Baseball in Heaven | w/ Pastor Mike

John opens Revelation 21 with a sight of a “new” heaven and “new” earth, not brand‑new from scratch but renewed, restored, familiar yet transformed. The sea’s disappearance does not cancel water; it cancels dread. In John’s world the sea carried darkness and chaos, so its removal announces the end of evil’s threat. The holy city, the new Jerusalem, comes down from God. Heaven is not something humanity builds by hustle or fundraising; heaven descends as gift because, as the line goes, “we are the world” is the problem. The city arrives “as a bride adorned for her husband,” which lets the church see its present life as bridal preparation, growing into unity and maturity to meet Jesus.

A loud voice explains the center: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.” There is no plan b. From the garden to the tabernacle, the temple, the Incarnation, and the Spirit’s indwelling, God has always moved toward his people to dwell with them, and he will not quit until that fellowship is forever. Then comes the mercy every heart aches for: God wipes every tear, ends mourning, ends pain. Death, the last enemy, is stripped of power. The enthroned One says, “Behold, I am making all things new,” and seals it with, “Write this down… trustworthy and true.”

The hope under discussion is “future future.” Scripture gives hints about the immediate state for those who die now: absent from the body, present with the Lord, conscious and worshiping, yet still awaiting resurrection. But the fullness is resurrection life in the renewed creation.

Several cheap pictures need clearing out. Heaven will not be boring; “no eye has seen” what God has prepared. Heaven will not turn humans into chubby babies or into angels; redeemed humanity is what Jesus died to make new, and angels long to look into that redemption. Heaven is not universal; only the sons and daughters in Christ share this home. Repent and believe the gospel is not scare talk; it is the only doorway.

Better ways to think take root. Eternity starts now. The disciple’s present works in Christ will endure, and the dross will burn off. The resurrected life will be embodied and busy: building, planting, feasting, creating, and yes, laughing at a ballgame without sin or sorrow. The church’s shared life is a foretaste, so grudges must die now. And the best part is not the activities; the best part is Jesus. When the heart wants him most, the present is steadied: character is formed, focus is set on things above, perspective shrinks lesser worries, and suffering is endured because future glory outweighs it all.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Heaven comes down, not up The new Jerusalem descends as gift; it is not engineered by human progress, sentiment, or slogans. This keeps the church from hedging bets with “fire insurance” religion and from chasing utopias that always crack under human sin. The disciple learns to receive, not manufacture, the city whose architect is God. [10:50]
• 2. Eternity is embodied and busy Resurrection life mirrors Jesus’ own: recognizable, glorified, eating and rejoicing, wounds transfigured into witness. Isaiah’s vision of building, planting, and feasting reframes “forever” as the fullest human life, without decay or envy, art and work humming with joy. Present deeds in Christ will be remembered, and empty vanity will burn away. [29:59]
• 3. Only those in Christ enter The promise is for sons and daughters who drink freely from the water of life; it is not a scale of good intentions. Union with Christ, not personal merit, secures a home where the Father sees the Son’s work covering the sinner. The right kind of fear becomes a clear invitation to repent and receive mercy. [24:59]
• 4. Future glory fuels present endurance A mind set on things above gains ballast for storms below; perspective shifts and petty anxieties lose their grip. The early church could refuse “just a pinch” to Caesar because the coming weight of glory made present pain light and momentary. This hope trains character and steadies faith through cancer wards, fractured homes, and quiet losses. [35:57]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:22] - Baseball in heaven opener
• [03:36] - Facebook asks about heaven
• [08:02] - Prayer and Revelation 21
• [10:50] - Heaven comes down from God
• [13:42] - Tears wiped and death ended
• [15:28] - Present heaven vs future future
• [17:54] - Four wrong ideas of heaven
• [20:29] - You can’t imagine its joy
• [24:27] - Not everyone goes to heaven
• [26:19] - Eternity starts now
• [29:59] - Work, build, feast in glory
• [33:21] - The best part: Jesus
• [35:57] - Hope to endure suffering
• [39:05] - Closing prayer

1. According to Revelation 21:1-2, where does the new Jerusalem come from, and how is it described?
2. What specific actions does God take in Revelation 21:4 to address human suffering?
3. In 1 Corinthians 2:9 (referenced in the sermon [20:29]), what does Paul say about humanity’s ability to imagine what God has prepared?
4. Isaiah 65:17-25 (alluded to in the sermon [29:59]) describes life in the renewed creation. What activities are mentioned as part of this future reality?

1. Why does Revelation 21 emphasize that the new Jerusalem “comes down out of heaven from God” rather than being built by humans? How does this contrast with common cultural ideas about utopia?
2. The sermon mentions that the removal of the sea symbolizes the end of evil’s threat ([09:58]). How does this imagery connect to biblical themes of chaos and redemption (e.g., Noah’s flood, Jesus calming the storm)?
3. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard” what God has prepared. How does this statement challenge both the fear of a “boring” heaven and attempts to reduce heaven to mere wish-fulfillment?
4. Isaiah’s vision of building, planting, and feasting in the renewed creation ([29:59]) contradicts the idea of heaven as a disembodied, inactive existence. How does this reshape our understanding of eternal life?

1. The new Jerusalem is a gift from God, not a human achievement ([10:50]). How might this truth free you from striving to “earn” God’s favor or trying to create a perfect life through your own efforts?
2. If “eternity starts now” ([26:19]), what habits or priorities could you adjust to reflect the reality that your present actions have eternal significance?
3. The sermon warns against holding grudges since “we’ll know each other” in eternity ([31:41]). Is there a relationship in your life where you need to pursue reconciliation or forgiveness this week?
4. Isaiah’s vision includes work, creativity, and feasting in the renewed creation ([29:59]). How could you engage in activities today (e.g., art, service, community) that reflect this future hope?
5. The sermon states that “the best part of heaven is Jesus” ([33:40]). What practical steps could help you cultivate a deeper desire for Christ Himself above the blessings He gives?
6. How might focusing on “future glory” ([35:57]) change your perspective on a current struggle, such as pain, loss, or injustice?
7. The sermon emphasizes that only those in Christ enter the new creation ([24:59]). If someone asked you, “How can I know I’m included in this promise?” how would you respond?