Participants: Pr. Kenneth Cox
Series Code: TOTE
Program Code: TOTE000027
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00:02 Can you believe it?
00:05 Can you build your faith on it? 00:08 The promises of God's Word are sure. 00:12 They do not fail. 00:17 This Book has stood the test of time. 00:47 When the twilight fades 00:55 into purple shade 01:02 and I'm deep in blue 01:09 all the long night through. 01:17 In my mind I see 01:24 days that used to be. 01:31 Then the teardrops start 01:38 raining in my heart. 01:45 As the years go by 01:52 there'll still be times I'll cry. 01:59 But through the clouds of rain 02:07 I can see His smiling face. 02:14 Though the nights are long 02:21 Jesus gives a song. 02:28 Joy replaces pain 02:36 after all the rain. 02:43 Joy replaces pain 02:51 after all the rain. 03:15 Father in heaven, tonight 03:19 we're so thankful that we're almost home. 03:23 We ask that as we take a look 03:27 at the wonderful things that You've prepared for us 03:31 that our hearts may be open, 03:34 our minds may be clear, 03:36 that the Holy Spirit may fill our lives 03:40 and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim 03:46 as we look to You and to Your wonderful face. 03:51 For this we pray in Christ's name, Amen. 04:03 Well, we're living in an age of modern technology. 04:08 Living in an age where we have what we call 04:11 highways of communication. 04:14 And because of these highways of communication today 04:18 they can find almost any person any place in the world. 04:24 You can just... In fact, there are companies that advertise 04:29 that for $35 they'll find somebody for you. 04:36 You can't find a loved one, you don't know where they are, 04:38 for $35 they'll find them for you. 04:41 That's part of the highway of communications 04:44 that we're living in today. 04:45 And in spite of all that 04:47 there's still people that are lost. 04:50 Young people run off from home; 04:54 parents don't know where they are. 04:57 Can't seem to locate them... find them. 05:01 Even some of the homeless on the streets... 05:06 loved ones that people don't know. 05:09 In fact, I picked up a paper the other day 05:12 and read where these people were walking down the streets 05:17 of Los Angeles and here they found their brother 05:22 that they hadn't seen 15, 20 years 05:26 homeless on the street of Los Angeles. 05:29 We live in a world like that today. 05:32 But what about our loved ones? 05:35 Is it going to be possible for me to find my loved ones 05:38 up in heaven? Will I know them? Will I recognize them? 05:44 What promise do I have? What does the scripture tell me 05:47 about finding my loved ones? What is heaven going to be like? 05:53 Can we know one another? 05:55 What does the scripture have to say about it? 05:57 That's what we're going to look at tonight. 05:59 Here in I Corinthians 13:12 it says: 06:22 So yes, it says that we're going to know one another. 06:25 We'll recognize one another. 06:27 We'll know who people are. 06:29 In fact, people that you and I wouldn't recognize by looks 06:34 the scripture says that we'll know who they are. 06:37 Because it says this: 06:52 Going to be an experience, isn't it? 06:54 Sit down and talk to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 06:59 Marvelous! But we'll know them. 07:02 We'll know who they are. 07:04 We'll recognize them. 07:05 Each individual will be known. 07:09 We will know one another just as we are known. 07:13 So, if we're going to know one another 07:16 how am I going to find my loved ones? 07:19 You know? I mean, I can read to you here in Revelation 07:24 where it talks about there being an innumerable company. 07:27 It talks about numbers of people of all nations and stuff, 07:31 so there's not going to be just a little teeny company. 07:33 There's going to be the people all the way down through time. 07:36 This is a huge multitude that will be there. 07:40 How am I going to find my loved ones in this great, great 07:43 big multitude of people? 07:45 Well, Isaiah 57:15 says: 07:56 That's kind of nice to know, isn't it? 07:58 "Inhabits eternity. " Just think... 08:02 there will be no such thing as end of time. 08:08 No end of time. 08:10 "Inhabits eternity. " 08:13 That's... you see, you and I think of everything 08:16 in terms of time but that will be no longer. 08:36 So God says: "I just dwell with people 08:38 who are humble... who have a contrite heart. " 08:41 That's God's people! 08:44 That's the people that God is interested in is those that 08:46 are humble and contrite. 08:48 And it says that He inhabits eternity with them. 08:52 "I give them... " What? 08:56 Yeah, inhabits eternity and He's going to give to the righteous 09:02 eternal life. 09:05 Never going to come to an end. 09:09 Death will be something of the past. 09:12 You and I will will never have to think 09:14 in terms of death again. 09:17 That... You see, 09:19 when God made you He didn't make you to die. 09:21 He made man to live for eternity. 09:26 So He's going to give to them eternal life. 09:46 What? Can you comprehend that? 09:49 That nothing throughout eternity - 09:52 nothing ever ever ever throughout eternity - 09:55 will ever happen to you that's bad. 09:58 Can you handle that? Huh? 10:03 You know, nothing. 10:05 Listen! These are marvelous things that God promises you 10:09 that He'll do for you. Listen: 10:21 Nobody in all of God's wide kingdom 10:26 throughout all the universe will ever say "I'm sick. " 10:31 Do you know what that means? 10:34 Do you understand what that means? 10:35 That means some people are going to have to learn to talk over. 10:39 Yeah! 'Cause I visit people and I say 10:42 "How you doing today? " And they say: "Oh, my back's 10:44 hurting me. " Next time I see them I say 10:46 "How are you? " They say: "Oh, my head's killing me. " 10:48 They're going to have to learn to talk over. 10:50 Nobody in all of God's kingdom will say "I'm sick. " 10:55 That just won't be. 11:10 Nothing bad, folks. 11:15 Anything that you can think of that is hurtful, that's bad, 11:19 that causes sorrow, tears, pain 11:22 that will be no more! 11:34 I don't know about you 11:37 but boy, I want to go there. 11:39 I want to be there 11:41 where there's no more sorrow, there's no more pain. 11:46 Just think, get up in the morning 11:49 and your knees won't be stiff. 11:51 You know? My back won't hurt. 11:53 None of that will be there. 11:55 Person will be healthy, strong. 12:00 Nothing will hurt nor destroy. 12:19 That means there won't be tornadoes. 12:23 There won't be hurricanes. 12:26 There won't be floods. 12:28 There won't be war. 12:30 There won't be any of this any more. 12:33 There will be violence nowhere in all of God's kingdom! 12:38 Do you understand tonight 12:41 that in all of God's vast universe 12:46 this is the only one that has ever sinned? 12:52 This is the only place, folks, that there's pain. 12:55 This is the only place there's sorrow. 12:58 This is the only place there's death. 13:02 See, when Jesus told the story 13:05 of the one lost sheep 13:09 He was talking about this planet. 13:12 One lost sheep. 13:17 This is the only place there is. 13:18 When it's all over, there won't be this anywhere! 13:22 We just won't have any sorrow or death or crying. 13:25 That's all going to be ended. 13:28 Nothing will hurt or destroy. 13:33 There'll be no lack of food. Hmmm? Do you enjoy that? 13:38 I do. No lack of food; no lack of water. 13:42 Marvelous things to eat. 13:55 I mean, absolutely clear. 13:59 Not polluted in any way. 14:03 You know? I have a hard time here 14:07 'cause I don't think most of the water tastes very good. 14:10 I'm not talking just about Chicago, 14:12 I'm talking about everywhere. 14:14 I don't think the water tastes very good. 14:16 They have to put so many chemicals in it, doctor it up 14:18 because it's polluted and all that. 14:21 Just think about it: when that stream is absolutely clear 14:23 and there is no pollution in it at all. 14:27 Marvelous! 14:29 Then it says: 14:51 Remember that. 14:53 Each tree bearing its fruit every month. 14:58 I always kind of hate to see summer come to an end. 15:04 And the reason I do is because I really do like peaches. 15:10 I enjoy peaches. 15:12 And I can't hardly wait to get to heaven 15:16 and get my hands on a nice great big large juicy peach. 15:24 And bite into it and not have to worry about 15:27 the worm having beaten me there. 15:29 It'll be so nice, you know? 15:31 But all the things that there will be there 15:34 for God's people in heaven, folks, 15:37 that God has prepared and made for you and me. 15:40 Just think: the scripture says that not only will you have 15:45 all the things that I'm talking about 15:47 but it says that you're not even going to get tired. 15:51 What do you think about that? 15:53 Listen... this is what the scripture promises: 16:14 Boy, just think what it is if you can take out and run 16:16 two or three miles and you're not even out of breath. 16:20 It says they'll run... they won't get weary. 16:24 See, it's... There's a text in the Bible that says 16:29 "Eye hath not seen nor ear heard 16:33 neither hath entered into the heart of man 16:35 the things that God has prepared for those that love Him. " 16:38 It's hard for you and I to even imagine 16:42 what it will be like. 16:44 Wonderful place that God has prepared for you and for me. 16:48 I mean, He's made that place just for you! 16:56 I don't have to worry about dying. 16:58 I don't have to worry about something bad happening to them. 17:01 I don't have to worry about them not having enough food. 17:03 All that the scripture is clear. 17:05 So if I'm going to find my loved ones, 17:07 where am I going to start looking? 17:09 Well, let's look at some clues that the scripture gives us 17:12 for finding them. 17:23 Marvelous! 17:25 That says that God... God the Father... 17:30 God of the universe... 17:33 is going to come and make His home with you and me. 17:39 Think about that. 17:41 Going to come and make His home with you and me. 18:02 That's the promise that God gives you and I. 18:06 So it says He's going to "tabernacle" with us. 18:09 And it says that we will have the privilege of seeing 18:12 His face. 18:20 Just think what it's going to be 18:24 to reach out and take someone's hand 18:28 and find it to be God's hand. 18:31 You know, I think of that song that we sing 18:34 Face to face with Christ my Savior 18:37 Face to face... what will it be? 18:39 When in rapture I behold Him... 18:43 Jesus Christ that died for me! 18:46 It's going to be wonderful! 18:48 Wonderful to see Him face to face. 18:51 He will dwell with us. 19:04 Watch what it's saying here in Isaiah 66: 19:14 Now just a minute. 19:19 How often do you have a new moon? 19:25 Do you know? 19:27 You have a new moon every month. 19:30 OK. So it says "From one new moon to another 19:34 shall all flesh come... " 19:36 Do you know what they're coming for? 19:39 Are you putting two and two together? 19:41 Do you know what they're coming for? 19:44 Well, how often does the Tree of Life bear its fruit? 19:51 Once a month. 19:52 OK. You're coming up to eat of the Tree of Life. 19:57 All the righteous will come from all over the earth. 20:00 They're going to come up to the New Jerusalem to worship 20:03 and to eat of the Tree of Life. 20:06 And then it says from one Sabbath to another... 20:13 So every Sabbath all the people throughout the whole new earth 20:18 are going to come up to the New Jerusalem 20:21 and there they're going to worship. 20:22 Oh, think what that's going to be like. 20:25 Just think what it'll be to hear the angelic choir sing! 20:32 Think what it'll be to hear Jesus. 20:37 "Never a man spake like that Man. " 20:41 You and I will have that privilege. 20:45 Oh dear friend, I hope you're planning on going. 20:51 I also hope that it won't be a surprise to you, 20:58 you know, 21:02 because it says you're going to worship on what day? 21:07 Every Sabbath. 21:09 Now if you're planning on going there, 21:11 you probably ought to get used to worshiping on the Sabbath. 21:17 What the scripture says. 21:18 "One new moon to another, from one Sabbath to another, 21:22 ALL flesh will come to worship before Me. " 21:25 So if you're looking for your loved ones 21:27 one of the best places to find them would be where? 21:31 Yeah... on the Sabbath at church! 21:34 That's the place to go find them. 21:36 That's where they'll be. All flesh is going to be there. 21:40 OK? 21:41 New Jerusalem? Ah, marvelous city, folks. 21:47 Beyond description: 21:50 the city that He's prepared for you. 21:53 I want you to listen to some of the wonderful things about it. 22:26 OK... 12,000 furlongs. 22:31 There's 8 furlongs in a mile. 22:35 So if you divide 8 into 12,000 that's tells you what? 22:41 That it is 1,500 miles around that city. 22:48 It's square, so that means that it's 375 miles 22:54 on a side. 22:57 You see, we don't comprehend cities like that. 23:00 We have a state in the United States 23:04 that's almost that size: 23:08 right there. 23:11 The state of Colorado... just about that size. 23:15 The New Jerusalem will fill that whole state! 23:20 You know... fill that whole state! 23:23 You stop and think about that. 23:25 And I talk to people and they say: "Oh Brother Cox, 23:28 I'm not worried about going to heaven because there won't 23:30 be room for me there. " 23:32 Let me ask you a question: 23:35 who told you... who told you that the buildings in the 23:39 New Jerusalem were one story? 23:41 Who told you that? 23:44 I mean, here it's 375 miles long. 23:49 I mean, I can guarantee you 23:51 I'm going to show you that the walls of the city 23:54 are over 200 feet high. 23:56 Now are you going to try to tell me they're going to 23:58 have one-story houses there? 24:00 No... not hardly. 24:02 There's room for every man, every woman, every child 24:06 that's ever been born. 24:09 So there's plenty of room for you, friend, 24:12 if you want to go there. 24:26 Now we don't quite understand jasper. 24:29 Closest thing we have to jasper is diamonds. 24:32 So it says that the city is clear... the gold. 24:36 It's made out of gold, 24:37 and I don't know how God refines it 24:39 but He refines it so that it's as clear as glass. 24:42 OK? 24:53 Can you imagine that? 24:55 I mean, the Bible tells you that there's 3 gates on each side. 25:00 OK? Now folks, you've got a wall here 25:03 that's 375 miles long. 25:06 It's over 200 feet high. Don't get it in your mind 25:10 that the gate's going to be a little dinky thing. 25:14 I mean, it's got to be in proportion to the wall 25:17 and it's made out of one pearl. 25:21 One pearl! 25:22 Now you talk about its beyond what you and I understand 25:27 or comprehend. 25:36 By the way, on each one of those gates 25:41 is written one of the names of the tribes of Israel. 25:44 What's written on them. 25:47 Do you know why? 25:49 Or maybe I should ask you: 25:51 "Which gate are you going to go through? " 25:54 And why would God write over the top of each one 25:57 one of the names of the tribes of Israel? 26:00 Well He writes the names of the tribes of Israel over them 26:03 because you find out that each one of those tribes 26:07 represents a different personality type. 26:10 And according to your personality you're going to 26:12 go through that gate into the city. 26:15 That's what is happening there. 26:28 So doesn't... don't misread the text. 26:31 It doesn't say that there's not sun and it doesn't say that 26:35 there's not a moon. It just says it doesn't need it 26:38 'cause God is the light thereof. 26:41 So God is there, and the city - the New Jerusalem - 26:44 will never need the sun or the moon because God is the light. 26:57 So the gates are never shut. 26:59 They're always open, 27:01 and people can come and go into the city of God 27:05 because He is the light thereof. 27:18 That's going to be wonderful! 27:21 City will always be light. 27:24 Now you think about it: if there's no night there - 27:29 OK? - and you never get tired, 27:34 how much can you get done? 27:38 Huh? I mean, just no end. 27:42 See, no end... 'cause all of us will be very real people. 27:48 Real individuals. 27:54 You say: "Well... that's a large city. 27:58 I mean, 375 miles on a side. 28:02 Skyscrapers... 28:05 wall over 200 feet high. 28:07 In a city that big, 28:09 how will I ever find my loved ones? 28:12 Well, let me tell you something: God keeps perfect records. 28:18 God keeps perfect records. He knows every one of you. 28:26 He knows you by name, OK? 28:32 He even knows your address. 28:36 He even knows how many hairs are in your head. 28:40 So He keeps perfect records. God will have no trouble 28:46 letting you know where your loved ones are. 28:56 Paul's talking about these women that helped him in the gospel. 28:59 Helped him preach it. They supported him. 29:01 They cared for him. That's what he's talking about. 29:11 Ah, he said, "their names are in the Book of Life. " 29:13 You see, God has recorded their name in the Book of Life. 29:17 And when God has recorded your name in the Book of Life 29:20 I'll guarantee you you can be found 29:24 'cause you are the apple of His eye. 29:27 Cares about you. 30:00 So the scripture says that this city up in heaven 30:04 that we've been looking at, that Jesus has made that. 30:08 He's the One that's made it. 30:10 He's prepared a mansion up in heaven just for you! 30:17 Huh? 30:19 A mansion just for you. 30:22 OK. 30:43 So He's going to write down your name and your address 30:46 and all. He know exactly where you are. 30:53 You'll have the privilege of talking to Him 30:57 face to face. 31:01 God grant that. 31:09 So you won't have any trouble finding them. 31:12 But let me tell you something: you're not looking for a spirit. 31:18 Understand that. You're not looking for a spirit. 31:20 They're not going to be - you know - a spirit that 31:23 flits around on an invisible cloud. 31:26 That's not what it's going to be. 31:29 The Bible tells us this is how it will be: 32:02 So it says this body of ours, this lowly body, 32:05 that it's going to be fashioned like His body. 32:09 That's referring to His body after the resurrection. 32:13 OK? That's what it's telling you: 32:16 that our bodies will be like His after the resurrection. 32:25 OK. 32:27 Was Jesus real? 32:30 Hmmm? 32:32 Well you remember when He appeared to the disciples 32:35 after the resurrection? 32:36 Here in Luke 24 He said: 32:53 Remember He said: "Come here, Thomas. 32:56 Put your finger in the nail print. " 33:00 "Have you got something to eat? " 33:02 He was a real person, and so, dear friend, 33:06 you and I will be real. 33:09 The most fantastic things you have ever dreamed of 33:13 you'll be able to do. 33:16 We'll be real people. 33:18 Says in Job 19:26: 33:30 So we're going to be real people. 33:32 Not only are we going to be real people 33:34 we're going to have real houses. 33:37 You know that? 33:39 Yeah. In fact, you've got a mansion up in heaven 33:44 that Jesus has made for you. 33:49 I heard a story the other day. 33:54 That this fellow dreamed 34:00 that he was in heaven 34:03 and met by the angel. 34:06 And the angel Gabriel told him he was going to show him 34:11 to his home. And there were some other people with him. 34:15 And as they went down the street Gabriel pointed out their homes 34:18 to them and they were beautiful. Marvelous, beautiful mansions. 34:24 I mean, lovely places. 34:26 And he walked through their mansions and looked at them. 34:31 He thought: "Man, I can't hardly wait till I get to my mansion. 34:34 It's going to be wonderful. " 34:36 And they walked down the street a little farther 34:39 and they came to a rather humble cottage. 34:42 And the angel Gabriel said: "This is your home. " 34:45 And the fellow said: "This is my home? " 34:48 He said: "Yes. " He said: "No, there's some mistake. 34:51 This can't be my home. " 34:52 And the angel Gabriel said: "Yes, this is your home... 34:56 this is for you. " 34:58 And he said: "No... " he said: "this can't be my home 35:01 here. " He said: "I had better than that on earth. " 35:05 And the angel Gabriel said: "I'm so sorry. " He said: 35:09 "We did the very best we could with what we received. " 35:16 So you have to realize where your treasure is 35:23 there your heart is also. 35:26 Right. But it says He's going to make us homes. 35:29 Mansions the scripture calls them. 35:32 And this is what it says about them: 35:56 Now I don't know if you caught what that text is telling you. 36:01 That text is telling you that you're going to have two homes, 36:05 see, because you've got one in the city that Jesus has made 36:09 for you. Then you're going to have one out in the country 36:12 that you're going to build. 36:14 See? That's what it's saying. 36:16 We'll build houses and inhabit them. 36:18 Just think... Now just think: 36:21 when you can build a mansion out in the country 36:25 and what you build it out of... 36:29 you can build it out of anything you want to 36:33 'cause the city's pure gold. 36:37 So you can build your mansion out of anything you want. 36:43 Secondly, you don't have to hurry. 36:46 Time is no restraint, OK? 36:50 And you can build it out of anything you want to. 36:53 And I don't know about you 36:55 but I've already started making plans. 37:00 Already started... 'cause I'm planning on going there. 37:03 Tell you for sure. In fact, 37:07 one of my rooms in my house 37:10 I'm going to have one whole wall made out of diamonds. 37:19 Whole wall of diamonds. 37:22 The wall on this side I'm going to have out of living roses. 37:26 Just think how nice that'll look as they reflect in that 37:29 diamond wall. How nice it will always smell. 37:32 Anything you want to think of you can do. 37:37 You're not going to get tired. 37:40 You can make it out of anything you want to, OK? 37:45 It's beyond our comprehension, folks, what God has prepared 37:49 for you. Mansions that you and I will have. 37:58 How am I going to know them? 38:00 Well, to begin with, it says that these bodies of ours 38:05 are going to be fashioned like His. 38:07 OK? Well, let's see what Jesus' body was like. 38:11 Let's see if people recognized Him. 38:30 I mean, Jesus came... spoke to them. 38:33 Did they recognize Him? 38:35 Oh sure, they knew who He was. 38:39 How did they recognize Him? 38:42 By His looks. 38:43 They saw Him; they recognized Him by His looks. 38:46 So you and I will recognize our loved ones by our looks. 38:50 And I know there's a bunch of you saying 38:53 "Oh my! All this time I thought I'd look different. " 38:59 Well let me tell you something: if you take any individual 39:04 I don't care who they are 39:05 and you take away all the imperfections 39:10 and all the wrinkles and all that 39:14 everybody will be absolutely beautiful. 39:17 No question, OK? 39:19 So we'll recognize people by the way they look. 39:31 So they recognized Him by the way He looked. 39:34 Second way that you will recognized your loved ones 39:36 is you remember Mary. Mary has gotten to the tomb 39:41 before anybody else. She's gotten there 39:43 while it's still dark 39:46 and Jesus has already risen. 39:48 And she thinks that somebody has robbed the grave. 39:52 And she sees in the darkness and she's crying. 39:56 And she sees someone standing over there. 39:58 She thinks it's a gardener. 40:01 And so she speaks to him 40:03 and said: "If you've done something with my Lord's body, 40:06 tell me what you've done with it and I'll take care of it. " 40:19 She didn't recognize Him because it was dark and she 40:21 was crying, OK? 40:40 She said: "If you've done something with His body, 40:42 just tell me what you've done with it. " 40:54 She recognized Him by His what? Voice. 40:58 You and I will recognize our loved ones by their voices. 41:01 You see, when you call home or when I call home 41:04 I don't have to say "Who's speaking? " 41:06 I know them by their voice. 41:08 You and I will recognize them by their voice. 41:11 Jesus has been resurrected. 41:15 There's a couple disciples that are walking 41:19 down to a city called Emmaus. 41:22 And as they're walking along they're talking about 41:25 what's happened, and Jesus 41:27 comes and starts walking with them. 41:30 The Bible says that God did not permit them to recognize Him. 41:35 That's what the scripture says. 41:37 It uses the term... it says their eyes were holden. 41:40 It meant that they couldn't recognize Him. 41:42 God didn't let them recognize Him. 41:44 He walks eight miles to Emmaus with them, 41:48 and they invite Him to stop at their house for a bite to eat. 41:51 Folks, these are disciples. 41:54 These are men that spent 3-1/2 years with Jesus. 41:57 And so He goes into the home 42:00 and when they get there He picks up the bread 42:03 and blesses it and breaks it. 42:06 They have seen Him do that hundreds of times 42:09 and the moment He did that watch what happens: 42:20 OK, watch: 42:28 They recognized Him by His characteristics, 42:32 His mannerisms, the way He did things. 42:34 So you and I are not going to have any trouble recognizing 42:37 our loved ones. I told you I'd tell you four ways. 42:39 Now that's three. 42:42 The fourth way I'm afraid only applies to women. 42:49 I'm not saying a man can't do it... 42:52 I just never have known of one, OK? 42:57 As a boy growing up at home I had a brother 43:02 that was 3 years older than I. 43:04 And my folks 43:08 never did put any restrictions on us. 43:13 I want to tell you: that was not for our good, 43:16 young people... no. 43:18 For instance, when we got into the teens 43:22 my folks never told us when we had to come home at night. 43:25 All my dad ever said is: "You'd better be here in time 43:28 to milk the cows. " He meant that. 43:31 So my brother and I would come home late at night. 43:35 And of course when I came home late at night 43:38 I didn't want to wake up my parents. 43:40 So I would try to be very care- ful and not run into anything. 43:45 I didn't turn the lights on, and I would try to walk 43:47 through the living room and make sure I didn't 43:49 disturb anybody. Never once... never once 43:53 in my entire life did I ever get through the living room 43:58 that my mother didn't say "Kenneth, is that you? " 44:01 Never. 44:03 In fact, I asked my brother Don. I said: "When you 44:07 come home at night do you turn the lights on? " 44:08 He said "No. " 44:10 I said: "Does mother speak to you? " 44:11 He said: "Every time. " 44:14 She recognized us by our walk alone, see. 44:19 So you're not going to have any trouble recognizing 44:22 your loved ones, friends. 44:23 They're there; you'll recognize them. 44:25 We won't have any trouble finding them. 44:28 Heaven's going to be a very, very wonderful place. 44:32 A place where there won't be heartache. 44:38 A place where the children will play with the animals. 44:43 It says the lion and the lamb shall lie down together. 44:49 Won't have to worry about it. 44:52 I pastored several years in a little town called Dalhart, TX. 45:01 When we drove into town - moved there - 45:04 we went by a little zoo... kind of a family thing. 45:08 And my daughter - who was very small at the time - 45:11 said: "Daddy, take me to the zoo. " 45:13 And I said: "Honey, when we get settled and everything 45:16 I'll take you to the zoo. " 45:17 And so one day I said: "Let's go to the zoo. " 45:20 And so I took her out here to this little zoo 45:22 and it was just owned by this man. 45:25 And really, for a little zoo that he owned it was quite nice. 45:28 We saw the 'possums and the raccoons and you know, 45:32 the snakes and all the things he had. 45:34 And enjoyed it. 45:36 And we were about ready to leave and he said: 45:38 "Let me show you something else. " 45:40 And so he took us out to this large tin building out there. 45:45 And walked in the door... and we followed him. 45:48 And when we walked in the door 45:50 clear at the other end of that tin building were 2 large cages. 45:55 And in one was a male lion; 45:57 in the other was a female lion. 46:00 Didn't bother me because - you know - I've seen lions 46:03 in cages before. But he just quickened his pace 46:06 and walked off and left us. 46:08 And he walked over there and he pulled the pin 46:11 on the door of that great big male lion and opened that 46:15 door and that lion come walking out of there... 46:17 and that bothered me. 46:19 Tell you for sure. 46:20 And he said: "Now don't let it bother you. " 46:23 He said: "He's just as tame as a kitten. " 46:25 And sure enough... the old lion, you could just pull on its mane 46:28 and he'd just rub up against you just as tame as could be. 46:32 This is the way the animals will be in God's kingdom. 46:36 All the things will be there. 46:41 The roses will never fade. 46:43 There will be no death. 46:46 There will be nothing that will decay or destroy 46:49 in all of God's kingdom. 46:52 That'll be something of the past. 46:54 You and I will have the privilege 46:58 of enjoying all the wonderful things that God has prepared 47:03 for you and for me. 47:05 Heaven will be a very very wonderful place 47:09 where you and I will be able to enjoy the ceaseless ages 47:14 of eternity. No sorrow; no pain. 47:21 We can do anything that we could ever envision. 47:26 You're not going to not have anything to do. 47:30 You'll be very, very real people. 47:34 Who can go there? 47:39 Have any idea? 47:43 Anybody... anybody that wants to. 48:06 Dear friend, there's not any of you here tonight, 48:10 there's not any of you that are watching by television, 48:14 that can't be there if you want to be. 48:17 It's open to you. The invitation is given to you. 48:21 God is inviting you. 48:37 So God says: "Listen, the gates are open. 48:41 They're never closed. " 48:43 All you have to do is say "I want to be there" 48:47 and reach out in faith and give your heart to Jesus Christ. 48:52 And when you give your life to Him, 48:55 then He says: "You're My child. 48:59 You shall inherit... " What? You're going to what? 49:05 Inherit... let's take a moment on that. 49:09 I want to make sure you understand. 49:11 You're given a gift, 49:15 you're given an inheritance, 49:17 and you're given a reward. 49:20 Did you know that? 49:22 OK. What's the gift? 49:27 What's the gift that God gives you? 49:30 Eternal life! 49:32 That's given to you free. 49:34 You can't buy it; you can't work for it. 49:37 All you can do is accept what Jesus Christ has done for you. 49:42 OK? He gives you an inheritance. 49:48 What's the inheritance? 49:52 Matthew 5:5. Come on, folks. 49:55 The inheritance? "Blessed are the meek 49:59 for they shall inherit the earth. " 50:05 That's given to you as an inheritance. 50:10 Why are given an inheritance? 50:14 Huh? 'Cause... can you work for an inheritance? 50:18 No, you're given an inheritance because you're a child of God. 50:23 Gives you an inheritance. 50:26 Gives you a reward. 50:28 Do you know what the reward is? 50:32 Huh? Crown of life. 50:36 He gives you a crown. 50:40 And the reward is given to you based on what? 50:45 Works... works. 50:49 If you want to know where works come in, 50:51 that's where they come in. 50:53 That's what it's given to you on the basis. 50:55 Crown of life given to you. 50:58 Those are things God gives you. 51:00 He invites you to come. He says to all of you: 51:18 He said: "I've prepared all this for you. 51:22 Come. Enjoy it... enjoy it for eternity. 51:27 It's yours... give it to you free. " 51:32 And so He's inviting you tonight 51:35 to come enjoy the kingdom of God. 51:38 Jesus Christ is inviting you this evening 51:43 to come and accept Him. 51:45 It won't be long, dear friends. 51:48 We're almost home. 51:50 You'll have the privilege of living in His kingdom. 51:56 We're almost home: 52:02 where Jesus is waiting 52:07 where angels are singing 52:12 and where 52:15 we'll nevermore roam. 52:22 Hallelujah! 52:24 We're almost home! 52:34 Tonight 52:37 we're coming to the end of our meetings. 52:40 I want to make a special invitation tonight. 52:43 I want to invite those of you here tonight 52:49 that by faith you want to reach out 52:52 and give your heart to Jesus Christ. 52:54 Accept Him as your Savior. Say: "I want to be there! 52:58 I want to receive the gift of eternal life. 53:00 I want to be in heaven. 53:02 I want to accept Him as my Savior. " 53:04 I'm going to ask you to come tonight. 53:07 I'm also going to ask those of you who have 53:09 accepted Christ as your Savior 53:11 and tonight you would like to say: "I want to publicly 53:15 declare that He's my Savior. 53:16 I want to follow Him in baptism. " 53:19 I'm going to ask you also to come this evening. 53:22 And there may be some of you here tonight who have accepted 53:25 Christ. You have been baptized by immersion 53:28 but you want to be part of God's remnant people. 53:33 You want to prepare for His coming. 53:35 You want to be there; you want to be part of the church. 53:38 You'd like to take that step, become part of the church. 53:42 I'm going to invite you also to come. 53:44 As we pray, I'm going to ask you to step out 53:46 from wherever you're seated this evening 53:48 and make your way right up here. 54:40 As men and women are coming tonight, won't you come? 54:44 Give your heart to Jesus Christ this evening. 54:49 If you need to follow in baptism, come tonight. 54:56 If you need to take that step of becoming part of the 54:59 remnant church, preparing for the coming of Jesus, 55:03 step out of your seat and come this evening. 55:19 As we're down to the last night 55:21 I want to give the Holy Spirit every opportunity. 55:26 There may be a man or a woman or a young person out here 55:30 that has not surrendered their heart to Jesus Christ. 55:33 I want to give you that opportunity to do it tonight. 55:37 So as we just pray as Dona plays 55:40 as you hear that still small voice speaking to your heart 55:44 step out and make your way this evening. 56:22 Is there a man here 56:25 that doesn't know Christ as his Savior tonight? 56:31 Will you accept Him? 56:34 Heavenly Father, 56:38 this evening we come to You. 56:43 Our hearts are full, Lord, 56:46 of all the wonderful things that You have done for us 56:50 and prepared for us. 56:53 We pray that these that have stepped out tonight, 56:59 given their hearts to You, 57:01 making a decision to follow You by baptism 57:06 or to become part of the church, 57:09 we pray that You will bless them in that decision. 57:13 That the Holy Spirit may come into their lives tonight. 57:20 That it may fill them. 57:22 That each one of us may look to You 57:27 because in You there's life. 57:30 We pray that each one here tonight 57:33 with their families may have the privilege 57:36 of rejoicing in Your kingdom. 57:39 For this we ask in Christ's name... |
Revised 2014-12-17