Final Destination | Ps. Viny Costa

Welcome to the Celebration Church Orlando podcast.

Thank you for joining us.

To learn more about Celebration Orlando, a church devoted to reaching the lost, equipping the found, and helping the hurting.

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Good morning, church.

Good morning to everyone joining us online.

We're so glad you are here this morning with us.

It is always such a joy to gather in the house of God and open the word of God.

I believe God has something special for you.

I believe He wants to fill you today with fresh life, fresh hope, fresh strength.

Amen.

Today is extra special because it marks the conclusion of our time of fasting.

So if you've been on this journey with us through August, my prayer is that your faith and your intimacy with God has grown deeper and that you are now walking in his power to face every challenge in front of you with victory in Jesus' name.

But not only that, today is also the final week of our series End Times, and I have a big responsibility here today.

But I'm excited, I'm excited to share about something so special.

When was the last time you heard a message about heaven?

Yeah, exactly.

We'll be talking about that today.

So our scripture today is found in Revelation chapter 21.

Revelation 21 · chapter mention

Revelation 21.

We're going to start on verse 1.

Revelation 21 says, Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men.

He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.

Neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new.

Also he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.

And he said to me, It is done.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

Today we will be talking about heaven, and I have titled this message Final Destination.

Now, apparently, that's the name of a movie series, and Lindsay only told me that after I had already chosen the title for the message.

But today we're not talking about fiction, we're talking about the ultimate reality, the heaven.

Amen.

Shall we pray?

God, thank you for your presence here in this place.

We need you.

There's no point for us to be here without you.

So please stay here with us.

And we give you space, room to encourage us, to exhort us, to correct us, to plant in our hearts eternal seeds for your glory, conviction.

We want to grow, and we want to fall in love with you one more time.

Please be with us.

That's our prayer in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Tell your neighbor, final destination.

Yeah.

There are many debates in theology around schatology.

Some believe one way, others believe another.

There are heated discussions about when Jesus will return, before the tribulation, in the middle of it, or after it.

Others debate whether the millennium comes after the tribulation or tribulation, or if we are already living in the millennium right now.

People speculate who is the Antichrist?

Who is the false prophet?

What is the mark of the beast?

And let me tell you, church, the truth is godly men and women who love Jesus may land in different places on these questions.

Whole denominations have been built around different interpretations, but there is a beautiful reality that I would love to share with you right now.

Despite all the disagreements, there is one point of absolute unity about Christian theology.

No matter the background, no matter the tradition, no matter the timeline you subscribe to, every believer agrees on this.

In the end, there is heaven and there is hell.

Revelation 21 is the second to last chapter of the Bible.

By this point, John has already addressed everything that people still argue about today: the tribulation, the Antichrist, the mark of the beast.

But here, on chapter 21, in this chapter, he shifts his focus to something far greater and infinitely more important.

He begins to speak about what happens after all of that.

After history as we know it comes to an end.

When the curtains of time is drowned shut and the curtains of eternity is lifted after the final judgment has taken place.

John wants to talk about heaven in chapter 21.

And he starts like this on verse 1.

I saw a new heaven and a new earth.

For the first heaven and earth had passed away.

And it's important for us to go back to our Greek class for a second, because the word new here, it's very, very important.

John doesn't use the word neos, meaning something brand new.

He uses the word kinos, which means new in quality, renewed, restored, made new out of something that already exists.

This means God is not creating a completely different planet, but rather renewing, redeeming, and transforming his creation into something glorious, eternal, and incorruptible.

In Genesis chapter 3, when Adam and Eve sinned, it wasn't only humanity that fell, it was creation itself.

Genesis 3 · chapter mention

The ground was cursed, the earth was broken, the cosmos bore the weight of sin.

So here in Revelation 21, when Scripture declares that God is making new heaven and new earth, it doesn't mean he's discarding the old and starting from scratch.

The word kinos tells us that he's redeeming, he's restoring, he's transforming the very earth that was once scarred by sin.

Just as one day we will receive glorified bodies that are redeemed and no longer subject to corruption, so also creation itself will be renewed.

Heaven and earth will be brought together in holy union.

It will be this sacred fusion.

God will dwell with his people and the world will be made whole again.

The word heaven here is also very important.

Because the word heaven here in Greek is paradisos.

Paradisos in English paradise.

But paradisus in Greek means a protected garden.

Do you see what God is doing here?

In other words, heaven, philosophically speaking, is the restored Eden, the safe and perfect dwelling place of God and his people.

New heaven, new earth, this sacred fusion.

Now, it's very interesting to me that John says something curious, at least curious, because he says, I see a new heaven, a new earth, and there is no longer any sea.

There's no ocean.

Scholars have debated this phrase for centuries.

Some takes it literally, but I believe John is speaking symbolically here.

So let me propose a theory.

Can I do that?

So it's a theory, okay?

Theory.

When John wrote Revelation, he was exiled on the island of Patmos.

For him, the ocean, the sea meant separation.

Separation from his family, separation from his friends, separation from his church community, separation from everything he loved, but not only that, even in ancient cultures, the sea also represented chaos, danger, fear.

Even in mythology, we see that the seas, the oceans are the dwelling place of monsters.

So when John says in this new heaven and new earth, that the sea will be no more, when he says that, it's not necessary, he's not necessarily saying there will be no ocean in the new heaven and the new earth.

I believe what he's saying is in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no more separation, no more isolation, no more fear, no more chaos, no more political polarization tearing families and friends apart.

All of that will be gone.

This is just verse one, so bear with me.

Then John says, I saw the holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I think you would agree with me.

This is a breathtaking imagery.

Because the Bible is not saying humanity will go up to heaven, it's heaven coming down to earth.

God is not abandoning his creation, he's redeeming it.

It's a divine union.

Heaven and earth are joined together as one.

Come on, the voice from the throne declares, now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.

This is the moment when the eternal home of God and the internal home of his people become the same place.

This is mind-blowing.

In this fusion of heaven and earth, all who have accepted the call to live for God, those who entrusted their lives to Jesus, will finally find their true home.

Friends, the greatest gift of heaven is not the streets of goats, is not pearly gates, not even the beauty of mansions we imagine.

It's not even the reunion with loved ones who went before us.

The greatest gift is the presence of God Himself.

The God who walked with Adam in the cool of the garden will once walk with his people.

The God whose voice thunder on the sign I will speak tenderly to us, face to face.

The Jesus who died for us will look us in the eye, and we will finally see these scars in his hands that purchase our freedom.

The Holy Spirit who comforts us and whispers here on earth will fill us with joy forever.

The heaven, it's all about God dwelling with his people and his people dwelling with him.

Then John says, He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death.

No more mourning, no more crying, no more pain, no more parents bearing their children, no more widows sitting alone in empty houses, no more families ripped apart by drugs or alcohol.

Our hearts broke for what happened this past week in Minneapolis.

But let me tell you something.

One day in heaven, there will be no more headlines of school shootings breaking our hearts, no more racisms dividing neighbors, no more political corruption leaving them frustrated, no more cancer, no more anxiety attacks, no more depression.

It's gone.

It's over.

Every fear, every pain, every injustice of this world will be gone, and we will be in the presence of the Lord forever, and there will be always peace, joy, and life everlasting.

Do you want to know what's the best part?

The best part it's free.

Free.

You cannot purchase it.

You don't work your way into it, you don't earn it by being good enough.

The truth is, none of us could ever deserve it, but Jesus already paid the price in full.

The Lamb who was his lane has opened the way.

Heaven is not a reward for perfect people, it's a gift of grace for forgiven people.

It's a prepared way for prepared people.

For those who said yes to Jesus.

Hopefully, your heart is full of hope.

Knowing that one day if you are lonely, you won't be lonely anymore.

If you are sick, you won't be sick anymore.

If you feel the injustice and corruption of this world, you will meet the true justice of God in front of you.

So, since I have time, let's pause for a moment and take in everything we've seen so far about heaven.

Is that good?

Heaven is the place where God Himself will dwell with His people forever.

It is the new heaven and new earth where creation is redeemed and restored.

It is the place where fear, separation, and chaos no longer exist.

It is the home where no more tears will ever be shed, no more sickness will ever be diagnosed, no more funerals, funerals will ever be held.

And the best of all, it is it free, paid for in full by the blood of Jesus.

Hopefully at this point, you are like, let's go.

I thought Epcot was a great place, but I'm ready.

Let's go.

Can we go?

I will tell you, not yet.

Vinny, when?

I don't know.

Vinny, how?

I don't know.

Vinny, how it will look like?

I don't know.

Then very frustrated with me, you would ask me, so why are we talking about this right now?

Wouldn't it be better or more practical to preach about parenting, marriage, leadership, missions, worship.

And trust me, I would love to be preaching about all of that.

But it's very important for us to talk about heaven because I believe there are two kinds of people in this world.

Some live as as if heaven doesn't exist at all.

They are completely consumed with the worries and distractions of this life.

And then there are others who are so obsessed with heaven that they lose sight of their calling here on earth and ignore the responsibilities God has placed in their hands today.

I believe God's invitation is not to one extreme or the other.

Because let me tell you something.

And here's the truth I want you to carry in your heart.

Those who have a proper perspective of heaven in eternity live most effectively on earth.

Church, the Bible guarantees me that when I think about heaven, I live better here on earth.

When your eyes are fixed on eternity, it changes the way you walk through your temporary life.

And this is my first point.

Having a heavenly eternal perspective equals better grasp of earthly possessions.

Vinny, what do you mean?

Thinking about heaven changes the way you you handle money.

What are you talking about?

Well, it's not me, it's actually Jesus.

Mark chapter 6, verse 20.

Mark 6:20

Jesus says, store your treasures in where?

Where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal, whatever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

You store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.

Now, let's be clear.

Jesus was not saying you shouldn't save or plan or Be wise with your finances.

Scripture is full of encouragement for us to prepare for the future, to provide for your families, to be good stewards of what God has entrusted us with.

So, what Jesus is talking about here in Mark chapter 6, it's about perspective.

Mark 6 · chapter mention

When you think about heaven, your priorities here on earth begin to shift.

Are you guys here with me?

Money stops being only about comfort, vacations, or retirement accounts and starts becoming a tool for eternity.

Come on.

You can use your money to send missionaries into the world.

Do you know that?

You can use your resources to put a Bible in someone's hand who has never read the word of God.

You can use your giving to support the ministry of your local church where lives are changed and disciples are made.

You can use your generosity to put food on the table of a family in need or bring dignity to someone who feels forgotten.

Every dollar you spend on something eternal becomes a treasure stored in heaven.

And let me tell you something: a return that no stock market crash, no inflation, no thief, and no recession can never touch.

And here's the beauty, friends.

When you think about heaven, you don't stop enjoying what God has given you here on earth, but you also start investing in what will last forever.

Thinking about heaven changes the way you handle money.

Let me ask you this: are you handling your money through an eternal perspective?

Or is it just about what your bank statements show to you?

Or it's only about the places you want to visit in the world.

And again, I am with you.

If you tell me let's go to Paris tomorrow, I would say let's go.

But it's not only about that.

It's about investing in something eternal.

Are you guys here with me?

Second, having a heavenly eternal perspective equals better thought life.

Vinny, what do you mean by that?

What I mean is fixing your thoughts on heaven changes your whole perspective on life.

This is what Paul says in Colossians chapter 3, verse 2 and 3.

Colossians 3:2

He says, think about the things of, think about the things of, not the things of, for you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.

Jesus is saying in Mark chapter 6, and now Paul is saying Colossians chapter 3.

Mark 6 · chapter mention Colossians 3 · chapter mention

And what Paul is not saying, Paul, Paul is not saying we should ignore the responsibilities of this life.

Of course, we need to pay our bills, we need to go to work, we need to raise our children, keep up with the house.

Those things matter, of course.

But what Paul is saying here is don't be consumed by them.

Don't let the temporary things of this world weigh heavier on your heart than the eternal things of God.

That's what he's saying.

When we start thinking about heaven, our priorities begin to shift.

Suddenly, we care more about people's soul than about having the perfect yard.

We care more about investing in our children's faith than their extracurricular activities.

We care more about eternity than about the next item on our to-do list.

It's the difference between endlessly scrolling through social media and taking the time to pray.

It's the difference between stressing over your next career promotion and asking God how He wants to use you to influence your co-workers for Christ.

It's the difference between spending all our energy chasing after the American dream and remembering that we are called to live a kingdom type of life that will never pass away.

When we think about heaven, the clutter of this life begins to lose its grip.

And what truly matters, my friend, which is loving God and loving people, starts burning in our hearts.

About a hundred years ago, this blind lady, she realized this, she understood this.

And in this spontaneous moment of worship and inspiration, she wrote one of my favorite hymns that talks exactly about this.

I acknowledge the things on this worth, but I'm thinking oh heaven.

And she goes, turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful faith, and the things of earth will grow strange leading in the light of his glory.

My third point is having an heavenly eternal perspective equals better Christ-like reflection.

Vinny, what do you mean by that?

What I mean is thinking about heaven helps us walk in holiness.

The same John who wrote Revelation, he also wrote in 1 John chapter 3.

1 John 3 · chapter mention

He said, See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are.

But the people who belong to the world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him.

And then he goes, Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not shown us what he will be like when Christ appears.

He's talking about his cathology here, he's talking about heaven here, but we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is, and all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure just as he is pure.

John writes that when your heart is anchored in eternity, your life here begins to look different.

When your eyes are fixed on Jesus and the promise of heaven, sin starts to lose its shine.

Temptations that once felt irresistible begin to feel empty.

The things you used to chase no longer satisfy because you know there is something far better waiting for you.

Bear with me.

The words you used to speak in anger, not us, some other people.

Come out, not in the same way anymore because you understood your tongue was meant to glorify God.

The places you used to go, the crowds you used to run with don't pull you the same way because your heart is sad and a better home.

The secret habit that once had a grip on you doesn't hold the same power because you've tasted something greater in Christ.

Holiness is not about trying harder to be good, it's about keeping your eyes on Jesus.

And when you do that, your desires begin to change.

You will start wanting what he wants, you will start loving what he loves, you begin to live differently, not because you have to, but because you want to.

Thinking about heaven helps us walk in holiness.

To wrap this up, having a heavenly eternal perspective equals better endurance and suffering and outlook on death.

This is what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians chapter 4.

1 Corinthians 4 · chapter mention

He says, We know that God who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.

Present us to himself present us to himself together with you.

All of this is for your benefit.

And as God's grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

That's why we never give up.

Though our bodies are dying and our spirits are being renewed every day, for our present troubles are small and won't last very long, yet they produce for us a glory that vastly awaits them and will last forever.

Thinking about heaven helps you in your suffering.

Life on this earth is a mixture of joy and sorrow, right?

There are beautiful moments.

Hearing your child's laughter, holding the hand of someone you love, and hopefully that's exactly what you're doing right now.

Sitting around dinner table with family and friends, standing in awe before the beauty of a mountain or ocean.

Those are moments.

Those moments are glimpses of God's goodness, but this life also brings trials.

We face sickness we never saw coming.

We say goodbye to people that we were not ready to lose.

We walk through unexpected tragedies that shake us to the core.

Some of us know the pain of sitting in a doctor's office and hearing a diagnosis we never wanted to hear.

Others know the ache of standing at a graveside or the weight of watching a loved one slip away.

And yet here's the hope we cling to.

When your eyes are on heaven, those trials begin to lose their power.

You don't have to live in fear of death, my friend, because death is not the end.

You don't have to let grief consume you because you know joy is coming in the morning.

You don't have to let pain define you because you know that one day God Himself will reach down and wipe every tear from your eyes.

This means that wheelchair will one day be empty, the hospital bed one day will be unnecessary.

The funeral home one day will close its doors forever.

The grave will one day lose its sting.

Suffering is real, but it's not final.

The cross had spoken, and the resurrection has promised us that every valley has an end.

And one day we will step into a place where sorrow is no more, and joy has no limit.

Thinking about heaven helps us in our suffering.

When you were struggling with your emotions, when you're suffering, when you were afraid.

While we're here, Jesus, on this earth, help us handling our money through an eternal perspective, God.

Help us set our mind on the things above, help us live our lives in holiness, help us in our suffering.

We want to look at you, set our eyes on you.

We're so grateful for preparing a home for us where one day we'll be with you forever.

This brings hope to our hearts.

Thank you for your grace and your favor and your mercy.

In your praise, in your name we pray.

Amen.

Thank you for joining us to learn more about Celebration Orlando, a church devoted to reaching the lost, equipping the found, and helping the hurting.

Follow us on social media using the handle at celebrationorl or visit our website, celebrationorl.