Choosing Eternity: Heaven, Hell, and God's Grace

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that heaven is a prepared place, crafted by God for those who choose to be part of His family. Jesus, in John 14, assures us that He is preparing a place for us, emphasizing that heaven is not just a state of being but a real, tangible place. This promise is a testament to God's desire for us to be with Him eternally. However, the reality of hell is also addressed, a place originally intended for the devil and his angels, not for humans. Yet, if we choose to rebel against God, we align ourselves with the fate of Satan.

The choice between heaven and hell is a recurring theme in the Bible, as seen in Deuteronomy, where God presents the Israelites with a choice between blessing and curse, life and death. This choice is mirrored in our lives today. We are reminded that anything we place before God becomes an idol, and our hearts can easily turn away from Him to worship other things. The call is clear: choose life by loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

The path to heaven is not through our efforts but through accepting the grace offered by Jesus Christ. He has already paid the price for our sins, and our ticket to heaven is a free gift. We must admit our need for a Savior, believe in Jesus' sacrifice, confess Him as Lord, and commit our lives to Him. This commitment should be public, symbolized through baptism and church membership, as a declaration of our faith.

Finally, we are encouraged to depend on God's promise of eternal life for those who believe in His Son. This assurance is not based on hope or guesswork but on the certainty provided by God's Word. As we reflect on these truths, we are invited to make a conscious decision today, not to delay, and to embrace the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- Heaven and Hell as Realities: Heaven is a prepared place for those who choose to be part of God's family, while hell was originally intended for the devil and his angels. Our choices determine our eternal destination, emphasizing the importance of aligning our lives with God's will. [06:43]

- The Power of Choice: Just as God presented the Israelites with a choice between blessing and curse, we too have the choice between life and death. Our decisions reflect our priorities, and anything we place before God becomes an idol. Choosing life means loving God wholeheartedly. [08:34]

- Grace, Not Works: Our entry into heaven is not earned by our deeds but is a gift of grace through Jesus Christ. We must admit our need for a Savior, believe in His sacrifice, and commit our lives to Him. This is the essence of the gospel message. [11:58]

- Public Declaration of Faith: Our commitment to Christ should be public, demonstrated through baptism and church membership. This public declaration is a testament to our faith and a way to show that we are not ashamed of the gospel. [24:00]

- Assurance of Salvation: We can have absolute confidence in our salvation through Jesus Christ. This assurance is based on God's promise, not on our feelings or efforts. By trusting in Jesus, we secure our eternal destiny. [13:40]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [05:14] - Heaven: A Prepared Place
- [06:03] - The Brokenness of Earth
- [06:43] - The Reality of Hell
- [08:02] - The Choice of Eternity
- [09:23] - Worship and Idolatry
- [10:29] - Choosing Life
- [11:14] - God's House Rules
- [12:41] - No Second Chances
- [13:26] - Assurance of Heaven
- [14:25] - The Inevitability of Death
- [15:56] - The Gospel Message
- [17:02] - Reconciliation Through Christ
- [18:14] - The Essence of the Gospel
- [19:37] - Steps to Salvation
- [22:12] - Public Commitment to Christ
- [26:19] - Dependence on God's Promise

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 14:2-3 - "My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that 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 to be with me that you also may be where I am."
2. Deuteronomy 30:15-19 - "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess."
3. 1 John 5:13 - "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to John 14:2-3, what is Jesus preparing for us, and what does this indicate about the nature of heaven? [05:14]
2. In Deuteronomy 30:15-19, what choices does God present to the Israelites, and what are the consequences of each choice? [08:34]
3. How does 1 John 5:13 assure believers about their eternal life, and what is the basis of this assurance? [13:40]
4. What does the sermon say about the original purpose of hell, and how does this relate to human choice? [06:59]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of heaven as a "prepared place" affect the way believers view their relationship with God and their eternal future? [05:14]
2. What does the choice between life and death in Deuteronomy 30:15-19 reveal about God's expectations for His people, and how does this apply to believers today? [08:34]
3. How does the assurance of salvation in 1 John 5:13 impact a believer's daily life and decisions? [13:40]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our choices in life reflect our priorities and relationship with God? [09:23]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current priorities. Are there any areas in your life where you might be placing something before God, effectively creating an idol? How can you realign your priorities to choose life by loving God wholeheartedly? [09:23]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of a public declaration of faith through baptism and church membership. Have you made this public commitment? If not, what steps can you take to do so? [24:00]
3. Consider the assurance of salvation offered through Jesus Christ. How does this assurance influence your confidence in facing life's challenges and uncertainties? [13:40]
4. The sermon discusses the inevitability of death and the importance of being prepared for eternity. What practical steps can you take today to ensure you are living in alignment with God's will and prepared for eternity? [14:25]
5. How can you actively depend on God's promise of eternal life in your daily walk with Him? What specific actions can you take to strengthen your faith and trust in His promises? [26:19]
6. Reflect on the concept of grace as a free gift. How does understanding that salvation is not earned by works but given through grace change your perspective on your relationship with God and others? [11:58]
7. The sermon mentions the choice between heaven and hell. How does this choice influence your interactions with others, especially those who may not yet know Christ? What can you do to share the message of salvation with them? [08:02]

Devotional

Day 1: Heaven and Hell: Choices with Eternal Consequences
Heaven is described as a prepared place, crafted by God for those who choose to be part of His family. It is not merely a state of being but a real, tangible place, as assured by Jesus in John 14. This promise reflects God's deep desire for humanity to be with Him eternally. Conversely, hell is a place originally intended for the devil and his angels, not for humans. However, if individuals choose to rebel against God, they align themselves with the fate of Satan. The choice between heaven and hell is a recurring theme in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's life with God's will. [06:43]

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Corinthians 5:10, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your daily choices and actions. Are they aligning you with God's will and the promise of heaven, or are they leading you away from Him? What is one change you can make today to align more closely with God's desires for your life?


Day 2: The Power of Choice: Life or Death
The Bible presents a clear choice between blessing and curse, life and death, as seen in Deuteronomy. This choice is mirrored in our lives today, where our decisions reflect our priorities. Anything placed before God becomes an idol, and our hearts can easily turn away from Him to worship other things. Choosing life means loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This call to choose life is a profound reminder of the power of our choices and the importance of prioritizing our relationship with God above all else. [08:34]

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one thing in your life that has become an idol, taking precedence over your relationship with God. How can you begin to shift your focus back to loving God wholeheartedly today?


Day 3: Grace, Not Works: The Gift of Salvation
The path to heaven is not through human efforts but through accepting the grace offered by Jesus Christ. He has already paid the price for humanity's sins, and the ticket to heaven is a free gift. Individuals must admit their need for a Savior, believe in Jesus' sacrifice, confess Him as Lord, and commit their lives to Him. This commitment is the essence of the gospel message, emphasizing that salvation is not earned by deeds but is a gift of grace. [11:58]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of grace. Are there areas in your life where you are still trying to earn God's favor? How can you embrace the gift of grace more fully today?


Day 4: Public Declaration of Faith: A Testament to Belief
Commitment to Christ should be public, demonstrated through baptism and church membership. This public declaration is a testament to one's faith and a way to show that they are not ashamed of the gospel. It is an outward expression of an inward transformation, symbolizing a believer's identification with Christ and His church. This act of public commitment serves as a powerful witness to others and reinforces the believer's dedication to following Jesus. [24:00]

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: Have you publicly declared your faith in Jesus through baptism or church membership? If not, what steps can you take to make this public commitment? If you have, how can you continue to live out this declaration in your daily life?


Day 5: Assurance of Salvation: Confidence in God's Promise
Believers can have absolute confidence in their salvation through Jesus Christ. This assurance is based on God's promise, not on feelings or efforts. By trusting in Jesus, individuals secure their eternal destiny. This certainty provides peace and hope, allowing believers to live with the assurance that their future is secure in Christ. It is a reminder that salvation is not a matter of guesswork but a promise from God that can be trusted completely. [13:40]

"And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life." (1 John 5:11-12, ESV)

Reflection: Do you struggle with doubts about your salvation? What specific promises from God's Word can you hold onto to strengthen your confidence in His promise of eternal life?

Quotes


Jesus said this in John 142 and3 I'm going to prepare a place for you now notice Heaven's not an accident it is a prepared place and he says I'm going to prepare a place for you now first notice it's a place it's not a state of being it is an actual place I'm going to prepare a place and who is heaven prepared for it says what for you God is preparing it for us to be a part of his family and he says and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where you may be also he says I where I'm going I want you to go to and Heaven is the presence of God but it is a place. [00:05:00]

that heaven is a real place but hell is also a real place and notice here on on the scripture here's what the Bible says Jesus said then he that's God will say to those on his left depart from me you who are cursed into the Eternal fire prepared for read it with me the devil and his angels now the Satan's angels are called demons they Satan rebelled against God and so God created a place now notice that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels it wasn't originally intended for human beings did you get that he said I'm going to prepare a place for you it's called heaven but he said hell was prepared for the devil and his angels now if I choose to rebel against God just like Satan did and I choose to reject God and I choose to say I'm going to be my own God I'm going to do what I want to do be what I want to be say what I want to say then if I Rebel like Satan I go where Satan goes but it's not originally planned for human beings it was planned as a punishment for Satan and his angels so there is a real heaven and there is a real heal you get to choose where you'll spend eternity. [00:06:43]

you get to choose where you will spend eternity it's your choice now this is the same kind of choice that God gave to Israel uh in the Old Testament back in the book of Deuteronomy uh God says this to the people of Israel he says today I'm giving you the choice between a blessing and a curse now you'll be blessed if you obey the commands of the Lord your God or you'll receive a curse if you reject me you you Rebel against me you say I'm going to be my own God and you reject me and my commands let me show you another verse in Deuteronomy 30: 15 and 19 it says this see I have set before you today life and good or death and evil he says here's the choice you can choose between doing good and life or you can choose between doing evil and death he says if you obey my Commandments by loving the Lord your God see that's the most most important commandment the most important commandment is that you learn to love God with your heart and soul and mind and strength and by walking in his ways he said if you do that then he says you'll live and you'll multiply and I will bless you but he says if your heart turns away from me to worship other things now why would anybody worship other things besides God cuz we want to you can worship a lot you can worship your car you can worship your career you can worship status or sex you can worship your salary you can worship possessions or position or power or Prestige or popularity you can worship yourself everybody has a god even atheists have a god it may be themselves but in you there is a inbuilt wired desire to worship and if you don't worship the true God you're going to choose something else and a false god is called an Idol and God says you don't have any other thing before me anything you put before God in your life you worship if you put your career before God if you put making money before God if you put uh having fun before God anything you put before God becomes your God in your life and you worship it and he says if your heart turns away from me to worship other things and to serve them he said then you will perish therefore he says choose life you get a choice choose life that you may live. [00:08:34]

how could a loving God send people to Hell God doesn't send people to hell you choose to go there it's like there are two doors in eternity and one goes to heaven one goes to hell and the one that goes to heaven says you come to Jesus this are the this is the house rule he's already paid for your ticket into heaven he's already forgiven you all you got to do is accept it you just accept what he's done for you it's a free gift of Grace you go to heaven you want to go to hell you just do your own thing you say I'm going to be my own God I'm going to do what I want to do I'm going to be my own God I don't want God make I don't want anybody telling me what's right or wrong I don't want to tell anybody tell me what to do I want to run my own life now if I choose to walk out this door I certainly can't blame God he's done everything possible for you to go to heaven he's already paid for it all he's made it so easy you just have to accept it by faith and if I say thank you no I'd rather stick with what I love more then that's not God's fault that's my fault it is a choice. [00:11:14]

does God have a right question does God have a right to make house rules for his house well yeah it's his house and in heaven he has a right to say you want to come to Heaven here's how you get here how do you get here not by earning it not by working for it not by being good but simply by accepting the grace that his son did for you by dying on the cross for you and if I reject his condition for entering Heaven he's not being unloving I'm just being dumb he's not being callous I'm just being illogical and can anybody blame me can anybody blame God if I choose a I'm going to go my way out this door into eternity no it's my choice now there's no second chance after you die you get to choose where you're going to spend eternity but you have to choose now while you're alive not after you're dead in other words I can't walk out this door my way and then say oh oh by the way I don't like this I want to go back over here now God says I gave you an I gave you an entire lifetime to make the right decision and you didn't take it you kept putting it off putting it off putting it off I gave you entire lifetime so there is no halfway house between Heaven and Hell there's no little intermediate State there's no limbo there's no Purgatory the moment you die you either go straight to heaven or you go straight to hell and it's a choice here on Earth and God has done everything to make sure you get into heaven. [00:12:41]

is there a way for me to absolutely know for certain I'm going to heaven here's the good news yep you can absolutely confidently know that you're going to heaven the Bible tells us how to do it now notice the next verse how do I settle my destiny John says this in 1 John 5:13 I write this to you who believe in the name of the son of God that's the door Jesus I'm writing to you who believe in the name of the son of God so that you may know not guess not Wonder not hope that you may know with settled and absolute knowledge that you already have life yes eternal life God says I don't want you guessing if you go out to the mall today and you you ask somebody hey where are you going when you die they're going to say well I hope I'm going to heaven friends Hope's not enough it's too important it's too important to to to not know for certain you see only a fool would go all through life unprepared for what we know is inevitable death. [00:13:26]

Heaven's perfect and we're not but God came up with a plan and as a plan that somebody would die for all my sins and all your sins and he would do it himself so that we by his grace could go to heaven and that's why Christmas and Easter are so important look at this next verse the cross is the answer to our problem it says in Colossians 1:22 to 20 21-22 at one time you were separated from God and you were his enemies in your minds and the evil things you did were against God in other words God I'm going to run my life nobody has a right to tell me what's right or wrong nobody has a right to tell me what to do I'm going to make my own choices he says you you know you rebell just like Satan did but now God has made you his friends again and he did this through Christ's death in the body when he died on the cross so that he might bring you into God's presence what's God's presence heaven and when he brings you in how are you going to be it says as people who are holy with no wrong and with of which God can nothing of which God can judge you he said I'm going to wipe the Slate clean this is the etos sketch verse of the Bible you you make all the mess you turn it upside down you shake it and it comes out clean and pure again he says that's what I'm going to do in your life life. [00:17:02]

for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life and where is that verse found John 3:16 chapter 3:1 16 now this is the verse that you see the guy with colored hair standing in the end zone holding up at all the ball games John 3:16 it's the most important verse in the Bible if you only get one verse you want to get this one cuz this one is your ticket to heaven now notice I've underlined six words God's only son perish eternal life and the first letter of that g o p l that's the gospel and what is Gospel gospel is the Old English word for good news that's all it means the gospel is good news when you hear about gospel music that means music that's about what Jesus did for us when you hear about gospel preaching it means somebody's teaching what Jesus Christ did for us that God's only son came and gave his life for us so that we would not perish but have everlasting life. [00:18:14]

admit the first thing I do is I admit I need a savior to get to heaven now that means I admit I'm not perfect Heaven's perfect and I'm not I admit I've blown it I've made mistakes I'm flawed I've sinned and we just admit it we own up to it now this is the hard one for some guys why because of Pride so there's one thing that'll keep you out of Heaven your ego your pride your unwillingness to say I need God in my life because people say well I'm a self-made man I've noticed that a self-made man tends to worship His maker that's deep you guys that's really deep and in order for you to get to heaven you have to humble yourself you have to admit God is God and I'm not and I need need a savior I can't earn my way to heaven I can't pay my way to heaven I can't be good enough to get to heaven I need a savior now believe me if you didn't need a savior God wouldn't have wasted the time sending Jesus to die on the cross if there was any other way for you to get to heaven don't you think he would have done a less painful way than come himself and die on the cross for you there was no other way for you to get into heaven and so first I admit that I need a savior. [00:19:37]

commit myself completely to him I commit commit myself completely and say Lord I want to do your plan for my life I want to do the purpose you put me here on Earth to do not my purpose I'm going to go not my way anymore I'm going to go Jesus way I'm going to go God's way I'm going to go the way that God created me to go and I commit myself to you now that commitment you need to do it publicly you need to make a public commitment to Jesus Christ I mean how about if I said to my wife honey I'm committed to you so let's get married uh but let's don't tell anybody about it what kind of commitment would that be she goes hey Buster Are you ashamed of me you won't tell anybody about me if you won't tell anybody about me then you're not really committed to me a private commitment is no commitment at all you got to make it public so I stood up one day in public and I said I do in front of a bunch people and I wear a ring everywhere I go and this says ladies don't even think about it and I'm sure so many ladies do think about it uh what fantasy world am I living in you know but the point is I wear this cuz I'm proud of my wife and I love her and I am committed to my wife till death do us part now what is the wedding ring of the Christian Life well there are two ways baptism and joining a church now being baptized joining a church doesn't make you a Believer it shows shows that you are it's a wedding ring this ring doesn't make me uh married it just shows that I am. [00:22:12]

Jesus said if you're ashamed of me then I'll be ashamed of you in heaven but he said if you stand up in front of me publicly I'll stand up for you in heaven another way you can stand up publicly is join a church now friends it doesn't matter which church you join as long as it's a good Bible teaching Church what does joining a church mean to saying I'm not ashamed to say I'm a part of the body of Christ one day you're going to stand before God you're going to stand before Jesus Christ your savior who died on the cross for you and there'll be nail prints in his hands and he's going to say now what did you do with your life he's not going to be interested in hearing well you know I joined the country club yeah well I joined the PTA uh yeah well I I joined a sewing group yeah well I joined uh I joined save the whales yeah I I joined any other s social or service organization he's going to say did you join my family did you join the body of Christ my body did you join my church which I died for wait a minute you joined everything else and you didn't join my body my family that I'm going to take with me forever what were you thinking I admit I believe I commit my public expression of that commitment as baptism and and being a part of church that doesn't save you it just shows that you are it's it's the not the root it's the fruit. [00:24:00]

I depend on God's promise and when I depend on God's promise what is the promise that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life now in order to remember that promise God gave us two symbols baptism and communion and he said I want you to remember this what I've done for you what it cost for me to get you into heaven you couldn't get to heaven on your own so I came to Earth and died on the cross and if you'll put your trust in me you walk out through this door named Jesus immediately into the presence of God into heaven you think about the greatest things we've ever done here on Earth and you think about a billion times better than net and that's what heaven's going to be. [00:26:19]

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Transcript
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