A New Beginning

Greg Laurie: Heaven is not a watered down version of the greatest moments on earth. The greatest moments on earth are a glimpse of greater things to come.

Guest (Male): Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us look past the trials of today to the glory waiting for us in eternity.

Greg Laurie: Heaven, a place of feasting and fellowship, a place of activities and worship. Dare I say it, heaven is a place of fun, a celebration.

Guest (Male): When we have something enjoyable to look forward to tomorrow, it makes the stresses of today a little easier to take. Have you noticed that? It's all about perspective.

Today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie helps us adopt a biblical perspective on the challenges of today. It's a message called Why Do Christians Have to Suffer? We look ahead to our everlasting reward and let that give us encouragement for the temporary pain and opposition we face today.

Greg Laurie: Heaven, I love to talk about heaven. I love to think deeply about heaven. Why? It's my future destination as a Christian, and it's yours as well. What will we see when we arrive in heaven? What will we do when we finally get to heaven?

The reason I bring this topic up is here before us in the book of Acts is a story of a man who went to heaven and returned. He is the apostle Paul. He was given a glimpse of glory. Have you ever been to a theater? And I don't know about you, but I haven't been going to theaters like I used to. But when you're in a theater, they show trailers for new films, right?

There was one film I was very excited about seeing after I saw the trailer. The trailer was amazing. And then I went and saw the film and guess what? The trailer was better than the film. Has that ever happened to you? Well, Paul is sort of given a trailer, if you will, but even more, he actually died, went to heaven, and returned back to earth. He had a glimpse of things to come and then ultimately saw the realized version of it.

And we've had little glimpses of glory in our lives. You know those special moments? You're with family or friends, or you watch the greatest sunset or the greatest sunrise or you see a rainbow. If you ever get tired of rainbows, something's wrong with you. And I found that I can't photograph a rainbow. I'll pull my phone out and the photo never gives a representation of what I saw with my own eyes.

Last Sunday, I was visiting our church on Maui, Harvest Kumulani. I was having dinner one night with Jim Felshner, who's the campus pastor. He told me there's more whales here right now, not in the church but in the water. There's more whales in the waters of Maui than any other time. It's a great time to go whale watching. I said I wish I could go. He says there's a guy in the church who has a boat, maybe he'll take you out.

Sure enough, that guy did take us out. His name is Steve, and we're thankful for that. But all these beautiful things, these are God's creation, and they remind us that something greater is coming. Heaven is not a watered down version of the greatest moments on earth. The greatest moments on earth are glimpses of greater things to come. Heaven will be your greatest dreams realized and even more.

So we're going to talk about that a little later, but we come to this second section of the book of Acts now. Here are the apostles. In this case, it's Paul and Barnabas. Remember Barnabas? He was the guy who encouraged people. So here they arrive at Lystra. Acts 14, verse 8.

While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas came upon a man with crippled feet. He had been that way from birth, so he had never walked. He was sitting and listening as Paul preached. Looking straight at him, Paul realized he had faith to be healed and he called to him in a loud voice, "Stand up." The man jumped to his feet and started walking.

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in their local dialect, "These men are gods in human form." They decided that Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and Paul was Hermes. Now the people go on to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas. Paul stops them. We're here to tell you that there's a God in heaven to worship. We are not gods. We're turning you to the true God.

Now here's the amazing thing. They face opposition. From who? From their religious opponents. Verse 19: Some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and drug him out of town thinking he was dead. But the believers gathered around him, and he got up and went back into the town. Wow, people can be fickle, can't they?

One moment they're worshiping you, the next moment they're stoning you because these outside folks whipped them up into a frenzy, reminding us that when we're doing the work of the Lord, we're going to face opposition. The devil will often hit you in one of two ways. Number one, he'll hit you through outward attack. This was an outward attack. They stoned Paul and drug him out of the city.

Why do people attack us for our faith? Why do people oppose us for what we believe? Why do people want to cancel us and our message and our voice and our culture today? Answer: because we're bright lights in a dark place. We're like salt in an open wound as followers of Jesus.

Jesus sums it up this way in John 15. If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you're not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word I said to you: the servant is not greater than his lord. If they persecuted me, they'll persecute you. Just make sure you're being persecuted for the right reason.

Sometimes Christians are persecuted not because of their faith, but because they're weird. They're obnoxious. They're unnecessarily offensive. Don't be that person. The Bible says blessed are you when you're persecuted for righteousness' sake, not for idiocy's sake or something like that.

The second way the devil will hit us is through pride. First he'll try to stop you. That's what happened to the apostles. But what happened then? The people said you're like a god. So the devil would say God would never use you. You're worthless. Why would God ever work through you?

Then you say forget you, the Bible says God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and you step out and God uses you. The devil comes back and says, let me rephrase that. You are awesome. You are all that and a bag of chips. No one is better than you. No one is more godly than you. No one knows the Bible the way you know the Bible. No one speaks like you. You're the one. No, he's hitting you again. Now it's through pride. That can be a form of attack as well. Popularity can sometimes be more dangerous than persecution.

So now they take Paul outside of the city. They stone him, and they leave him for dead. Acts 14:19: They stoned Paul, drug him out of town thinking he was dead, but the believers gathered around him. He got up and went back into the town. Many commentators believe that this is the moment that Paul was killed and raised from the dead. There has to be a moment where Paul died.

Paul talks about it in 2 Corinthians 12. I personally think it was that moment. Many commentators think it was as well. He died and was raised from the dead. I wonder how that played out. So here's Paul. He's stoned and by the way, it was horrible to be stoned. Painful. It could last for a while. Awful way to die.

Paul dies, and he's in heaven and he's standing before God. And the Lord says, "Welcome to heaven, Paul. Well done, good and faithful servant. I have some good news and bad news." It's not in the Bible. I'm just saying this could have happened. "Okay, Lord, what's the good news?" "The good news is, Paul, you're coming back again." "Really? Again? Where am I going?" "That brings me to the bad news. There's some believers down there praying over your dead body that you would be resurrected."

Paul says to the Lord, "Don't listen to them. They're sinners." "No, Paul, I actually want to bring you back again. I have some things for you to do still. In fact, quite a few things." No one who is in heaven right now, if given the choice, would want to return to earth again. Don't feel sorry for your loved ones that are in heaven. Feel sorry for you because you're still here.

You're having some great experience. A birthday or you got a cool gift. "Oh, I wish my loved one was here." They're in the presence of God Almighty with angels singing. I think they're pretty good. I know you wish they were and I'm not making fun of that because I've felt that many times. You wish they were here with you because you miss them. But just know they're really good and you'll see that one day for yourself. We all will.

I've heard people describe a trip to Israel as seeing the Bible actually come to life. Hey everybody, Greg Laurie. I've been to Israel many times and I've led a lot of tours and I have to say that's absolutely true. Listen, when you're walking on the same stones that Jesus himself walked on, that's something that's enriching to your faith.

It's not just a travel experience. It actually energizes and enhances your study of the Bible. Think of it this way. It's a vacation with a purpose. We're going to be taking a tour of Israel April 6 to 15, 2027. You can find out more at israel.harvest.org.

Guest (Male): Step right into biblical history. Join Pastor Greg for a tour of the Holy Land, April 6 through 15, 2027. Get details at israel.harvest.org. Well today, Pastor Greg is in Acts chapter 14 with a message called Why Do Christians Have to Suffer?

Greg Laurie: Paul is raised again from the dead, possibly right here. And now we read about what he saw. Go over to 2 Corinthians 12. Paul says, "It's doubtless not profitable for me to boast. In other words, I'm not going to brag about this. I'll come to visions and revelations in the Lord. I knew a man in Christ who 14 years ago, whether in the body, I don't know, whether out of the body, again, I don't know, God knows. Such a man was caught into the third heaven. And I know such a man, whether he was in the body or out of the body, I don't know, God knows. But he was called and caught up to paradise. He heard things so astounding they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell."

I love the way Paul approaches us. "Yeah, I knew this guy. In the body, out of the body, I don't even know." He's talking about himself. He's trying not to boast. It'd be pretty hard to not boast that you'd been to heaven, right? Notice he didn't write a book about it. What's with that? No movie was made.

I have to be honest with you. I'm very skeptical of people who write books about all that they saw in heaven. I'm not saying they didn't, but I'm certainly not saying I know they did. The only authoritative book on the afterlife is the Bible. That's the book you can trust, no other.

Paul didn't write a book. Paul didn't even write a chapter. He says the things I heard, I can't even really describe them to you. The third heaven. Where's that? I think the first heaven is probably just what we see when we walk outside: the sky, the clouds, the atmosphere surrounding our earth. The second heaven: outer space, the planets, the galaxies, the stars.

The third heaven: that's the dwelling place of God and the future destination of believers. Is the third heaven way, way, way, way out there? I don't think it's necessarily far out there. I think it's simply another dimension. And it may be closer than you realize. We talked about this when we spoke of angels. Angels and demons are coexisting with us right now. Just as there's a physical world, there's a spiritual world. Just as there is a natural world, there's a supernatural world.

So is heaven just right next to us? I don't know where it is. Paul was caught into the third heaven. He uses the word paradise. It was paradise. That's a word that is used three times in the Bible to indicate the future life. Jesus used this word when he spoke to that criminal on the cross crucified next to him.

Jesus' first statement from the cross was, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." And right on the spot, that hardened criminal believed in Jesus and he turned to the Lord and said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And Jesus said, "Truly, truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." That's the word.

Talk about being at the right place at the right time, that guy. Deathbed conversion for sure. He believed and joined Jesus in paradise. It's also used in the book of Revelation, chapter 2, to describe our future dwelling place. But it can be translated "the royal garden of a king."

It's hard for us to wrap our minds around. I don't think there's anything I could point to and say it's like this. But when we're talking about the royal garden of a king, think of a palatial, massive estate with a beautifully manicured garden. Paul says it was like that. Incredible.

In verse 4, he says, "I heard things so astounding they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell." Know this: heaven is a place of sight and sound. The King James Bible uses the word heaven 582 times in 550 different places. Heaven is a real place. You've got to think of it that way because that's what it is.

Heaven is as real as any city you would go to. D.L. Moody, the great evangelist, once said, "Heaven is as much a place as Chicago. It's a destination. It's a locality." Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." It's a place.

Remember, heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. Whatever you're going through right now is preparation for something else. We love to quote Romans 8:28, and so we should. How many of you have memorized Romans 8:28? Oh, six of you. Very good. The rest of you should do so, because that is a great go-to verse. I think more of you know it.

We know that all things work together for good to those that love God and are the called according to his purpose. But then verse 29 really helps us understand the whole concept. For whom God did foreknow, he also did predestine to be conformed into the image of his own dear son. Let's put it together. We know that all things work together for good to those that love God and are the called according to his purpose and whom God foreknew, he predestined them to be conformed into the image of his own dear son.

Allow me to paraphrase it: whatever you go through in life is preparing you to be more like Jesus. So that's the big picture. We tend to interpret Romans 8:28 through a narrow lens. This means that good will come out of the bad. And sometimes that happens. In fact, a lot of times, despite the bad, God will do something good.

But then there are times, if we're honest, when a bad thing happens to us and we can't see anything good coming out of it. We say, "Where's Romans 8:28 now?" Romans 8:28 is saying read verse 29. Whom he foreknew, he called to be conformed into the image of Jesus. God is changing you and preparing you because through many tribulations we will enter the kingdom of God.

Heaven, a place of feasting and fellowship. A place of activities and worship. Dare I say it, heaven is a place of fun, a celebration. That puts your present suffering in context. So Paul continues on. "I knew this guy. Whether in the body, out of the body, I don't know. Basically I'm talking about myself. I'm just trying to be humble about it. He was caught up into the third heaven. What he, really me, what I saw, I can't even put it into words."

Now he makes this statement. "Therefore I have cheerfully made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses because they mean a deeper experience of the power of Christ. I can even enjoy my weaknesses, suffering, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake, for my weakness makes me strong in him." Get it?

All suffering is not bad. Adversity can actually be used by God. This thing I'm going through right now that makes no sense is actually making me more like Jesus and getting me ready for the afterlife. God can actually use it. It could even be a tool for me to help other people. Now I'm starting to understand, and I can even rejoice in it.

Let me end with this. One day we'll enter the afterlife. We decide in this life where we will spend the afterlife. I want to ask you in closing, do you have absolute certainty that you will go to heaven when you die? As I said earlier, heaven is a prepared place for prepared people. You don't go to heaven to find Christ. You go to Christ to find heaven.

It is through Jesus and only Jesus that we will get to heaven. I know that's kind of controversial now. Too bad. Bible hasn't changed. He is the way to the Father. There is no other way. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to the Father but by me."

Are you ready? When I fly, you have to go through a lot of things now. It's just horrible flying. They make it so miserable. And airline food, that is an oxymoron. Airline food is not food. But anyway, you buy your ticket, you reserve your seat, you board your plane, you reach your destination, you deplane.

You can't just walk down to the airport, skip security, do whatever you want, board whatever plane you want, take whatever seat you want. That's not going to happen. In the same way you can't just say, "Well, I'm going to go to heaven. I'm a good person." You're a good person on the basis of what and compared to who?

You're not good enough, I can tell you. That's why Christ died on the cross for you 2,000 years ago and shed his blood. You have to admit you're a sinner. Admit you're a sinner and turn from that sin and put your faith in Jesus, and then you can know you'll go to heaven. As we close right now, I want to extend an invitation for you to get ready, for you to ask Jesus to come into your life. If you've not done this yet, do it right here, right now.

Let's all pray. Father, I thank you for your word to us. I thank you for your promise of forgiveness if we'll come to Jesus. We ask now that you will speak to the hearts of any here who do not yet know you. Help them to come to you and believe in you right now. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Guest (Male): Pastor Greg Laurie with an important prayer today on A New Beginning. And if you'd like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord, Pastor Greg will help you do that in just a moment. So please stay tuned. And we'd ask for believers to be in prayer right now.

Are you receiving Pastor Greg's daily devotions each day via email? If not, let's take care of that right now. You can sign up today free of charge at harvest.org. And you'll receive a daily inspirational thought from God's word each day in your inbox. Again, go to harvest.org.

And then if you'd like to make a change in your relationship with God today, Pastor Greg has some additional thoughts to share.

Greg Laurie: Maybe as you've been listening to this message, you've thought, "I wish I could come into this relationship with God. I just don't know how." Let me tell you how you can come into a relationship with God right here, right now. First of all, you need to recognize you need God. You need to admit you're a sinner. I know some people choke on that word, but the Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

But then you need to recognize that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross for your sin. The Bible says while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Then you need to believe in Jesus. Jesus put it this way: For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

You might ask, "How does one believe in Jesus?" To believe means to put your faith and trust in Christ and Christ alone and to receive him into your life as your own friend, Savior, and Lord. The Bible says for as many as received him, he gave them the power to become sons of God.

Would you like to receive Christ? And by that I mean would you like to ask Jesus to enter into your life and be your Savior, your friend, your Lord? If so, you can just pray this prayer after me. It's a simple prayer. You can pray it out loud if you would like or you can pray it in the quietness of your heart. But if you want Jesus Christ to forgive you of your sin, if you want to go to heaven when you die, or maybe you want to make a recommitment to the Lord, just pray this prayer after me now.

Pray these words if you would: Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner. But I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin. I turn now from my sin and I ask you to come into my life and forgive me of all of my sin. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for hearing this prayer and thank you for answering this prayer. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Hey, if you just prayed that prayer, I want to congratulate you and say welcome to the family of God.

Guest (Male): Yeah, that's right. And we have some follow-up materials ready to help you as you begin this new relationship with the Lord. An important part of this packet of materials is Pastor Greg's New Believer's Bible. It'll answer many of the questions you might have and help you build a solid foundation for your faith. So if you prayed along with Pastor Greg today, let us send you this New Believer's Bible free of charge.

You can call us at 1-800-821-3300. We're here around the clock. That's 1-800-821-3300. Or go online to harvest.org and click the words "Know God."

And then thank you for partnering with us to help these daily studies continue. Your investments have eternal benefits. Why not make this a part of your personal ministry, to partner in an effort that's making a real difference with the gospel of Jesus Christ? Thank you for your prayers and for prayerfully considering how God might lead you to help tangibly.

Online, you'll find us at harvest.org. And there you'll see the way we'd like to thank you for your donation right now. That's harvest.org. Or call us at 1-800-821-3300. We're here around the clock to take your call. Again, at 1-800-821-3300.

Well next time, Pastor Greg has some candid words about the need for harmony in our relationships as we move into Acts chapter 15. Join us here on A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie.