5 Reasons Why Pastors Must Preach on Heaven
By Marc Hall
I’m convinced that the majority of members in the pew have not given much thought about heaven. While many believers know that when they die they’ll be in heaven with Jesus, they also seem to think, “why bother worrying about all the details?”
1 John 5:13 says, I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.
With that in mind, here are 5 reasons I believe pastors must preach on heaven:
1. Our people need to know that Jesus is coming back.
This is crucial to what we believe as Christians. Jesus encouraged His disciples that, when He leaves, He will come back again. John 14:3 says, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. The Lord has never failed on His promises! Preach Christ crucified, but don’t forget to also preach His return!
2. Eschatology doesn’t have to be scary!
So often I hear, “I don’t read Revelation because I can’t understand it. It’s too hard to figure out!” We were made to do hard things! My encouragement is to read through prophecy and Revelation and grab some trusted commentaries. Don’t avoid it because you don’t understand it.
3. Show them the beauty of The New Jerusalem.
We don’t have to wonder what the capital city will be like. As Jesus gave John an incredible vision, Revelation 21 tells us that we won’t have the stain of sin, the heavens and earth will be redeemed, and we’ll be made perfect. It shines like rare jewels reflecting the glory and creativity of God.
The city has 12 gates, 3 on the north, south, east, and west. Each one is made of a single pearl with an angel there. The gates aren’t for defense but are an elaborate way to allow any citizen to come and go as they please. The last time we saw an angel guarding a gate was in Eden, keeping people out of the garden. Now, the angels will welcome everyone coming and going.
Gates in Scripture were gathering places where people conducted business and had fellowship. We won’t have to wonder if anybody is exaggerating or lying to us anymore! The fact that the gates remain open shows that we will have no fear because God’s presence is there, and the enemy has been defeated.
The city has 12 foundations, meaning that the New Jerusalem will rest on the earth. They have the names of the 12 apostles on them, representing the pillars of our faith. The walls are incredibly secure; being 216 feet thick and adorned with jewels and then soaring up to over 1,400 feet.
The city is massive. The measurements from the angel show that the city is a perfect cube. It will be this shape because it’s a callback to the Holy of Holies when God’s presence dwelled in His earthly temple. The symmetry represented completeness. The size of the New Jerusalem could stretch from Canada down to Mexico, from the Appalachian Mountains to California. One author said that, if each story was 12 feet high, the city would have over 600,000 stories. Billions of people can fit in this city of gold that shines like glass. There have been shirts and stickers made that say, “Make heaven crowded.” I can guarantee you, there’s plenty of room in our Father’s house for everyone that will put their faith and trust in Him!
4. We get to see Jesus in His fullness and worship Him.
1 Corinthians 13:12 says, For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. When we see the face of God, our Maker, we’ll be able to see perfect love, joy, and peace. Our worship right now is one of faith and hope. In the presence of Jesus, that faith will be turned to sight!
After seeing Jesus for the first time, I believe that we’ll have the opportunity to lay down our crowns and lay up our treasures. There are 5 heavenly crowns: life, rejoicing, imperishable, glory, and righteousness. For us to lay down our crowns at the feet of Jesus, simply means that we are humbling ourselves and submitting to His authority.
After laying down our crowns, we get to lay up our treasures and reap the rewards of a life well lived. Matthew 6:19-21 says, Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. We lay up treasures in heaven by investing our time, talent, and treasure in the kingdom of God. What heaven looks like for you is determined by what you are doing right now on the earth. What treasures are you laying up?
In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:21, the master said the following to the two workers, even though they returned back different amounts, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. This is what every believer longs to hear when they get to heaven. The more we do with what God has given to us, the more we’ll be rewarded. One pastor said this about heaven: “There is no communism or socialism in heaven. What you receive to reign with the Lord is determined by what you are doing now.” Are we investing in the kingdom of God and growing what God has given to us, or are we burying it in the ground?
5. We need to live with a heavenly perspective.
When we properly understand the timeline leading up to heaven and what exactly heaven will look like, we begin to have our theology and thoughts shaped by it. We need to have a reality that heaven is a real place where believers will be for eternity, and because of that, it should impact us in the here and now. Living in light of eternity affects our finances, our time, and our relationships.
Why is it so important to live life in light of eternity? You’re either living for yourself or for a heavenly purpose. We are naturally selfish beings. We enjoy the pleasures of this world, and it’s sometimes hard to imagine anything better than what we have here on earth. I can remember, as a teenager thinking, “I, at least, want to get married and have kids before Jesus returns.” There are fun things for us here on earth, but just imagine what God has in store for us in heaven!
Pastor, do your people know that Jesus is coming back? And do they live like it? Let’s not be scared to preach the hard things and show the church the physical and spiritual beauty that awaits us, and live with a heavenly perspective. Pastors, we must preach on heaven!
Marc Hall
is the Senior Pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Pinson, TN. He and his wife, Brittany, have three daughters. Marc loves spending time with his family, cheering on the UT Vols and Cubs, attending baseball games, collecting baseball cards, playing guitar, and playing disc golf.