IT IS BETTER BECAUSE WE WILL SEE CHRIST – “To depart and to be with Christ; which is far better.” There is no other joy so great.
Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).
He daily watches over us, makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:34).
He is now preparing a home (John 14:1-2).
IT IS BETTER BECAUSE WE WILL BE THROUGH WITH SIN
Paul grieved because of his own sins – “O wretched man that I am; who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:24).
We shed tears over our own sins, shortcomings. Evil is ever present with us. We grieve over sins of our relatives. The battle continues unabated.
In heaven, we will be delivered.
IT IS BETTER BECAUSE WE HAVE NO MORE GRIEF OF SINFUL COMPANIONS:
Samuel cried all night when his friend, Saul, sinned (1 Sam. 15:11).
Jeremiah had a fire in his bones because of the sins of the people (Jer. 20:9).
Paul had unceasing pain for the sins of his own brethren (Rom. 9:2-3).
God commands, “Fret not thyself because of evil doers” (Psa. 37:1).
How our hearts ache when we hear God’s name taken in vain.
How deep the pain is as we see a nation given over to rum, revelry, and ruin.
There is no evil in heaven.
IT IS BETTER BECAUSE ALL THE TEARS WILL BE DRIED, ALL SORROWING COMFORTED:
Of Lazarus it is written: “…he is comforted…” (Luke 16:25).
Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4).
“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psa. 30:5).
IT IS BETTER BECAUSE IN HEAVEN THE CHRISTIAN GAINS REST:
“Let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).
Jesus said, “The night cometh when no man can work” (John 9:4).
Paul labored night and day with tears (Acts 20:31).
The Lord’s harvest is now white. We must be busy. We grow tired, but we cannot lay our burdens down. Dad cannot stop his work. Mother has no office hours. Hard work is the curse of all mankind. A Christian cannot retire. He must press on (Phil. 3:14).
“They rest from their labors” (Rev. 14:13).
IT IS BETTER BECAUSE IN HEAVEN THERE WE GAIN ETERNAL REWARDS:
Consider Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:6-8.
Daniel writes: “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever” (Dan. 12:3).
We strive for earthly rewards to find that they fade. In heaven, what we have gained, we hold. It is glorious to know our anchor holds safely and securely within the vale and when the lightning flashes and the thunder rolls, we will be undismayed. When storms have passed, we will sail safely into the blest harbor and be with Jesus in the celestial city across which the shadows never fall.
Yes, it is far better in heaven.
the late Wayne Holland
from a sermon preached at:
Bayou La Batre, AL 05/25/1980
Hiawassee, GA 06/26/1983
Roxboro, NC 11/13/1988
South Boston, VA 03/19/1995
