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Have you noticed that in the descriptions of heaven and its
activities that there is no mention of preaching? Jesus never tells
about preaching in heaven, no apostle predicted it, and the Book of
Revelation never says a thing about preaching in heaven. We can read
that there will be worship and praise of God and of the Lamb over
there. We are told that there will be singing, but no mention is ever
made that there will be preaching. Perhaps we can learn the reason
why.
In this world, we preach and plead for men to repent of their sins;
we show the awful curse of sin; we point out the terrible judgment of
God upon sin--but over there, there will be no sinners to whom to
preach. Over there, only the pure will enter. Hence, there would be no
point in preaching upon sin.
In this world, we preach about the greatness of God and the deity of
Christ, but over there, there will be no point in preaching those
things. There we shall look upon the face of God, and all unbelievers
will be excluded. (see Rev. 21:8).
In this world, we preach that men should come to the fountain filled
with blood for cleansing, but there will be no need to preach that over
there, for everyone will have been cleansed by that blood previous to
entering.
In this world, we preach that men should get ready for the day of
judgment, but in heaven there will be no point in preaching that, for
judgment will have already passed.
In this world, we preach upon the hope of heaven, but in that day
there would be no point in preaching that, for we shall have entered
into that wonderful place. The only thing left to do is enjoy it.
In this world, we preach upon the awfulness of hell in order that
men may avoid going to that terrible place, but when the righteous are
in heaven, it will be too late to preach that--besides, no one in
heaven to whom we might preach will be in danger of going to hell.
In this world, we preach messages to build faith, but in that day
faith will have given way to sight. We preach messages on hope, but
hope too will have been fulfilled in reality. We preach messages on
how to overcome temptation, but over there the tempter will never be,
for no unclean person can enter that place. We preach messages urging
people to be soul winners, but how pointless to preach such messages
over there when eternity has come. We preach messages on zeal, but how
useless that would be preaching to saved ones in the presence of the
Lamb. We preach to men to come out of Babylon with her false religion,
but in that day it will be too late to preach that message. We point
out the dangerous enemies of the Lord's church, but that will not be
needed over there, for in that day Christ will have put all His enemies
under His feet. We preach to men to love God and their fellow-man, but
it will be too late for such messages, for nobody will enter there
except those who have loved God and men.
Since all these things are true we must insist on today's preaching
having Scriptural purpose. And you and I need to prepare our hearts
for an eternity of worshiping and praising God and the Lamb.
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