July 8, 2025 • 25 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Creative Connection with Ed Young. We're glad
you've joined us today to hear ED connect faith to
everyday life. Before we get to today's message, we want
to invite you to head online and sign up for
Ed's daily email devotionals covering relevant topics like forgiveness, anxiety,
and purposeful living.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
These life giving emails.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Will provide you with a spark of encouragement write in
your inbox every single day. Each one contains a piece
of scripture as well as encouragement from Ed to help
you think about and apply biblical truths to your life.
There's also a guided prayer at the end of each email.
Just visit edyong dot com slash emails to sign up now,
(00:42):
and while you're there, you can also browse previous devotionals
as well as watch and listen to messages from Ed.
So sign up to start receiving your daily devotionals today.
The website again is Edyong dot com slash Devotionals. Book
forward to connecting with you there. Now, let's get into
today's message with Pastor Ed Young.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Today, I'm going to give you just a quick overview
of Heaven. Then I am going to go through the
most frequently asked questions about Heaven. First of all, I
want you to notice something Number one. Heaven is a
real place. Heaven is real. It's a real place. Like
(01:32):
this lectern is real. Like these notes are real. Like
this blazer is real. Like the seats are real, Like
this building is real.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Heaven is a real place. It's a real place.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
The Bible says Jesus called Heaven a place. He said
this in scripture. I'm going there to prepare a place
for you. If I go and prepare a place for you,
I'll come back and take you to be with me
that you also may be where I am. Jesus also said,
in my father's house are many rooms. In some translations,
(02:11):
it says, in my father's house are many mansions. Heaven
is a real place. It's real. It's a tangible town.
The Bible calls Heaven a city.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Now, when you say a city, what's the city? The
city is a bunch of people.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Squillions and squillions of people will be in heaven. Hell
is the opposite of Heaven. In Hell will be completely alone.
In Heaven will be in complete community and harmony with others.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
So Heaven is a real, real place.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Philippians, Chapter three, verse twenty in twenty one. But our
citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a savior
from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power
that enables him to bring everyone under his control, will
transform our lowly bodies.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
So that they will be like his glorious body.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
On a couple of occasions in scripture, the Bible says
that those of us who are followers of Christ are strangers.
We're aliens. Yeah, we're living on planet Earth. But our
citizenship is in heaven. It's like you've visited a foreign country.
You've got a passport. The passport tells you your citizenship.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
It shows people officially.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I'm a citizen enough in my case the United States
of America. So heaven is a real place. No, just
nothing else. Number two, Heaven is a personal space.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
What did Jesus say.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I go to prepare a place for you, I go
to prepare a place for you. Well, I guess I'll
just be in some mansion on the hillside, binge watching
Netflix and eat em and MS for eternity, polishing.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
My halo, singing hello. Look. No, yeah, we're gonna have
a mansion. The Bible says what that looks like. Who knows?
We though, will be with people, will be with Jesus.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So theologically, where Jesus is, where God is, that's heaven.
Heaven is a personal space, a space just for you
and just for me as we glorify Jesus. Number three.
(04:37):
Heaven is a prepared base, a prepared base. It's going
to be our base of operations forever and ever. As
God is preparing a place for us, we should be
about preparing our lives and also preparing others as we
(04:57):
get to know them and share with them the good
news of living together with God in heaven. Love, though,
is a choice. We're not made as robots. Love is
a decision. Those of us who are citizens of Heaven
were like real estate brokers. We have an opportunity right
(05:21):
to put one party together with the ultimate party. When
this person becomes a believer. The Scripture says, there's a
party in heaven. Joy unspeakable is in heaven. When one
person bows the knee and comes to no Christ, heaven
(05:42):
is locked. We're eternal creatures, we're eternal beings, and in
heaven with this base, we're gonna have new bodies. The
Bible says, I don't know what these bodies will look like,
but I guarantee it there'll be no cell you, light,
muffin tops, spare tires, or man's in heaven. First con
(06:02):
to Chapter thirteen, verse twelve. I shall fully know, even
as I am fully known, we will recognize our loved
ones in heaven. It'll be a faith filled, fun, joyful,
on a holy nother level party in paradise.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
When we're reunited with our loved.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Ones and our friends, we will recognize them. And more
about that in a second. Well, how do you know
you'll you'll be able to recognize your loved ones? Well,
just just do some Bible thinking for me. When Jesus
rose from the grave, the disciples and others recognized him
(06:53):
on the Mount of Transfiguration. They recognized Moses and a light.
We will be recognized in heaven, and we will recognize others,
and the recognition will be even more pristine and more
beautiful by far than it is right here on planet Earth.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You're listening to the creative Connection with Ed Young. Stay
with us to hear more encouragement from Ed before we
get back to today's message. Most of us have a natural
bent towards fear, and we let that fear seep into
our thoughts in every area of our life until it
controls us. That fear virus infects us and makes us
(07:37):
forget God's sovereignty, protection and goodness.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
But there is a vaccine.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
We want to help you fight against fear and face
every day with full assurance by sending you Ed's book
The Fear Virus Vaccinating Yourself against Life's Greatest phobias.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
This resource is our thanks for your.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Gift to help connect faith to everyday life for more
people around the world through the Creative Connection. So head
over to Eddyong dot com now to give and request
your copy again. That's Eddyong dot com slash give.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I set some framework of heaven. I set to die
for heaven.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I want to segue from that into some questions because
I know when I was talking about some of those
things about about heaven for example being a real place,
Heaven is a personal space. Heaven is the prepared base
of operations for us for the rest of our lives.
I know as I talked about those things, and in
this series a lot of you going yeah, but.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
I haven't.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
I wish I could raise my hand, I wish I
could ask you some questions I didn't know. Okay, we
have taken the questions the lion's share of questions that
people have about heaven. We've done the research, the biblical research.
We've consulted and read from some of the great theologians.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Of our time who've ever lived.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Here are some answers, biblical answers about heaven, and most
of the questions, quite frankly, can be answered.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Yet, as I say.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
If we knew the four one one on heaven, if
we knew everything there is to know about Heaven, we
would be taking our lives in record numbers. That's how
amazing it is. Let me say that again. If we
knew how heaven really was, we would be like, Oh,
I'm ready to go there now. Man, I'm sick and
(09:42):
tired of this anxiety, this depression. I'm tired of these miscommunications.
I'm tired of school. I mean, I'm going to heaven.
So that's why God, in his sovereignty and his omniscience,
knew and knows just enough.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
He gives us just enough, just enough.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Is it going to be boring in heaven with heart,
music and clouds and all that?
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Answer? No.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
I used to think that until I began to study
what the Bible says about it. It is not going
to be boring, the opposite of boring. Hebrews Chapter thirteen,
verse fourteen says, for this world is not our permanent home.
We're looking forward to a home yet to come. Our
(10:33):
gifts and abilities will be.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I hate to say it, but I'm going to say
it on a whole another level.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
We'll be able to do things, create things, say things,
lead things, build things like we've never ever, ever ever
dreamed possible. You like gardening, you'll not believe the gardening
in heaven. You like athletics, you will not believe the
athletics in heaven. You like fishing, you won't believe the
fishing in heaven. That's what I'm talking about, And the
(11:00):
Bible says it's going to be a place of joy, joy,
unspeakable joy like we've never ever ever known before, because
the overarching emotion, the overarching vibe in heaven is that
of outrageous and contagious joy. Joy, joy because of Jesus,
(11:25):
joy because of others.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
What did Jesus say the great commandment?
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Love God holistically, Then love your neighbor, as yourself in
heaven will do that perfectly, perfectly, So.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
It's not gonna be boring.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
We're not gonna skip from cloud to cloud shining our
halos and singing Holy. Yeah, it's not gonna be boring. Okay,
it's not gonna be boring. Okay, what's heaven gonna be like?
How would you describe heaven? You remember when Jesus died
on the cross for our sins. He was crucified between
two common criminals. One of the criminals said, Lord, I
(12:04):
trust you, I'll give my life to you. Jesus said
these words, Luke twenty three forty three.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Truly, I say.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
To you today you shall be with me in paradise.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Paradise, paradise.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
The word paradise literally means the park of God. I mean,
there's the beautiful parks.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
I love Clyde Warren Park in Dallas. I love some
parks I've.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Had the opportunity to exercise in in Miami, and I've
seen Central Park, and I've seen National parks and places
around the world that are gorgeous. They pale pale in
comparison to the paradise that we're talking about. So, in
one word, what's having like paradise. Here's another good question too,
(12:57):
What will we know in heaven? I mean, well, we
know everything. We're not going to know everything. Only God
knows everything, but we will know a heck of a
lot more.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
In heaven than we do here. I mean, we're going
to really really know some serious stuff.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
And that brings the question, how about the people in
our lives, friends, family members who were in hell?
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Will it make us sad?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Will there be tears in heaven tears of sadness because
of those people who are in hell?
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Quick answer no.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
The reason is I think we'll have the knowledge that
they had opportunities to get to know Jesus, and they
said no. Jesus said, when I did the message on
Hell recently, he said, to those people who will go
to Hell.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Depart from me.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I never knew you. So we'll understand what that means
and we'll be able to take that apply that. But
we're not going to be thinking about that.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Will we experience relationships in heaven? I mean, will we
be able to communicate and talk? First?
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Thessalonians four fourteen and seventeen. God will bring with Jesus
those who have fallen asleep in him we who are
still alive and are left will be caught up together
with him, and so.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
We will be with the Lord forever.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Short answer, Yes, we will have relationships, will have communication
with people, with our loved ones, with friends, with new
friends and acquaintances like we've never that. Like we can't
even wrap our brain around because there's going to be
no sin. There'll be no pride in my life or
(14:46):
your life, no ego, no chicanery, no manipulation. Is going
to be pure in pristine. And that brings another question.
Can people in heaven see us?
Speaker 4 (15:00):
Now? It's a pretty good question. Yes they can. I
mean why not?
Speaker 3 (15:08):
You mean you go to heaven and God closes the blinds. No,
I believe they can see us. The Bible says in
Hebrews twelve to one, we have a great cloud of
witnesses cheering us on.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
We have a standing ovation.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Those of us who are running the race, those of
us who are sentences in heaven, we have a standing
ovation that never sits down. They're cheering for you and
for me integrity. They're cheering for you and me commitment.
They're cheering for you and me, share your faith. They're
cheering for you and me worship. They're cheering for you
(15:41):
and me endure, They're cheering for you and me in
every slice of life. So yes, yes, yes, people can't
see us. I believe in heaven, and the Bible talks
about that. Now, one of the main questions that I've
had asked me about heaven is the animal question. Will
(16:02):
there be animals in heaven? Yes, no cats, but there
will be animals in heaven. And how can you say that?
And I believe that because in Isaiah chapter sixty five.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Verse seventeen. Also in verse.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Twenty five, it talks about God creating a new heaven
and a new Earth. It talks about in the Book
of Romans creation waiting, yearning for a new heaven.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
And a new earth.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Those of us who have pets, dogs, cats, iguanas, whatever,
those of us who care for pets, who love animals.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
I truly believe they will be in heaven.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
And I'm looking forward to even loving animals and relating
to animals and nature even on a deeper level. I
love the outdoors, and I think one of the reasons
why all of us love the outdoors is because it's
been set in our hearts since eternity has been.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Set in our hearts.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Sadly, a lot of people are pantheists, meaning they worship nature. No,
we don't worship the creation. We worship the creator. Yet
the creation is going to be perfect.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
We'll see plants, animals.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
I think we'll look and relate like again we've never
ever seen before. Well, we still experience emotions in heaven.
The longest stretch of scripture that talks about heaven is
in Revelation twenty one, and it talks about emotions. God
has feelings too. We're made in the image of God.
(17:37):
We will experience emotions. Well, how about tears, Yeah, probably
tears of joy, not tears of sadness. There's not going
to be anything bad, no sin, no junk and funk
in heaven. There'll be no crying or no pain. The
Bible says, no more death or mourning. God will wipe
away every tear from.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
All of our eyes.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
And and that is something that should give us so
much hope.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
You know, the scripture says we should have hope in heaven. Now,
hope is.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Not fingers crossed, Hope is not rabbit foot, Hope is
not well if I wear the same shirt I did
yesterday No, that's not hope.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
It's not luck.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
It's not chance. It's something that's fixed. It's gonfidence, it's
it's faith. Will our identities stay the same?
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Huh?
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Okay, ed young before heaven, will he be ed young
in heaven? Yes, because if I changed identities, I couldnot
be held accountable for the stuff I messed up on
planet Earth, and then I couldn't be rewarded for the
(18:56):
things I've done well on planet Earth.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Those of us who are believers.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Will be held accountable regarding what we did with what
God gave us.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
It's not talking about very much, but we will.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Those who rejected saying I do to Jesus, those who
rejected his love, they will be banished to hell. They
choose the highway to hell. God does not send anyone
to hell.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
It's a choice. However, those of us who were followers
of Christ will be held accountable.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
So I'm going to be held accountable, and I have
been held accountable because of my sinfulness.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Yet I've received Jesus. He's watched me clean.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
What I've done with Jesus will be rewarded in heaven.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
So that should motivate us to think about heaven. The
backdrop of heaven.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
I've never locked eyes with someone who is not facing forever.
Where do I go one second after I die? The
Bible says in Roman six twenty three. The wages of
sin is death. The gift of God is eternal life.
And Jesus Christ, our Lord, remember what I said earlier.
(20:17):
Jesus talked to the thief on the cross. He said today,
right now. Not there's going to be some limbo or
waiting period or some waiting room.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Right now.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Today, You'll spend eternity with me in paradise. The Bible
says in the Book of Hebrews. We die than the
judgment as we think about time. See, we think about
time in a linear fashion. Yet time in God's economy
is now. It's right now, It's right now. So we die,
(20:51):
we face the Lord. Yeah, I want you to understand
this and stay with me here. When someone dies, their
bodies are in the ground six feet under.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Their spirit is with Jesus.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
And I'm not sure what sort of body, nor are
theologians sure what of vibe we have in this world.
Yet when Jesus comes back, our spirit will be reunited
with our bodies, brand new bodies. Then Jesus will make
(21:33):
a new heaven and a new Earth.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
So everything that we enjoy here go back to Hawaii.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
The mountains cascading into the turquoise sea, the white sands,
the flowers, the breeze, even smells like this floral scent.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
All of that will be on a place in an
area like we've never ever seen. We can't even apprehend it.
Even if God explained it to us, we wouldn't get it.
So we'll be able to do a lot in heaven.
I mean a lot.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
It never gets old and never gets tired, and never
gets boring. Adventure, every day, excitement, every day purpose, every
day will help God rule and take care of the
universe in a pristine, paradise driven environment. Heaven is real
(22:31):
and real people go there. There's two things, though, we
can't do in heaven. Number one, we can't sin.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
That's good. Sin is out of the picture in heaven. Whoo,
that'll be great.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
But there's something else we can't do in heaven. We
can't share Jesus.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
With others.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
That's why God has placed eternity in our hearts. That's
why God has placed this holy ankst, this holy discontent
in your life and mind, because we've never locked eyes
with someone who's not going to spend eternity in one
(23:23):
of two places. You if you're a follower of Christ
or the citizen of heaven. You're a citizen. You're a citizen,
You're a broker. You have an opportunity to connect only
(23:43):
by God's grace and power, by his sovereignty the Lord.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
With others.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
You're not prepared to live until you're prepared to die.
God has prepared a place for you. Are you prepared?
You prepared for heaven, and are you preparing others for
heaven as well?
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Thanks for joining us today on the Creative Connection with
Ed Young. We hope you've been encouraged as you've learned
how you can connect your faith to everyday life.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
We'd love to help you even.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
More in your spiritual journey by sending you Ed's book
The Fear Virus, Vaccinating Yourself against Life's greatest phobias. This
resource will help you fight against fear and face every
day with full assurance in God's sovereignty, protection, and goodness.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
And it's our thanks for your gift to.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Help connect faith to everyday life for more people around
the world. Just head over to edyong dot com slash
give to request your copy again. That's edyong dot com
slash give. Thank you for your support. We'll see you
next time on the Creative Connection
Welcome to the Creative Connection with Ed Young. We're glad
you've joined us today to hear ED connect faith to
everyday life. Before we get to today's message, we want
to invite you to head online and sign up for
Ed's daily email devotionals covering relevant topics like forgiveness, anxiety,
and purposeful living.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
These life giving emails.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Will provide you with a spark of encouragement write in
your inbox every single day. Each one contains a piece
of scripture as well as encouragement from Ed to help
you think about and apply biblical truths to your life.
There's also a guided prayer at the end of each email.
Just visit edyong dot com slash emails to sign up now,
(00:42):
and while you're there, you can also browse previous devotionals
as well as watch and listen to messages from Ed.
So sign up to start receiving your daily devotionals today.
The website again is Edyong dot com slash Devotionals. Book
forward to connecting with you there. Now, let's get into
today's message with Pastor Ed Young.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Today, I'm going to give you just a quick overview
of Heaven. Then I am going to go through the
most frequently asked questions about Heaven. First of all, I
want you to notice something Number one. Heaven is a
real place. Heaven is real. It's a real place. Like
(01:32):
this lectern is real. Like these notes are real. Like
this blazer is real. Like the seats are real, Like
this building is real.
Speaker 4 (01:42):
Heaven is a real place. It's a real place.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
The Bible says Jesus called Heaven a place. He said
this in scripture. I'm going there to prepare a place
for you. If I go and prepare a place for you,
I'll come back and take you to be with me
that you also may be where I am. Jesus also said,
in my father's house are many rooms. In some translations,
(02:11):
it says, in my father's house are many mansions. Heaven
is a real place. It's real. It's a tangible town.
The Bible calls Heaven a city.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
Now, when you say a city, what's the city? The
city is a bunch of people.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Squillions and squillions of people will be in heaven. Hell
is the opposite of Heaven. In Hell will be completely alone.
In Heaven will be in complete community and harmony with others.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
So Heaven is a real, real place.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Philippians, Chapter three, verse twenty in twenty one. But our
citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a savior
from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power
that enables him to bring everyone under his control, will
transform our lowly bodies.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
So that they will be like his glorious body.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
On a couple of occasions in scripture, the Bible says
that those of us who are followers of Christ are strangers.
We're aliens. Yeah, we're living on planet Earth. But our
citizenship is in heaven. It's like you've visited a foreign country.
You've got a passport. The passport tells you your citizenship.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
It shows people officially.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
I'm a citizen enough in my case the United States
of America. So heaven is a real place. No, just
nothing else. Number two, Heaven is a personal space.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
What did Jesus say.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I go to prepare a place for you, I go
to prepare a place for you. Well, I guess I'll
just be in some mansion on the hillside, binge watching
Netflix and eat em and MS for eternity, polishing.
Speaker 4 (04:02):
My halo, singing hello. Look. No, yeah, we're gonna have
a mansion. The Bible says what that looks like. Who knows?
We though, will be with people, will be with Jesus.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So theologically, where Jesus is, where God is, that's heaven.
Heaven is a personal space, a space just for you
and just for me as we glorify Jesus. Number three.
(04:37):
Heaven is a prepared base, a prepared base. It's going
to be our base of operations forever and ever. As
God is preparing a place for us, we should be
about preparing our lives and also preparing others as we
(04:57):
get to know them and share with them the good
news of living together with God in heaven. Love, though,
is a choice. We're not made as robots. Love is
a decision. Those of us who are citizens of Heaven
were like real estate brokers. We have an opportunity right
(05:21):
to put one party together with the ultimate party. When
this person becomes a believer. The Scripture says, there's a
party in heaven. Joy unspeakable is in heaven. When one
person bows the knee and comes to no Christ, heaven
(05:42):
is locked. We're eternal creatures, we're eternal beings, and in
heaven with this base, we're gonna have new bodies. The
Bible says, I don't know what these bodies will look like,
but I guarantee it there'll be no cell you, light,
muffin tops, spare tires, or man's in heaven. First con
(06:02):
to Chapter thirteen, verse twelve. I shall fully know, even
as I am fully known, we will recognize our loved
ones in heaven. It'll be a faith filled, fun, joyful,
on a holy nother level party in paradise.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
When we're reunited with our loved.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Ones and our friends, we will recognize them. And more
about that in a second. Well, how do you know
you'll you'll be able to recognize your loved ones? Well,
just just do some Bible thinking for me. When Jesus
rose from the grave, the disciples and others recognized him
(06:53):
on the Mount of Transfiguration. They recognized Moses and a light.
We will be recognized in heaven, and we will recognize others,
and the recognition will be even more pristine and more
beautiful by far than it is right here on planet Earth.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
You're listening to the creative Connection with Ed Young. Stay
with us to hear more encouragement from Ed before we
get back to today's message. Most of us have a natural
bent towards fear, and we let that fear seep into
our thoughts in every area of our life until it
controls us. That fear virus infects us and makes us
(07:37):
forget God's sovereignty, protection and goodness.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
But there is a vaccine.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
We want to help you fight against fear and face
every day with full assurance by sending you Ed's book
The Fear Virus Vaccinating Yourself against Life's Greatest phobias.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
This resource is our thanks for your.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Gift to help connect faith to everyday life for more
people around the world through the Creative Connection. So head
over to Eddyong dot com now to give and request
your copy again. That's Eddyong dot com slash give.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
I set some framework of heaven. I set to die
for heaven.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
Now.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
I want to segue from that into some questions because
I know when I was talking about some of those
things about about heaven for example being a real place,
Heaven is a personal space. Heaven is the prepared base
of operations for us for the rest of our lives.
I know as I talked about those things, and in
this series a lot of you going yeah, but.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
I haven't.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
I wish I could raise my hand, I wish I
could ask you some questions I didn't know. Okay, we
have taken the questions the lion's share of questions that
people have about heaven. We've done the research, the biblical research.
We've consulted and read from some of the great theologians.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Of our time who've ever lived.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Here are some answers, biblical answers about heaven, and most
of the questions, quite frankly, can be answered.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
Yet, as I say.
Speaker 3 (09:21):
If we knew the four one one on heaven, if
we knew everything there is to know about Heaven, we
would be taking our lives in record numbers. That's how
amazing it is. Let me say that again. If we
knew how heaven really was, we would be like, Oh,
I'm ready to go there now. Man, I'm sick and
(09:42):
tired of this anxiety, this depression. I'm tired of these miscommunications.
I'm tired of school. I mean, I'm going to heaven.
So that's why God, in his sovereignty and his omniscience,
knew and knows just enough.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
He gives us just enough, just enough.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
Is it going to be boring in heaven with heart,
music and clouds and all that?
Speaker 4 (10:08):
Answer? No.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
I used to think that until I began to study
what the Bible says about it. It is not going
to be boring, the opposite of boring. Hebrews Chapter thirteen,
verse fourteen says, for this world is not our permanent home.
We're looking forward to a home yet to come. Our
(10:33):
gifts and abilities will be.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I hate to say it, but I'm going to say
it on a whole another level.
Speaker 3 (10:40):
We'll be able to do things, create things, say things,
lead things, build things like we've never ever, ever ever
dreamed possible. You like gardening, you'll not believe the gardening
in heaven. You like athletics, you will not believe the
athletics in heaven. You like fishing, you won't believe the
fishing in heaven. That's what I'm talking about, And the
(11:00):
Bible says it's going to be a place of joy, joy,
unspeakable joy like we've never ever ever known before, because
the overarching emotion, the overarching vibe in heaven is that
of outrageous and contagious joy. Joy, joy because of Jesus,
(11:25):
joy because of others.
Speaker 4 (11:27):
What did Jesus say the great commandment?
Speaker 3 (11:30):
Love God holistically, Then love your neighbor, as yourself in
heaven will do that perfectly, perfectly, So.
Speaker 4 (11:40):
It's not gonna be boring.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
We're not gonna skip from cloud to cloud shining our
halos and singing Holy. Yeah, it's not gonna be boring. Okay,
it's not gonna be boring. Okay, what's heaven gonna be like?
How would you describe heaven? You remember when Jesus died
on the cross for our sins. He was crucified between
two common criminals. One of the criminals said, Lord, I
(12:04):
trust you, I'll give my life to you. Jesus said
these words, Luke twenty three forty three.
Speaker 4 (12:10):
Truly, I say.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
To you today you shall be with me in paradise.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Paradise, paradise.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
The word paradise literally means the park of God. I mean,
there's the beautiful parks.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
I love Clyde Warren Park in Dallas. I love some
parks I've.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Had the opportunity to exercise in in Miami, and I've
seen Central Park, and I've seen National parks and places
around the world that are gorgeous. They pale pale in
comparison to the paradise that we're talking about. So, in
one word, what's having like paradise. Here's another good question too,
(12:57):
What will we know in heaven? I mean, well, we
know everything. We're not going to know everything. Only God
knows everything, but we will know a heck of a
lot more.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
In heaven than we do here. I mean, we're going
to really really know some serious stuff.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
And that brings the question, how about the people in
our lives, friends, family members who were in hell?
Speaker 4 (13:21):
Will it make us sad?
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Will there be tears in heaven tears of sadness because
of those people who are in hell?
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Quick answer no.
Speaker 3 (13:31):
The reason is I think we'll have the knowledge that
they had opportunities to get to know Jesus, and they
said no. Jesus said, when I did the message on
Hell recently, he said, to those people who will go
to Hell.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
Depart from me.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
I never knew you. So we'll understand what that means
and we'll be able to take that apply that. But
we're not going to be thinking about that.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Will we experience relationships in heaven? I mean, will we
be able to communicate and talk? First?
Speaker 3 (14:10):
Thessalonians four fourteen and seventeen. God will bring with Jesus
those who have fallen asleep in him we who are
still alive and are left will be caught up together
with him, and so.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
We will be with the Lord forever.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Short answer, Yes, we will have relationships, will have communication
with people, with our loved ones, with friends, with new
friends and acquaintances like we've never that. Like we can't
even wrap our brain around because there's going to be
no sin. There'll be no pride in my life or
(14:46):
your life, no ego, no chicanery, no manipulation. Is going
to be pure in pristine. And that brings another question.
Can people in heaven see us?
Speaker 4 (15:00):
Now? It's a pretty good question. Yes they can. I
mean why not?
Speaker 3 (15:08):
You mean you go to heaven and God closes the blinds. No,
I believe they can see us. The Bible says in
Hebrews twelve to one, we have a great cloud of
witnesses cheering us on.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
We have a standing ovation.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Those of us who are running the race, those of
us who are sentences in heaven, we have a standing
ovation that never sits down. They're cheering for you and
for me integrity. They're cheering for you and me commitment.
They're cheering for you and me, share your faith. They're
cheering for you and me worship. They're cheering for you
(15:41):
and me endure, They're cheering for you and me in
every slice of life. So yes, yes, yes, people can't
see us. I believe in heaven, and the Bible talks
about that. Now, one of the main questions that I've
had asked me about heaven is the animal question. Will
(16:02):
there be animals in heaven? Yes, no cats, but there
will be animals in heaven. And how can you say that?
And I believe that because in Isaiah chapter sixty five.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
Verse seventeen. Also in verse.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Twenty five, it talks about God creating a new heaven
and a new Earth. It talks about in the Book
of Romans creation waiting, yearning for a new heaven.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
And a new earth.
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Those of us who have pets, dogs, cats, iguanas, whatever,
those of us who care for pets, who love animals.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
I truly believe they will be in heaven.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
And I'm looking forward to even loving animals and relating
to animals and nature even on a deeper level. I
love the outdoors, and I think one of the reasons
why all of us love the outdoors is because it's
been set in our hearts since eternity has been.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Set in our hearts.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
Sadly, a lot of people are pantheists, meaning they worship nature. No,
we don't worship the creation. We worship the creator. Yet
the creation is going to be perfect.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
We'll see plants, animals.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
I think we'll look and relate like again we've never
ever seen before. Well, we still experience emotions in heaven.
The longest stretch of scripture that talks about heaven is
in Revelation twenty one, and it talks about emotions. God
has feelings too. We're made in the image of God.
(17:37):
We will experience emotions. Well, how about tears, Yeah, probably
tears of joy, not tears of sadness. There's not going
to be anything bad, no sin, no junk and funk
in heaven. There'll be no crying or no pain. The
Bible says, no more death or mourning. God will wipe
away every tear from.
Speaker 4 (17:59):
All of our eyes.
Speaker 3 (18:00):
And and that is something that should give us so
much hope.
Speaker 4 (18:06):
You know, the scripture says we should have hope in heaven. Now,
hope is.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Not fingers crossed, Hope is not rabbit foot, Hope is
not well if I wear the same shirt I did
yesterday No, that's not hope.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
It's not luck.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
It's not chance. It's something that's fixed. It's gonfidence, it's
it's faith. Will our identities stay the same?
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Huh?
Speaker 3 (18:35):
Okay, ed young before heaven, will he be ed young
in heaven? Yes, because if I changed identities, I couldnot
be held accountable for the stuff I messed up on
planet Earth, and then I couldn't be rewarded for the
(18:56):
things I've done well on planet Earth.
Speaker 4 (18:59):
Those of us who are believers.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Will be held accountable regarding what we did with what
God gave us.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
It's not talking about very much, but we will.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
Those who rejected saying I do to Jesus, those who
rejected his love, they will be banished to hell. They
choose the highway to hell. God does not send anyone
to hell.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
It's a choice. However, those of us who were followers
of Christ will be held accountable.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
So I'm going to be held accountable, and I have
been held accountable because of my sinfulness.
Speaker 4 (19:42):
Yet I've received Jesus. He's watched me clean.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
What I've done with Jesus will be rewarded in heaven.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
So that should motivate us to think about heaven. The
backdrop of heaven.
Speaker 3 (19:56):
I've never locked eyes with someone who is not facing forever.
Where do I go one second after I die? The
Bible says in Roman six twenty three. The wages of
sin is death. The gift of God is eternal life.
And Jesus Christ, our Lord, remember what I said earlier.
(20:17):
Jesus talked to the thief on the cross. He said today,
right now. Not there's going to be some limbo or
waiting period or some waiting room.
Speaker 4 (20:26):
Right now.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
Today, You'll spend eternity with me in paradise. The Bible
says in the Book of Hebrews. We die than the
judgment as we think about time. See, we think about
time in a linear fashion. Yet time in God's economy
is now. It's right now, It's right now. So we die,
(20:51):
we face the Lord. Yeah, I want you to understand
this and stay with me here. When someone dies, their
bodies are in the ground six feet under.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
Their spirit is with Jesus.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
And I'm not sure what sort of body, nor are
theologians sure what of vibe we have in this world.
Yet when Jesus comes back, our spirit will be reunited
with our bodies, brand new bodies. Then Jesus will make
(21:33):
a new heaven and a new Earth.
Speaker 4 (21:37):
So everything that we enjoy here go back to Hawaii.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
The mountains cascading into the turquoise sea, the white sands,
the flowers, the breeze, even smells like this floral scent.
Speaker 4 (21:51):
All of that will be on a place in an
area like we've never ever seen. We can't even apprehend it.
Even if God explained it to us, we wouldn't get it.
So we'll be able to do a lot in heaven.
I mean a lot.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
It never gets old and never gets tired, and never
gets boring. Adventure, every day, excitement, every day purpose, every
day will help God rule and take care of the
universe in a pristine, paradise driven environment. Heaven is real
(22:31):
and real people go there. There's two things, though, we
can't do in heaven. Number one, we can't sin.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
That's good. Sin is out of the picture in heaven. Whoo,
that'll be great.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
But there's something else we can't do in heaven. We
can't share Jesus.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
With others.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
That's why God has placed eternity in our hearts. That's
why God has placed this holy ankst, this holy discontent
in your life and mind, because we've never locked eyes
with someone who's not going to spend eternity in one
(23:23):
of two places. You if you're a follower of Christ
or the citizen of heaven. You're a citizen. You're a citizen,
You're a broker. You have an opportunity to connect only
(23:43):
by God's grace and power, by his sovereignty the Lord.
Speaker 4 (23:48):
With others.
Speaker 3 (23:50):
You're not prepared to live until you're prepared to die.
God has prepared a place for you. Are you prepared?
You prepared for heaven, and are you preparing others for
heaven as well?
Speaker 1 (24:10):
Thanks for joining us today on the Creative Connection with
Ed Young. We hope you've been encouraged as you've learned
how you can connect your faith to everyday life.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
We'd love to help you even.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
More in your spiritual journey by sending you Ed's book
The Fear Virus, Vaccinating Yourself against Life's greatest phobias. This
resource will help you fight against fear and face every
day with full assurance in God's sovereignty, protection, and goodness.
Speaker 2 (24:38):
And it's our thanks for your gift to.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
Help connect faith to everyday life for more people around
the world. Just head over to edyong dot com slash
give to request your copy again. That's edyong dot com
slash give. Thank you for your support. We'll see you
next time on the Creative Connection
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