Introduction – The Wonders of Heaven
Brothers and sisters, when we speak about Heaven, we are not speaking about a fairy tale or a dream — we are speaking about a real place, prepared by God, filled with glory, and awaiting all who trust in Christ.
Scripture gives us glimpses, and each glimpse stretches our imagination to the breaking point.
John wrote:
“And the twelve gates were twelve pearls, each of the gates made of a single pearl, and the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” (Revelation 21:21, ESV)
Can you picture it? Streets of gold, so refined and radiant that they shine like glass. Gates fashioned from single pearls — the entryways into the eternal city!
John continues to describe the walls of the New Jerusalem:
“The wall was built of jasper, while the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with every kind of jewel. The first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst.” (Revelation 21:18–20, ESV)
The very foundations sparkle with every color of the rainbow, displaying the majesty of God’s creative power.
And then we are shown the river of life:
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Revelation 22:1–2, ESV)
Crystal-clear waters flowing from the throne of God, feeding the tree of life, producing fruit every month — abundance, renewal, healing forever.
Heaven is not only radiant with beauty but filled with perfect peace. The prophet Isaiah declared:
“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6–9, ESV)
Can you imagine it? No more danger, no more fear — even nature itself will be restored to harmony under the reign of Christ.
And perhaps the greatest wonder of all is this:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’” (Revelation 21:3–4, ESV)
The true glory of Heaven is not the streets of gold or the gates of pearl — it is God Himself, dwelling with His people, wiping away every tear, and removing forever every sorrow.
God’s Preparation for Us
Before we speak of our participation, we must remember what God is doing right now on our behalf.
Jesus said:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1–3, ESV)
This is the work of Christ — preparing rooms, preparing the welcome, preparing eternity for us. We do not contribute to the architecture of Heaven. We don’t decorate its streets of gold. That is God’s work.
Paul reminds us of the mystery:
“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.’” (1 Corinthians 2:9, ESV)
Right now, Christ intercedes for us (Romans 8:34). Right now, He is ensuring that nothing separates us from His love (Romans 8:38–39). Right now, He is preparing for our arrival.
Transition: But here is the wonder — though we cannot build Heaven, we can send treasures ahead.
Our Participation – Laying Up Treasures
Jesus gives us this challenge:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21, ESV)
Earthly treasures are fragile. They can be lost, stolen, or destroyed. But heavenly treasures are eternal — untouched by decay.
Paul told the Philippians:
“Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.” (Philippians 4:17, ESV)
Every prayer you pray, every act of kindness, every word of witness, every sacrifice you make in Christ’s name is a deposit into your heavenly account.
Even the smallest deed is recorded:
“And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42, ESV)
The writer of Hebrews assures us:
“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.” (Hebrews 6:10, ESV)
What Treasures Look Like
So, what do these treasures look like?
- Faithful Service – “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:23, ESV)
- Generosity – “They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:18–19, ESV)
- Steadfast Witness – Living faithfully even when costly.
- Sacrificial Love – “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, ESV)
These are the investments that last forever.
Conclusion – A Personal Account in Glory
One day, you and I will make a withdrawal. Salvation is a gift we cannot earn. But eternal rewards are connected to how we lived.
Paul said near the end of his life:
“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8, ESV)
On that day, we long to hear the voice of our Savior:
“‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:23, ESV)
So I ask you: Are you sending treasures ahead? Or are you investing in what will fade?
Live now in such a way that Heaven will not only be your destination — it will be your reward.
Living With Eternity in Mind
Every choice we make is either a deposit into eternity or a withdrawal into emptiness. Jesus said,
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, ESV)
So the question is: Where is your treasure? Where is your heart?
- If you have never made Christ your Savior — that is the first and most important step. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)
- For believers — this is a call to reprioritize. Will you invest more faithfully in eternity?
- For the weary — this is a call to hope. “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints.” (Hebrews 6:10, ESV)
Closing Prayer of Commitment
“Lord Jesus,
Thank You for preparing a place for me.
Thank You for the promise of Heaven.
Forgive me for chasing after treasures that will not last.
Today I choose to live with eternity in mind.
Help me to invest in things that honor You,
To love others sacrificially,
To serve faithfully,
To give generously,
And to live with joy until the day I see You face to face.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Final Exhortation
Friends, one day the accounts of this world will be closed, but your heavenly account will stand forever. Let’s live so that when we cross that threshold, we will hear the words of our Savior:
“‘Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:23, ESV)