“Satisfied” Heaven The Hard Way

 “Satisfied”

Heaven The Hard Way

Introduction:

Good morning Eastern Shore Baptist Church. I hope that all of you had a marvelous Thanksgiving. Today we are concluding a very short series entitled “Satisfied”. Today’s message is named “Heaven The Hard Way”. Ever heard that statement, “everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die”? There is a lot of truth in that statement. Everyone does want to go to heaven. However, very few people want to be obedient. Everyone does want to go to heaven as long as in heaven they are God and everyone worships at their feet. Most people want heaven like they want their Burger King, they want it their way. 

When you watch the movies, heaven is a place where anyone can go if they simply do the right thing. Usually they are the ones who determine what is right and what is wrong. Morality according to their perceptions. Heaven is a place where anyone can go if they help enough people, say nice things, help little old ladies across the street. Heaven is a place where anyone can go if they are just a “good person”. 

How do you know if you’ve done enough right things?

How do you know if what you believe to be right is truly right? We live in a world that what may be right and true for me may not be right and true for you. 

How do you know if you’ve helped enough people, if you’ve said enough nice things, if you’ve helped enough little old ladies?

How do you know if you’ve been good enough?

Friend, that is an awfully hard way to get to heaven. Imagine being in the last moments of your life and you are laying in your death bed. You are surrounded by your friends and family. In the fleeting moments of your mind you are set adrift wondering if you’ve done enough to warrant access into heaven.

Well friends, I have have news for you this morning. According to Scripture, it is not what you’ve done that get’s you into heaven, it’s who you know. 

The other day I was scrolling through YouTube and I discovered a clip of two prominent “Word of Faith” preachers. They were having a telethon, raising money for their ministry. One of the pastors, and I use that word lightly, claimed that if you want God to love you, if you want God to bless you, if you want to store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, you needed to give abundantly to his ministry. 

I sat back bewildered. Who in the world would fall for this nonsense?

Nevertheless, there is a cost to enter heaven. That cost is not attached to any earthly preacher. That cost is not attached to any earthly organization. It is not attached to any self help guru. There is a cost to heaven and it is a heavy one. The cost to heaven is our very lives. 

Do me a favor this morning. Fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”. Follow Christ is a calling that compels a cost.   

Today’s Thought:

Following Christ Is A Calling That Compels A Cost!

Beheading.

Crucified upside down and right side up.

Run through with spears.

Stabbed to death.

Stoned to death.

Clubbed to death.

Burned alive.

Exile.

That is how every disciple died. From one to twelve, they all paid the ultimate price to see their Savior once more. It wasn’t their material possesses, it was not their material wealth, it was not their earthly giving to any ministry or church that granted them access to eternity. It was their willingness to lay down their very lives for the truth, the reality of Jesus Christ. The relationship with Christ that they possessed brought the punishment, made them feel the pain, but eventually became their prize. 

Make no mistake friends, there is absolutely a cost for discipleship. There is a cost to following Christ and any man who says otherwise be a liar, a huckster, a fraud. 

I love what AW Tozer says about following Christ. This is from his book entitled “A Man of God” which is an excellent read by the way. “Christ has paid the full price for our redemption, but our walk with God on a daily basis will cost us much. Are we willing, cheerfully, to pay the cost?”

Today’s Quote:

“Christ has paid the full price for our redemption, but our walk with God on a daily basis will cost us much. Are we willing, cheerfully, to pay the cost?”

AW Tozer’s “A Man of God”

Before we jump into our Scripture this morning. I want to set up the scene for you. Open your Bible’s to Mark 10:23-31. 

Today, we're diving into a passage that's like a treasure map, guiding us to discover the real riches that matter. It's not about gold or dollars, but something far more valuable – the Kingdom of God!

So, picture this: Jesus drops a bombshell. He says, "It's tough for the rich to enter God's kingdom." The disciples are like, "What?! How's that even possible?" And Jesus, always with the metaphors, says, "It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle!" By the way, there has been a story floating around about an ancient gate that is thought to existed in Jerusalem called “The Eye of the Needle”. It was said to have been an extremely small gate in Jerusalem. While that makes for a good story, there is actually no proof that that gate ever existed. Sadly, I think that this was something that someone made up. Maybe with good intentions, maybe not. It makes for a clever story but in reality, Jesus is actually making a joke. We often don’t talk or discuss Jesus’ sense of humor but I think it is safe to say that Jesus was an exceedingly joyful, winsome, happy person. Otherwise, why would so many people want to follow Him, be His disciple, or obey Him the way they did. Back to the story. Now, that's a picture, right? It's not about camels or needles; it's about how our attachments to stuff can get in the way of what truly matters.

But then, Jesus flips the script! He says, "With us, it's impossible, but with God, anything's possible." Peter jumps in like, "Hey, we've left everything to follow you!" And Jesus, with a smile, basically says, "That's the spirit! When you give up something for me, you gain something even better. It's not a loss; it's an upgrade!"

Now, here's where it gets exciting! Jesus says, "Anyone who's given up family or home for me will get a hundred times more in this life and eternal life in the next." It's not just about heaven someday; it's about God's blessings in the here and now. But then, Jesus drops a mind-bender: "Many who are first will be last, and the last first." It's like God's economy doesn't work the way we think. It's not about climbing ladders; it's about serving, loving, and putting others first.

So, friends, here's the takeaway: Life's not about hoarding stuff or climbing ladders. It's about giving, loving, and following Jesus. It's a radical adventure of trading temporary treasures for eternal riches. Don't get weighed down by the stuff that won't last; set your sights on the Kingdom that's worth more than we can fathom. We will talk about that more in just a few minutes. 

First…

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.  

Today’s Scripture:

Mark 10:23-31 ESV

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" [24] And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." [26] And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" [27] Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." [28] Peter began to say to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you." [29] Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, [30] who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. [31] But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Heaven Is Accessible, Available and Achievable! 

What Does Christ Require?

I. Christ Demands Our…Surrender 

If you ask 10 people how to get to heaven, you might receive 10 different answers. Reminds me of a story of a pastor who found himself teaching a Sunday School class of young children. The lesson, as it happened, was on heaven. The pastor taught as hard as he could. He made heaven sound as attractive to the kids as he could. He talked about the streets of gold. The gates of pearl. 

At the end of his talk, he asked, "Where do you want to go?"

"Heaven!" they all piped up.

"And what do you have to be to get there?"

"Dead!", one boy yelled.

Well, he’s not wrong is he? Some people will tell you that the way to heaven is paved in good deeds. Others will tell you that it’s all about how much you give, who you know, or maybe your family tree. 

But what does Jesus have to say about heaven and how we are to get there?

Let’s go to verse 23 this morning. 

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" [24] And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 

I think that Jesus is making something very clear to all of us this morning. Heaven is accessible, available and achievable. I believe that there is not one person that God does not love. I believe that there is not one person that God did not create suited for heaven. That does not mean that everyone will go to heaven, but I believe that God desires that all men should come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. If this is true, what is the roadmap? How do I get my ticket punched? What does Jesus require?

Let’s answer that question this morning. Roman numeral one, Christ demands our surrender. In this instance, Jesus is stating that people with great wealth, people with vast material possessions, will have a very difficult time entering the Kingdom of God. The trouble with wealth, money, and possessions, they have a tendency of becoming central to our happiness. We allow our finances to determine our identities. We allow the almighty dollar to determine our direction. While wealth is not evil in and of itself, humans have always struggled with turning gold into gods. While riches in the right hands are a wonderful tool, if traded, those riches can serve as a noose around our necks. 

Jesus talks a great deal about surrendering our livelihood over to God. It is a continual theme in Scripture. 

Matthew 6:19-21 ESV

“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.

Matthew 6:24 ESV

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Luke 12:33-34 ESV

Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Luke 12:15 ESV

And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

People are wrong to focus in on riches and wealth part of this parable, instead we need to focus in on our attitudes concerning riches and wealth. It’s not so much about our abundance, our affluence, it is about our attitude. Jesus wants us to understand the value of surrendering for God: surrendering wealth, treasures, riches, and even our very lives for the glory of God. 

Jesus teaches us that to enter God's kingdom, we must be willing to give up everything to seek the truth, know God, and be transformed by Him. If our purpose in following and serving God is to believe in His words, love Him, satisfy Him, and live a meaningful life, then we please the Lord and have the chance to enter His kingdom. This parable helps us understand the right motives for following God, encourages us to have faith in Him, and ultimately gain eternal life. It’s all about surrender. 

II. Christ Demands Our…Sanctification 

Christ demands surrender. He also demands our sanctification.

Let’s go back to Scripture. 

 [26] And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" [27] Jesus looked at them and said, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

Friends, do you know what you were before you Jesus Christ entered your life? Do you know where you were going? I hate to tell you this because it is rather grim news. Scripture tells us that we were all dead in our transgressions. Alienated from God. Enemies of God. The book of Ezekiel paints a rather gross picture of what we all look like before God reinvigorates our spirits. Before God we were all dead, rotting, dry bones. That was our state before God. I don’t know how dead things can be going somewhere but we were. We were all headed with a one way ticket to hell. Destined for judgement and deserving of God’s wrath. Paul tells us in Romans that the payment of our sins was death, eternal death, spiritual separation. That’s the bad news. 

Here’s the good news. God does the impossible. He turns dead things into live beings. He takes objects of wrath and adopts them as sons and daughters. He takes the aliens and grants them citizenship. God does the impossible, He detours us from hell to heaven. That detour is what we call salvation. It is a one time event. 

The Holy Spirit speaks uniquely to each person, drawing the dead, sinful, wicked man and woman to God. If you remember, we love because God first loves us. The Holy Spirit draws us out of death though the power of the Jesus’ death and resurrection. Our belief in Jesus as the Son of God and our obedience to Christ’s commands prove our living spiritual nature. Again, salvation is the one time event where man is transformed from dead to alive, from hell to heaven, from alienated to adopted. 

Do you know what it means to be sanctified?

To be sanctified means to be set apart, consecrated, or made holy. The process of sanctification is often associated with spiritual purification and growth. Sanctification is the process where God again does the impossible. God turns us away from sin. The things that we once found attractive now repulse us. The jokes that we once found funny make us cry. The additions that we once held pale in comparison to the possession of the Holy Spirit. 

When you stop to examine yourself as Paul commanded us to do, examining to see if we are truly in the faith, we realize that sanctification is proof of our eternal destination. You cannot be sacrificed apart from being saved. If you are saved, then you want to be sanctified. If you recall the rich young ruler from last week. Church tradition maintains that he was actually Mark, the author of the Gospel. He walked away from Jesus initially but we know the rest of the story. He converted. He was saved and sanctified. 

With God all things are possible. No one is beyond His salvation. No one is beyond His reach. Again, the doors of heaven are open wide for all, if they but allow themselves to hear the call of the Holy Spirit. 

Let me share with you a powerful testimony from my time as the youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Birmingham. There was a remarkable man in our congregation, a local business owner, and a devout follower of Christ. The apostle Paul spoke of bearing "on [his] body the marks of Jesus", and this man, too, bore the marks of Jesus in his life.

Now, let me tell you about his remarkable journey. His wife, unfortunately, was a challenging soul. Chronically ill, her sickness had embittered her spirit, making her demanding and ungrateful. She consumed much of her husband's time and energy, complaining incessantly about life and him. But this man, a true man of God, displayed incredible patience, gentleness, and commitment. He never spoke ill of her, never wavered under the burden of her criticisms. He radiated a deep and inward joy, finding satisfaction in God, his ultimate portion.

You may be wondering, as I did, how he managed to endure with such grace. The secret lay in his covenant not only with his wife but also with God. This man was actively engaged in his own sanctification process. His primary desire wasn't conventional happiness; rather, it was to become the person God intended him to be. He partnered with God in this transformative journey, yielding to God's program of overhaul in his life.

As the old hymn beautifully puts it, "When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie, my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply." This man embraced the truth that God often uses suffering and adversity to refine us. He desired his imperfections, his unloving tendencies, to be consumed in the fire of affliction, and his character to be molded into the likeness of his Lord, who "loved the church and gave himself up for her."

Church, that, my friends, is sanctification in action. Are you on this sacred journey of becoming more like Christ? Remember what Jesus tells us about our greatest treasure—it's not in material wealth but in the transformation He works in our hearts, spirits, and minds. Let us embrace the process of sanctification, yielding to God's refining work, and finding our greatest treasure in becoming more like our Savior.

Matthew 6:21,33 ESV

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [33] But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

III. Christ Demands Our…Service

Christ demands our surrender. Christ demands our sanctification. Lastly Christ demands our service. 

Let’s again go back to Scripture. 

 [29] Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, [30] who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. [31] But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Does Jesus expect us to seriously leave our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, families, children, our country for Him? Does He really?

Well…yeah. 

Think about it like this, did Jesus not give up His brothers, His family, His homeland, His life for you and I. Jesus is not asking you or I to give anything less than He Himself gave. Jesus gave us the model, the ultimate example of service. 

I will put you at ease, Jesus is being highly descriptive here and there is nothing wasted in Jesus’ words. However, Jesus is clearly using hyperbole. Everyone’s calling is different. Some will be called to sell all they own. Some will be called to go live in foreign lands. Some won’t be called to do those things but they will be called to do other things. Again Jesus is not talking specifics, He is addressing our attitudes and our hearts. Are we willing to sacrifice and surrender everything, if that is the call, for the sake of Christ? Are we willing to allow our works to prove our faith?

Now now, I don’t want you to misunderstand me on this point. I am not preaching a works based theology. Hardly. God does not want us to work our serve our way into heaven. That is impossible. Christ has done the work of our salvation. Saying that, I do want to point you to James, the brother of Jesus, as he talks about faith and works. 

James 2:14-24 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? [15] If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, [16] and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? [17] So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 

Let me share an illustration with you. 

There was once a Scotsman who rowed people across a river. On one oar he had carved the word 'faith' and on the other oar he had carved the word 'works'. One day as he was rowing, one of the passengers noticed the carvings and asked him about them. The Scotsman did not reply but pulled in the oar marked 'works' and started to row with only one oar. The boat went round in circles. He then pulled in the oar marked 'faith' and started to row only with the 'works' oar. The boat again went round in circles, but this time in the opposite direction. He then rowed with both oars and reached the other bank safely.

Before his passenger got off the boat he said, 'A Christian must row his life using both oars, faith and works. Only then will he reach heaven's shore.'

Serving the Lord is a mark of true thanksgiving. It is also a mark of your eternal destination. Service is not the compass but it is the needle pointing to true north. If you want to discover the power of your faith, the power is defined in the works of the Christian. That power is produced through the Holy Spirit. 

Surrender. 

Sanctification. 

Service. 

Here is the great news, if we are willing to do these things, to engage in these paths, heaven is not something that we enjoy when we die. Heaven is something that we can experience here on earth. If we do these things in our daily lives, we will be living out the prayer of Christ. 

Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven.

Thy will be done IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!

Matthew 20:26-28 ESV

It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, [27] and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, [28] even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Turn This Information Into Your Inspiration!