Text: Luke 16:19-26
OPEN:
John Wesley was singularly focused on the salvation and sanctification of sinners like him, and like you and me. This led him to preach on the great themes of Scripture towards that end:
"Every truth that is revealed in the Word of God is undoubtedly of great importance. Yet it may be allowed that some of those that are revealed there are of greater importance than others, as being more immediately conducive to the grand end of all: the eternal salvation of men."
In light of his preoccupation with leading men and women to faith in Christ, I find it interesting that Wesley spoke more about hell than he did heaven.
Why would someone so focused on the present reality of salvation give attention to the prospect of future punishment?
Because recognition of a future negative alternative encourages the present embrace of the positive.
Again, Wesley underscores the importance of considering these huge themes of heaven and hell:
"And let it not be thought that the consideration of these terrible truths is proper only for enormous sinners.... It behooves, therefore, not only the outcasts of men, but even you, His friends, you who fear and love God, to deeply consider what is revealed in the oracles of God concerning the future state of punishment."
Wesley did not preach an entire sermon on heaven, but he did on hell. He did, however, make mention of heaven in other sermons and writings. Using his thoughts as light on Scripture, we can confidently state the following:
I. Heaven and Hell are To Be Understood Literally.
John Wesley on the parable–
"But is the subsequent account merely a parable, or a real history? It has been believed by many, and roundly asserted, to be a mere parable, because of one or two circumstances therein, which are not easy to be accounted for. In particular, it is hard to conceive, how a person in hell could hold conversation with one in paradise. But, admitting we cannot account for this, will it overbalance an express assertion of our Lord: "There was," says our Lord, "a certain rich man." -- Was there not? Did such a man never exist? "And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus."- -Was there, or was there not? Is it not bold enough, positively to deny what our blessed Lord positively affirms? Therefore, we cannot reasonably doubt, but the whole narration, with all its circumstances, is exactly true. And Theophylact (one of the ancient commentators on the Scriptures) observes upon the text, that, 'according to the tradition of the Jews, Lazarus lived at Jerusalem.'"
1. Wesley describes what hell is like by calling it "the punishment of loss."
1) Loss of pleasure
"This commences in that very moment that the soul is separated from the body; in that instant the soul loses all those pleasures whose enjoyment depends on the outward senses. The smell, the taste, the touch delight no more. The organs that ministered to them are spoiled, and the objects used to gratify them are removed far away. In the dreary regions of the dead all these things are forgotten; or, if remembered, are only remembered with pain, seeing they are gone forever."
2) Loss of loved ones
"They are torn away from their nearest and dearest relations: their wives, husbands, parents, children, and their friend which was as their own soul."
3) Loss of physical comfort.
Lk 16:23, "In hell, where he was in torment."
"Consider that all these torments of body and soul are without intermission. They have no respite from their pain.... Suppose millions of days, of years, of ages, elapsed--still we are only on the threshold of eternity! Neither the pain of body nor of soul is any nearer an end than it was millions of years ago."
4) The greater loss of God
Lk 16:23, "he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side."
"They have lost their place in Abraham's bosom in the paradise of God."
2. The opposite may be understood of heaven.
A place where there is no loss.
"No tears..."
2) A place where there is no pain.
Lk 16:25, "but now he is comforted here and you are in agony."
3) In the presence of God
Lk 16:22, "The time came when the beggar died and the Angels carried him to Abraham's side."
II. Heaven is a Prepared Place for a Prepared People.
What is heaven like? Time does not allow an adequate description.
illus:
I love the old story of the rich man who, on his death bed, negotiated with God to allow him to bring his earthly treasures with him when he came to heaven. God’s reaction was that this was a most unusual request, but since this man had been exceptionally faithful, permission was granted to bring along just one suitcase. The time arrived, the man presented himself at the pearly gates, suitcase in hand– BOTH hands, actually, since he had stuffed it with as many bars of gold bullion as would fit. St. Peter said, “Sorry, you know the rules–you can’t take it with you.” But the man protested, “God said I could … one suitcase.” St. Peter checked, found out that this one would be an exception, prepared to let the man enter, then said, “OK, but I will have to examine the contents before you pass.” He took the suitcase, opened it, saw the gold bars and asked quizzically, “You brought PAVEMENT?”
[Note: This story is from the sermon “Heaven” by Dr. David Leininger, March 30, 1997]
When John writes about a street paved with gold, I do not doubt his words. He simply reports what he saw in his vision. Thus his words are literally true. They are also meant to tell us that the things we value so highly in this life will be used to pave the roads in heaven.
2. Jesus has prepared Heaven for those who have made the ultimate preparation.
Jn 14:1-7, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you're going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
III. Heaven is our Primary Motivation for Evangelism.
1. Personal motivator.
“I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. Give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God!”
― John Wesley
2. Our greatest motivation to share with others.
“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.”
― John Wesley
If hell is as bad as the Bible says it is, and heaven is as good at Christ says it is, we should do everything within our power to insure individuals avoid the one and embrace the other.
CLOSE:
Heaven is where God is, and that is motivation enough for me to want to go there.
(Dr. Dane Fowlkes)
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