IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

by Leith Anderson

Text: Psalm 23T
Topic: What God's promises about heaven are Big Idea: Believers are assured of heaven's reality, relationship, and joy.Keywords: Christ, as Shepherd; Contentment; Eternal life; Heaven; Hell; Hope; Optimism; Paradise; Promises; Security in God; TrustIntroduction:
Psalm 23 may not seem very connected to Jesus, but David well understood the relationship between sheep and shepherd.
John 10:11
Jesus described himself as a shepherd.
It is because of Jesus that Christians are able to confess the promises of Psalm 23. His sheep are assured of the reality of heaven.
Psalm 23 is not talking about sheep; it's talking about us and the life to come.
Psalm 23 makes the connection between this life and forever.
Those who belong to the Lord are the ones who will live forever in his house.
Those who do not belong to the Lord will not dwell with the Lord.
Our life on earth is not independent of the next life.
Illustration: Though more than 90% of Americans believe in God and the Bible, far fewer say they believe in hell.
John 3:36
If there is a heaven, there must be a hell, though we seem to have forgotten hell's reality.
It is God who decides who can live with him forever and who cannot.
Only the Christian can profess to live forever in the Lord's house. His sheep are assured they will enter heaven.
Our confidence of heaven is based not on ourselves, but on God's character.
On the basis of who our shepherd is, we can say with confidence that we will dwell with him forever.
Doubt is inappropriate because it questions the character of the shepherd.
John 10:11
John 10:27–29
Jesus absolutely promises that anyone who is a Christian has eternal life, and it will never be snatched away.
Romans 8:38–39
When our relationship with God is right, we have a stable and strong confidence in his promises and in all of life. His sheep are assured they will be content in heaven.
The "house" of the Lord does not mean a physical house, but rather a family or set of relationships.
David surely imagined heaven as an actual place, but surely had in mind that he would be there with God.
What makes a house a home is the people who live there; what makes heaven truly heaven is being with God.
Our hope for the future affects our lives on Earth, giving us greater contentment even now.
Illustration: Many martyrs have made converts of their executioners by the sheer joy they expressed at the thought of heaven, despite facing suffering and death.
Illustration: Shepherds report that sheep express excitement, regardless of their circumstances, when returning to their shepherd's fold. Conclusion
Do you know for sure that, were you to die today, you would begin to dwell forever in the presence of the Lord?
The decision to make the Lord your shepherd is simple, but very important.
The first step to accepting Christ is admitting you need him.
You must also believe, in your mind and with your life, in the love of Jesus Christ.
Finally, tell God you want to dwell in the house of the Lord forever—and you will.