April 20, 2007

• Heaven Is Not A Haven For All People

  I want to take a break, today, from Isaiah and quote a statement from Jonathan Edwards.  This quote is from one of his sermons called Wicked Men Useful in Their Destruction Only.  I want to make it absolutely clear that heaven has never and will never be about bringing all people to God.  The purpose of heaven was to be a haven or rest and paridise for those who love God and worship Him because of the salvation He has provided.  This is what Jonathan Edwards says,

  “If men do not bring forth fruit to God, they are not fit to be disposed of in heaven.  Heaven, above all others, is the most improper place for them.  Everything appertaining to that state is unsuitable for them.  The company is most unsuitable.  The original inhabitants of that world are the angels.  But what a disagreeable union would that be, to unite wicked men and angels in the same society?  The employments of heaven are unsuitable.  The enjoyments are holy and spiritual enjoyments, the happiness of beholding the glory of God, and praising His name, and the like.  But these enjoyments are as unsuitable as can be to the carnal earthly minds of wicked men.  They would be no enjoyments to them; but on the contrary would be most disagreeable, and what they cannot relish, but entirely nauseate.”

  “The design of heaven is unsuitable to them.  The design of God in making heaven was, that it might be a place of holy habitation, for the reward of the righteous, and not an habitation for wicked men.  It would greatly reflect on the wisdom of God to dispose of wicked men there, for it would be the greatest confusion.  But God is not the author of confusion, 1 Corinthians 14:33.  It would be contrary to the holiness of God, to take wicked men so near to himself into his glorious presence, to dwell forever in that part of the creation which is, as it were, his own palace, and to sit at his table.  We read in Psalm 5:4, ‘Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness, neither shall evil dwell with thee.’  Therefore it would doubtless be impossible that the end of the existence of wicked men should be in any wise answered by the placing of them in heaven.”  (Sermons of Jonathan Edwards, p. 75)

  I hope you will read the whole quote because today’s popular thought is everyone will get to heaven because God is love.  Well, it is true God is love but He is also the God of justice and holiness.  He will never allow wickedness to be disposed in His palace.  Heaven is a place of holy habitation, it is for those who are in Christ to worship and reign with Him forever and ever.  I hope that those who are not in Christ will recognize that they need that relationship with Christ because without it you are destined to spend an eternity separate from God.  God loves you and does want you with Him; but you must recognize that you need Him.  If you continually reject Him, God will judge.  Please accept His gift and belong to Him; it is the greatest thing you could ever do.  Please, if you have questions, ask them and I will answer them.  I plead with you and consider you condition in Christ.  God Bless!

  REJOICE IN THE HOPE WE HAVE AS BELIEVERS OF PARADISE WITH GOD!

  • 10:16 am
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