A preacher in Denver heard that President Eisenhower was there visiting in his mother-in-law's modest home. He knew that the President would leave at a certain hour to go to the Air Force Academy. He joined the crowds in front of the home and waited to see the President. Telling about it later he said, "Several large cars were waiting in front of the home and the police were holding back the crowds. The eyes of everyone were upon the front door. The door soon opened and a little girl came out. She was the President's granddaughter. Then the President came out, waved his hand to the crowd and entered his car. The crowd applauded him. Who was with him? I don't know. Maybe his son, maybe his wife. If I saw them at all, it was out of the corner of my eyes. The President was the center of attention. He was the one whom I wanted to see."

        You and I feel that way about Jesus and when we get to heaven, He will be the center of our attention.

        A young preacher was called to the bedside of an old soldier of the cross who was nearing the end. He turned to John 14 and read, "In my Father's house are many mansions --." He stopped and started talking to the old man about the mansions in the sky. "No, no,"said the old man, "read the third verse." He read, "If I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also."

        "Son, that is it. That is it." It is not a mansion in the sky or streets of gold beyond pearly gates that these old eyes are longing to see. It is my Savior that these old eyes are longing to see. It will be heaven enough to see Him and to be with Him."

        Thank God one day all saved people will see Him and be with Him forever. I have studied about Him for some 60 years and preached about Him almost that long but I have never seen him.

1 Pet. 1:8 (KJV)
⁸ Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

        Yes, we Christians share Paul's anticipation of glorious fellowship with God our Father and Jesus, our Lord and Savior. William Blake said shortly before he died, "I am going to that country I have always wanted to see."

        Helen Keller must have had that hope in mind when she said, "For three things I thank God every day of my life; that He has given me knowledge of His works; sat in my darkness the undying lamp of faith; and deepest thanks I have another life to look forward to, a life joyous with flowers, light and heavenly song."

        Victor Hugo said, "The nearer I approach the end, the plainer I hear around me the immortal symphonies inviting me."

        Stonewall Jackson evidently had a "foretaste of glory divine" when he exclaimed, "Let us cross over the river and rest in the shade of the trees."

        Oh, the sweet fellowship we'll enjoy with Christ our Savior. Heaven is such a wonderful place.

        Heaven -- the land where they never have any heartaches, where no graves are ever dug.

        Heaven -- where there is no hand-to-hand fight for bread.

        Heaven -- where no hearse rolls its dark way to the tomb.

        Heaven -- where David is triumphant, though once he bemoaned Absalom.

        Heaven -- where Abraham is enthroned who once wept for Sarah.

        Heaven -- where Paul is exultant, though once he sat with his feet in the stocks.

        Heaven -- where John the Baptist is radiant with joy though his head was chopped off in the dungeon.

        Heaven -- where Savonarola wears a crown, though once he burned at the stake.

        Heaven -- where Latimer sings praises though once he simmered in the fire.

        Heaven -- where many martyrs sit in the presence of Jesus though their blood once reddened the mouths of lions.

        Heaven -- where many saints rest in peace who once were torn on torture racks.

        yes, heaven is so wonderful and the thing that makes it so is Jesus is there. Aren't you longing to see Him?

II.   We Have Loved Ones In Heaven

Eph. 3:15 (KJV)
¹⁵ Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

        "Heaven is the family of God gathered in their Father's house."

        Ford -- "There was a time when I had no interest in Daytona Beach, Florida but one day my only sister moved to that city and now I am deeply interested in it because I have a loved one there. We go along without any thought of heaven until one day one of our loved ones goes over to the eternal city. We are then linked to the throne of God by the silver cords of love and memory."

        All little children will be there. I have no patience with the doctrine that would shut out of heaven a little child who has not reached the age of accountability. If a little child in its innocentcy cannot go to heaven, then we are all doomed. We might as well get an asbestos suit right away. He that believeth not is condemned, the child never reached the age to believe. What is the age of accountability?

        Someone else says: But doesn't the Bible say, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God?" Yes, it certainly does, and I believe it with all my heart. But it says, "man"; it didn't say, "baby" nor "infant," When the Bible speaks of a man in this sense it means one who has reached the place of accountability, one who is responsible for his own decisions.

        Then furthermore I know what Jesus taught. "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? (Matt. 18:1-4).

        A godly father came to die, and to bid his three sons farewell. Two of them were Christians, but the younger was very wayward. Just before the father passed on, he called the boys to his bedside to give them his parting word. Beginning with the eldest, he said, "George, I am soon to leave you. But I am not going to say good-bye, for I will see you again in the morning. Good-night, son." Then to James he said, "Son, I am leaving you now for a while. You have been a good son, and I have to leave you, but I am not going to say good-bye. I'll see you again in the morning. Good-night, son." Then he took the hand of the wayward son. His lips trembled. Tears filled his eyes. It seemed that his whole being was moved too deeply to speak. Finally he said amid sobs, "Good-bye, son, good-bye." Then he turned with his face to the wall, and wept. The son started out of the room, but those words were ringing in his ears -- "Good-bye, son, good-bye."

        He came back to the bed and sobbed, "Daddy, why did you say, 'Good-bye' to me. You said only 'Good-night' to the others, and that you would see them again." The father replied, "Son, your brothers trust my Saviour as their Saviour. I am dying, but I will awake in heaven. Soon they will meet me there, and we will see each other in that glad morning. But you have rejected my Saviour, and gone the ways of sin. You cannot do this and go to heaven. This is the parting of the ways for us forever."

        He then became too "full" to talk, and sobbed as his life was leaving him -- "Good-bye, son." The young man stood there trembling under the thought that this meant separation for them forever. Suddenly he cried out, "Daddy, don't say 'good-bye', say 'goodnight' for I will trust Jesus and will see you in the morning."

        If you're not a Christian and have Christian friends and loved ones who have gone on to heaven, you'll never see them again unless you become a Christian by trusting in Jesus, The Savior.

III.   We Have Rewards In Heaven.

        Salvation is a free gift of God. No one would ever merit it though he were to serve an eternity. God delights to extend to repenting sinners the wonderful benefits of His grace -- which is salvation. We have an inheritance in heaven which is ours because we are the children of God.

2 Pet. 1:4 (KJV)
⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Rom. 8:17 through Rom. 8:18 (KJV)
¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. ¹⁸ For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

        Many Christians are shortsighted, placing greater value on the enjoyments of this present life than on the glories of the future in heaven. Because their perspective is wrong, their time is misspent, their talents are misused, and their money is misinvested. They amass a fortune on earth but give little thought to laying up treasures in heaven. They forget that the more we "send on ahead," the brighter will be the anticipation of going there.

        Salvation is freely given us but our rewards are earned. We shall be rewarded according to our works.

2 Cor. 5:10 (KJV)
¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Rev. 22:12 (KJV)
¹² And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

        Every piece of service done by the Christian in the name and for the sake of Christ will bring rich rewards.

Matt. 10:40 through Matt. 10:42 (KJV)
⁴⁰ He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. ⁴¹ He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. ⁴² And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

        We have no doubt asked ourselves these questions. What is life all about? What is the reason for my being here? What is the purpose of it all? Many have never understood that this life is the very briefest of anterooms to a glorious and never ending life which is to come. Our threescore and ten are only the introduction.

        The devil would like so much to confuse the issue. He would like to throw a smoke screen of ignorance over the whole question and make us feverishly interested in the things of time -- not the things of eternity (and he has succeeded in many cases). He would tempt us to spend our energies to acquire homes and lands and stocks and bonds. His diabolical suggestion is that we spend our years to attain places of earthly achievement and receive earthly laurels. But God's truth is that life is not for that. We are to be but strangers and pilgrims here. Our goal is not to pile up earthly treasures, more to be satisfied with earthly pleasure. We journey across the pages of time (with one goal in mind) to reach that city that hath foundations whose builder and maker is God. So we sing as we travel on,"a tent or a cottage, why should I care? They're building a mansion for me over there."

        Listen again to what Jesus teaches us.

Matt. 6:19 through Matt. 6:21 (KJV)
¹⁹ Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

        But do not think that rewards will be given only to those who have been in the fore front of Christian service. They are not only for preachers, missionaries and Christian workers. Rather, the basis of their distribution will be faithfulness in the Christian life. For those who have been faithful in the small and unseen tasks given by the Holy Spirit there will be just as great rewards as those who have reached thousands. The criterion is not success but faithfulness.

        But evidently there will be some who will not share in the rewards of that day. For the Scriptures speak of those who "suffer loss." These are Christians who hearts have been given over to worldly things, and whose hands have been employed in selfish purposes. Just what the "loss" is to be the account does not state. It cannot be the loss of salvation for salvation does not enter in here. But something is lost and that something can never be regained. Perhaps that explains why some are said to be "ashamed at His coming."

        Some will have more rewards than others. A lady would bring her plants into the house in the autumn. Some had hardly grown at all. They had made no progress and produced no blooms. They had just lived and that was about all. Others had done well -- grown strong and beautiful and repaid her care by abundant blossoms. The former were taken in and saved from perishing but had obscure places with little regard or use -- just safe and that was all. The others, those which had used their powers and opportunities were taken to grace the parlor and windows in the house and given missions of beauty and power. So it is with God's people. Some are just saved, but others who live lives of loving service to God and humanity, have an abundant entrance into the joy of the Lord.

        One has said. "I don't know when the end of my race upon earth will come. I'd live longer if I could rest my tired body and nerves more, but I'd rather live ten years less and amount to something for God than to dabble around like some Christians and die and have nothing to show for my life"

        How rich are you? One has said that "if all you have today is what you can touch with your two hands, see with your two eyes, you are miserably poor." The Cincinnati Enquirer carried this Sentence Sermon, "The average person probably hasn't stored up enough treasure in heaven to make a down payment on a harp."

        I believe we'll shed tears of regret when we look back and see just how little we've invested in things of eternal value. Notice again the words of Jesus, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal." Our treasure here is so insecure but our treasure in heaven is so secure.

        Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." The fool, Jesus said, is the one who is rich in earthly treasures but who one day must leave it all -- and has no treasure in heaven.

        When one dies, the question is often asked, "What did he leave?" The answer is, "He left everything -- all earthly treasures."

        A woman met a friend of her father's who had not seen him for many years. The woman's father was a devout Christian, so she found great joy in telling his old acquaintance about her dad's trust in the Lord, and the way he faced suffering, trials, and even the prospect of death. The friend, however, had lived a different kind of life. Having given himself over completely to earning money and hoarding every cent he could, he had become very wealthy. But he didn't have the same glad anticipation of the future as his friend did. He explained it to the daughter in this way: "Your father can be more optimistic about heaven than I for a very simple reason. He is going to his treasure. I'll be leaving mine!"

        That expresses it well. When death comes, those who have chosen to live for selfish fulfillment will enter eternity empty handed. But those who have lived for the Lord and wisely invested in eternity will have a glorious entrance. They'll find their treasures in heaven!