningful, it will 291 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:05.960 be fulfilling, it will be enjoyable, and you're going to 292 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:11.200 enjoy doing it in eternity. Now, what is my responsibility 293 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:13.440 and what are my roles going to be in heaven? 294 00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:17.000 I don't know, but I do know this. 295 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:21.519 It's based on how faithful you are with the roles 296 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:25.880 and responsibility he gives you on earth. The God is 297 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:30.559 watching you and he's testing you. Life is a test, 298 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:35.599 and life is a trust and life is a temporary assignment. 299 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:38.480 And God puts you on this earth for eighty years 300 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:44.599 to see how responsible, how dependable, how faithful, how trustworthy 301 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:48.640 are and what are they doing with what they've been given? 302 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:51.920 And if you do, you make the most of what 303 00:17:51.960 --> 00:17:54.440 you've been given, God says, then I'm going to give 304 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:57.279 you more in heaven. And if you don't make the 305 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:59.599 most of what you've been given, God's going to say, 306 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:02.359 then you're going to get less. You make it, make 307 00:18:02.400 --> 00:18:04.519 it into heaven by the skin of your teeth, but 308 00:18:04.599 --> 00:18:07.480 you're not going to have the rewards as those who 309 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:12.119 faithfully serve God. Now I didn't say that, Jesus said it. 310 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:16.519 Look at this verse on the screen, Luke sixteen. Jesus said, 311 00:18:16.559 --> 00:18:19.720 unless you're faithful in small matters talking about here on earth, 312 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:24.400 you won't be faithful in large ones. And if you 313 00:18:24.519 --> 00:18:28.119 cheat in little things, you won't be honest with greater 314 00:18:28.200 --> 00:18:32.599 responsibilities talking about in heaven. And if you are untrustworthy 315 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:36.680 with worldly wealth, in other words, the money, the possessions 316 00:18:36.680 --> 00:18:39.319 that God gives you here on earth, who will trust 317 00:18:39.359 --> 00:18:42.759 you with the true riches of heaven. Did you know 318 00:18:42.839 --> 00:18:45.359 that the way you manage your money on this earth 319 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:49.000 is an acid test of your faithfulness and responsibility, and 320 00:18:49.079 --> 00:18:51.079 it's going to help determine what you do in heaven. 321 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:55.799 Did you know that God is watching to see how 322 00:18:55.880 --> 00:19:00.200 you not only manage your time, how you manage your relationship, 323 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:04.000 how you manage your health, how you manage your intelligence, 324 00:19:04.279 --> 00:19:08.079 how you manage your network, how you manage your opportunities, 325 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.000 but how. 326 00:19:08.839 --> 00:19:09.960 You manage your money. 327 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:14.920 All of a sudden, now money management becomes more than 328 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:16.640 just Oh, that'd be a nice thing to do so 329 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:19.160 I could get out of debt. God said, I'm watching 330 00:19:19.240 --> 00:19:22.400 to see what can I trust you with when you 331 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:26.599 get to eternity. And if I can't trust you with 332 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:32.319 worldly wealth, you're always in debt. You can't afford to tithe, 333 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:36.079 you're not generous, God says, what do you think I'm 334 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:41.240 going to trust you with an eternity. That's why thirty 335 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:44.559 two years ago, I begin learning to be generous more 336 00:19:44.599 --> 00:19:48.160 and more every year. You see, I've told you this 337 00:19:48.240 --> 00:19:53.319 story before. But let's say if in December of this year, 338 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:56.559 the United States made a decision that we're no longer 339 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:59.720 going to accept dollar bills in America, We're switching to 340 00:20:00.039 --> 00:20:06.319 Japanese yen, and after December, you can only buy things 341 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:10.400 and sell things in Japanese yen's dollars will be useless. Now, 342 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:13.359 if you knew that that transition was going to happen, 343 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:17.200 if you were a smart investor, you would really do 344 00:20:17.319 --> 00:20:21.599 something right away. You would transfer as much of your wealth, 345 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:25.559 as much of your portfolio, as many of your possessions, 346 00:20:25.599 --> 00:20:28.200 whatever money you had in the bank account or anything 347 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:30.599 you've got, you would switch as much of it as 348 00:20:30.640 --> 00:20:36.599 you could into Yen immediately and only keep just enough 349 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:40.680 to make it through to December, because you're going. You know, 350 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:46.000 after December, everything I've gotten dollars is worthless. That's exactly 351 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:49.319 what God is saying about heaven. You can either store 352 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:51.759 it up here on earth, or you can store it 353 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.440 up in heaven. 354 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:54.920 And how do you store it up in heaven. 355 00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:59.200 By investing it in people who are going there. And 356 00:20:59.240 --> 00:21:02.359 that's why today, after thirty two years of marriage, can 357 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:05.160 I give away ninety percent and live on ten percent? 358 00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.400 Why? 359 00:21:05.640 --> 00:21:09.559 Because I have been storing up in heaven for years. 360 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:13.920 You're gonna have a little dinky cabin next to my mansion. 361 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:24.920 Just kidding, But the truth is, for thirty two years 362 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:28.839 of marriage, I have been putting it into my eternal 363 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:32.319 bank account, which by the way, gets a lot better 364 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:36.759 returns than the stock market. Because God says, whatever you 365 00:21:36.799 --> 00:21:39.200 give up for me, I will restore one hundredfold. Do 366 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:41.359 you know what that says? That in the scriptures Jesus 367 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:43.759 said it. Do you know what one hundredfold is ten 368 00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:46.680 thousand percent interest? Name me an investment that gives you 369 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:47.799 ten thousand percent interest. 370 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:49.400 I'm saying, be smart. 371 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:53.799 You need to decide where am I gonna invest my time? 372 00:21:55.599 --> 00:21:58.480 Where am I gonna invest my life? Where am I 373 00:21:58.519 --> 00:22:01.920 gonna invest my money? Because I'm either gonna get rewarded 374 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:04.319 here on earth I'm gonna get rewarded in heaven. 375 00:22:05.359 --> 00:22:07.640 It's your choice, he said. 376 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:12.400 There's reunion, their rewards, their responsibilities. Life is a test, 377 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:16.160 it's preparation for eternity, and God is watching every single 378 00:22:16.200 --> 00:22:20.880 decision you made to see if you're faithful, if you're trustworthy. 379 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:28.400 That was such an encouraging message from Pastor Rick. And 380 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:31.319 now to encourage us more, here's Rick with a letter 381 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.720 from one of our listeners. 382 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:33.359 Friends. 383 00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:35.720 Today, I want to tell you about a guy named Chris. 384 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:38.559 I found out that he shares daily hope with his 385 00:22:38.599 --> 00:22:41.240 family and his friends and his coworkers as often as 386 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:43.799 he can, and then he has seen a ripple effect 387 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:47.079 as they all shared daily hope with other people. Let 388 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:48.759 me read you a portion of what he wrote to me. 389 00:22:49.480 --> 00:22:54.000 Pastor Rick, I first encountered daily Hope when a coworker 390 00:22:54.079 --> 00:22:58.599 forwarded the daily devotional to me years ago. My friend 391 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:02.039 was sending the devotional each morning to an email list 392 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:04.000 of about fifty or twenty people. By the way, that's 393 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:06.319 a good idea for you to do too. And when 394 00:23:06.359 --> 00:23:09.400 my friend retired from our company, he passed along the 395 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:13.799 email group list and I continue the tradition of sending 396 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:17.319 the devotionals each morning. That email group grew to about 397 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.720 thirty five or forty people. 398 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:19.599 Now. 399 00:23:19.640 --> 00:23:22.519 I recently retired, so I passed the email group to 400 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:26.480 another coworker in order that they can continue the ministry. 401 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:30.559