Heaven Has No Cemetery — E.A. Johnston

The Hope and Beauty of Heaven

The older I get, the more I think about a place called heaven. I'm at the age, friends, where I have more friends in heaven than I do down here. I wonder what they're doing up there at this moment. I wonder what angelic chorus resounds in their ears.

What lovely sights do their eyes behold of crystal streams and fair emerald meadows. There's a man in heaven who died for me. He has the imprints of nails in his hands and feet. The crown upon his head is a golden crown of glory, of victory.

The Heavenly Throne and Isaiah’s Vision

Oh, I wonder what his throne looks like. King Solomon had an ivory throne inlaid with pure gold with six steps leading up to it with twelve golden lions guarding it on both sides. But that throne of Solomon pales in comparison to the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ's heavenly throne.

I know it's a great white throne that symbolizes purity and holiness for the vision of the prophet Isaiah, spoken of in Isaiah, speaks of that magnificence of that holy throne for in Isaiah we read, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up.

In his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims. Each one had six wings. With twain he covered his face and with twain he covered his feet. And with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.

The whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried. And the house was filled with smoke. Oh, heaven, friends, is an awe-inspiring experience. Heaven is awesome because the king is there, the Lord Jesus.

The apostle John describes the vision of God's throne in heaven he received as he wrote in the book of Revelation, we read,. After this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was as if it were a trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.

And immediately I was in the spirit. And behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone. And there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

And round about the throne were four and twenty seats. And upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightenings and thunderings and voices.

And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

Well, friends, those descriptions of God's throne in heaven are glorious. They're magisterial. Heaven is not only glorious, it's lovely to behold. With that colorful rainbow above the throne and the entrance to heaven is a lovely sight as well with its beautiful pearly gates lined with precious stones of the rarest quality.

Heaven Has No Cemetery

Heaven has all these wonders and more, but there is one thing in heaven that heaven doesn't have. Heaven doesn't have a cemetery. For all of the bride of Christ who are there will never taste death again, for they have eternal life.

There's no need for a cemetery in heaven. That's only for us down here on this tear-stained globe that we call earth, where death and disease and sickness run rampant throughout from one end to the other.

But in heaven there's no sickness, there's no disease, nor any tears shed, for God has wiped all our tears away. Heaven is a glorious place of light and life. There's no darkness there. Hell is spoken as a region of outer darkness, but in heaven it's only light.

I feel pretty confident about two things, friends. I'm confident I'm going to heaven, and I'm confident when I get there I will have a welcoming party to greet me. All my family and friends who preceded me there will be standing there with the Lord Jesus at the head of that crowd to welcome me home to my forever home.

Jesus spoke often on heaven, referring to it as the kingdom of God. So it's a royal kingdom with a royal king at its center. The Lord Jesus who sits on a throne at the right hand of the Father. How glorious, how wonderful will the reality of heaven be with its many mansions and streets of pure gold.

What was so highly valued down here will walk on up there. Heaven is full of the presence of God. Heaven is full of the people of God. Heaven is full of the angels of God. Heaven is full of the wonders of God.

And the best part of heaven is that heaven is full of Jesus. Listen to me, dear friend. Jesus said, For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus Christ as the Way of Salvation

If you've not trusted this blessed Savior, don't you think now is the time, friend, to surrender your heart to Jesus and accept this gift of salvation? Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No man cometh unto the Father but by me. Here, Jesus answers the three greatest questions of the human heart. How can I be saved? Jesus said, I am the way. How can I be sure? Jesus said, I am the truth.

How can I be satisfied? Jesus said, I am the life. But place your trust in Jesus, friend, and own him as your Savior and Lord. Listen to this gospel play. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hearest say, Come.

And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.