(Part 3/3 – A summary of the Sunday morning teaching on 20-Sep-15, in AFT Church, English service. From the series The Foundation For Victorious Living)
d) Enjoying rest
Revelations 14:13 says, ‘ Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” Isn’t it fun to go on vacations and relax? We can enjoy doing what pleases us. Heaven will be a place to rest from our labor on earth and enjoy ourselves.
e) Work
Revelations 22:3 says, ‘ And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him’. Being a servant doesn’t imply doing a menial job. We will be serving our Father God and that will be pleasurable.
f) Bejeweled city
Revelations 21:19-21 says, ‘The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass’. Gates, roads, buildings and walls of Heaven will be decked with jewel and precious stones. None of it would be an extravaganza, because it will bring glory to our Almighty and Wonderful God.
CONCLUSION
All of mankind, irrespective of color or creed, looks forward to a life in the Garden of Eden. Man recognizes that he is unhappy with the restlessness and discord of life. Innately, being a moral being, he knows the difference between right and wrong. He is therefore constantly longing for freedom from his wretchedness and desire to reach a place where he doesn’t have to strive anymore. But the truth of the matter is that he won’t make it all there by himself. God through Redemption (of our bodies and of the earth) will restore him totally and completely. Heaven therefore is a fulfillment of all that we desire for. Even though we still have some time to get to Heaven and be with Jesus we can still enjoy Heavenly peace and joy here on the earth that nothing can snatch from us.
