John 17:24 - Homilies By B. Thomas

Heaven.

Notice—

I. HEAVEN AS A PLACE .

1. It is a place .

2. It is a place where Jesus is and the redeemed will be . "Where I am," etc. If so, we conclude:

3. It is a place the chief glory of which is Jesus . In itself, its occupations and surroundings, it must be specially glorious; but its chief glory is Christ. As the place where he is, it is most attractive even to those who know most about it. Few, if any, knew as much of its local glories as Paul; but he had a desire to depart, not to be in heaven as such, but to be with Christ. The chief inhabitants of a place form its chief attractions. Wicked people would soon turn heaven into hell, whilst good people would soon turn hell into heaven. People make a place, and not a place the people. The characters of heaven are all attractive, but Jesus is the chief one.

4. It is a place where Christ ' s glory will be fully Seen .

II. THE WILL OF JESUS WITH REGARD TO BELIEVERS IN RELATION TO HEAVEN .

1. In its expression . "Father, I will," etc. He no longer prays, but wills. He had prayed, and his prayers were really answered. He now expresses his will as one of the Divine counsels.

2. In its contents . "That they also whom," etc. This implies:

3. In its reasons .

(a) This love is very old . The eternal Son could not remember its beginning. He knew that it was before the foundation of the world, and that it was the chief stone in that foundation; but it was much older in its origin. It was eternal; but the foundation of the world was a special era in its history.

(b) This love is unchangeable . Jesus was fully conscious that he had done nothing to decrease, but rather to increase, it.

(c) This love is very effective . There is no place in the universe too good for the Father to give to the friends of his Son for the sake of this love—not even the most glorious place of his own presence.

LESSONS.

1. The first thing in human happiness is a suitable character—faith in and union with Christ .

2. The next thing is a suitable place . That place is where Jesus is, wherever that may be. It is enough with regard to the locality of heaven.

3. A suitable character and place will be perfection of bliss .

4. Let the character be prepared—heaven is certain . Christ prays for the former; he wills the latter, and respectfully demands it.

5. The present is a scene of struggle and preparation ; the future will be a scene of enjoyment . The enjoyment of Christ's presence and service, and the visions of his transcendent glory. What visions await the believer in heaven! All our pro-roundest aspirations will be more than realized.—B.T.