What Will We Know in Heaven Part 1

Pastor Mike will be speaking on What Will We Know in Heaven Part 1. He will be reading out of 1st Corinthians 13:12.

The Bible reminds us that one day we will see him just as he is and when we see him we will be just like him. Hello this is Pastor Mike Sanders from the Open Door Church and we serve here as the senior pastor. Today we are hosting the radio program Hope Worth Having.

We’re grateful that you are a part of our ministry and that you are listening in today. Grab your Bible we’re gonna be in 1st Corinthians 13 and we’re gonna talk about what will we know in heaven. People ask me so many times will I know my loved ones? Well let’s find out.

Will I know my loved ones in heaven? What a great question. So let’s begin our study today. If you have your Bible this morning I want you to join me in 1st Corinthians chapter 13.

We’re continuing our study on five questions about heaven and five questions about hell. Now I know that many were wondering are we gonna get back to heaven and I want you to know we are. We go back and forth so I don’t want you to be discouraged but we certainly address a question about heaven and then a question about hell and then we go back to heaven and then we go back to hell and I know that you and I can only take so much when it comes to hell and so we got to kind of mix it up a little bit so that we keep you encouraged and keep you positive.

What will we know in heaven is the question that I want to submit unto you. Now in verse 12 of chapter 13 of 1st Corinthians the Bible says for now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Now I don’t want you to feel that Pastor Mike in some way is taking this passage out of context. It’s very much in context and gives us insight into understanding what we will know in heaven. So for our benefit let’s just do a quick review of chapter 13 and you know that the Apostle has been addressing the issue from chapter 12 13 and 14 about the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues and I know that people land in different places and spaces when it comes to that but I think that this will really help you if you understand what the Apostle was teaching in chapter 13 because the Corinthians had exalted this gift of speaking in tongues as being the supreme gift.

That there was no better gift than to be able to speak in tongues in the minds of the Corinthian believers and the Apostle wants to know that is absolutely wrong and that the gift of tongues is not as important as showing love and note again in verse 1 of chapter 13 he says though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels but have not love I have become a sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. You could put it like this that your life speaks so loud I can’t hear what you’re saying and that’s what the Apostle was saying you might have this great gift of speaking in tongues but if you’re not showing love it is meaningless. Look at verse 2 and though I have the gift of prophecy which is teaching and proclaiming the Word of God understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains but have not love I am what church? Do you understand what he’s doing here? Do you see how he’s showing them that love is more important than all the spiritual gifts that might exist? He goes on as if you did not get it yet verse 3 he knows that some of us not you but I’m talking about that other person besides you that are we’re a little hard-headed and he says in verse 3 and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned but have not love it profits me what church? Are you with me? And then he goes in to define love.

What is interesting is that he never describes love as a feeling he never describes it as an emotion but always it is in the active present tense and it is describing love does something okay and we got to remember that and so the true essence of our love is what we do and how we respond and we handle things and he goes on to say in verse 8 that love never fails but whether there are prophecies they will fail whether there are tongues they will cease and whether there is knowledge it will vanish away meaning this new knowledge of God’s work in his spiritual truth because remember at this time the Word of God relating to the New Testament had not been fully written and it had not been what we refer to as being canonized or assembled together so he’s saying all that is going to vanish away eventually verse 9 for we know in part underscore that in your Bible we know in part and we prophesy in part in this time that you and I are living we don’t see everything that is to be seen we don’t understand everything that is to be understood we don’t always have a clear picture or a clear perspective of all that God is doing in us through us and around us and so he wants us to know that even as we’re teaching the Bible we are prophesying in part but here he goes in verse 10 but when that which is perfect has come that which is in part will be done away with you’ll be done away Bible scholars wonder what that perfect is and people have had different commentaries on this I believe and understand it to being this and you must do your own research that he’s talking about the Word of God when the Word of God has come when we have the final complete Word of God we’re not going to need all this other stuff we’re not going to need these sign gifts anymore because they will fade away they will cease they will vanish why because we have the perfect Word of God then he illustrates it in verse 10 and I want you to get this because I think this is powerful in your life and this will help you to have clarity he is now giving us an illustration in verse 11 he said already to us when that which has come what is in part will be done away with meaning these spiritual gifts will be done away with and now let me illustrate it for you verse 11 when I was a child how many of you were a child at one time should be all of us okay when I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child but when I became a man I put away childish things make sure you read that to your teenager every day it’s time to grow up amen this is just a little side note that cost you a dime but you need to grow up and that’s what the Apostle was illustrating he’s saying look I grew up I grew up I was a child I did things like a child but when I became a man when I became an adult I grew up I pulled my pants up I quit walking around like a teenager and I got focused and I got a job and I got out there and I started making things happen I know that’s not in the Bible but that’s kind of what he means I’m just telling you okay and he’s saying that I put away childish things I put away childish things it’s an illustration here we go here you go hang in there church for now we see in a mere dimly but then when we are face to face with God now I know in part but then I shall know just as I also am known and now abide faith hope love these three but the greatest of these is love the Apostle is saying spiritual gifts when the church was in its infancy it was for when the church was immature but now that the church has grown up and it has the perfect Word of God it doesn’t need all of these signed gifts because when it was a child it behaved like a child but now that it has grown up it now has put away those childish things now you wrestle through that well however and whenever you want we’re glad to have many discussions with you on that but he is also helping us in this illustration that how just as a child we saw in part when your children are young you said don’t run in the street don’t ride your bike in the street and they had a meltdown and they cried and they looked at you like you’re the meanest parent ever all you want to do is limit their life you want to take their freedoms away because they only knew in part they could only see the small picture but you could see the big picture as a parent you could see the danger of riding your bike in the street you could see the danger of somebody either accidentally hitting them or carelessly hitting them and so you wanted to protect them and so it is friends that in this earth that you and I live in we are very much like children who do not see the big perspective of God and we see as the Bible says in verse 12 in a mirror but this mirror he’s talking about is not a crystal clear mirror it’s a dim mirror it is a mirror that is clouded and we cannot always see the clear picture of all that we are dealing with in life but then face to face one day when we stand in the presence of God face to face with Jesus the Bible reminds us that one day we will see him just as he is and when we see him we will be just like him but the Bible tells us now while I’m walking on this earth I know in part now everything’s dim everything is cloudy I have a lot of questions I cannot always explain suffering and circumstances and problems and issues and I don’t always have a good answer for what is unfolding in your life but now we see in part but then what then face-to-face with Jesus I shall know just as I also am known just like people know who you are you’re gonna know in heaven you’re gonna know what he’s trying to say to you is that just like people have a full knowledge of you you’re gonna have a full knowledge you’re gonna see from that divine perspective you’re gonna see the fullness of God and you’re gonna see the full perspective of God and so this morning I want to submit unto you five things that relate to this question what will we know in heaven in 1991 Eric Clapton who was a famous singer lost his five-year-old son Connor after he fell from the window of the 49th floor of his mother’s Manhattan apartment Eric Clapton poured out his grief in song and he wrote a song entitled tears in heaven in the song he asked the question would you know my name if I saw you in heaven will it be the same if I saw you in heaven I must be strong and carry on because I know I don’t belong here in heaven would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven would you help me stand if I saw you in heaven these are the kind of questions that many people believers unbelievers have when it relates to heaven and so we want to tackle this great task of answering the question what will we know in heaven heaven it is a word that is synonymous with beauty comfort peace and satisfaction it is a word that we think of that brings great joy to our hearts the scripture is clear to us that there is a real heaven that just like there is a hell there is a heaven it is a real place and when the Bible describes Jesus giving us his words of encouragement about heaven in the gospel of John 14 Jesus said I go to prepare you a place it’s the Greek word topaz it means land it’s the idea of dirt it’s a real place heaven is a real place a place for those who love God for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ heaven is a wonderful topic in the Bible the King James Version of the Bible uses the word heaven 582 times and it means so much the Apostle Paul’s perspective on heaven was unique and one that we need to consider even today he said in 2nd Corinthians 5 4 for we who are in this tent meeting we’re in this body we groan being burdened not because we want to be unclothed but further clothed that mortality may be swallowed up by life because this is all we know because we see in part it’s hard for us to grasp that in this mortal world that we are very limited but that God has so much more life for us in his immortality when you think about your loved ones who have left this world and have left this earth think about what it was like for them that in one moment they were breathing mortal air but in the next moment as a believer in Christ they were breathing immortal air that in one moment on this earth they were dealing with death the end here on this earth but in the next moment they were birthed into new life with Jesus Christ in heaven forever and ever the Bible tells us that the Apostle declared for me to live is Christ and to die is what I know it’s hard nobody likes death death is the final enemy but I want you to know our Savior overcame death and one day because he overcame death all of us are overcoming death and not only are we overcoming death as believers but our loved ones who have already preceded us in death are going to overcome death for the scripture says that the dead in Christ shall rise isn’t that wonderful church I mean just reflect upon that think about how momentous that will be how majestic will be to see your loved one rise the Apostle said to live as Christ this is the essence of your life I know that some of you are pursuing that career you’re pursuing that money you’re pursuing that American dream and I’m not against any of those things as long as they’re kept in perspective that your life is Christ it’s all about Jesus wherever God plants you whatever he uses you whatever skill sets he gives you whatever career he gives you it’s all about Jesus here is something that you don’t hear a lot but you and I need to be reminded it’s not about you it’s about Jesus it’s about Jesus don’t believe the lie of the devil don’t believe the lie of the world that it’s about you but remember that it is about Jesus Christ think about this with John the Revelator said in Revelation 14 verse 13 relating to death I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me right blessed are the dead think about that for a second blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yes saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them God does not forget what we have done for him and he rewards us and so again it what is the perspective of the Bible about death it is not one of finality it is not one of end for the believer it is blessedness it is gain it is life it is to be in the presence of God enjoying all that God has for us now we have many perspectives of heaven perhaps some of you are like what Mark Twain said to Huck Finn and Huck Finn was not really interested in heaven and so he said all a body would have to do was to go around all day long with a harp and sing forever and ever that would take me out because a I can’t play a harp and be I can’t sing but a lot of people think that’s all you’re gonna do we’re just gonna float on clouds we’re gonna just sing and we’re just gonna play an instrument but friends that’s not all you’re gonna do in heaven so let’s talk about this I want you to write this down and I hope you’ll do further study don’t be scared that there’s five points first of all remember that pastor Mike will cut off his sermon when necessary and then B is that not all these points have a lot of sub points so we’ll be able to move through them quickly but number one our knowledge in heaven will be greater than it is now once you remember that again I think that’s self-evident in our text isn’t it verse 12 we know in part but then meaning face-to-face I shall know just as I also know so your knowledge is going to be greater I love what the Apostle said in 1st Corinthians 2 9 but as it is written I has not seen nor ear heard neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him I say it to you all the time I know you get tired of it I hope it’s a comfort to you I really do that none of your loved ones went to heaven and were disappointed they were not let down and they were not bummed out and they did not say I want to go back to suffering I want to go back to sorrow I want to go back to struggle I want to go back to sin I want to go back to dealing with difficult people amen our loved ones bust into heaven with great joy the Bible says in thy presence is fullness of joy at thy right hand there are pleasures forever more so it’s so awesome and I want you to know that when we get to heaven the degrading effect of sin on our minds that is gone and when we live in this world your mind isn’t as good as it used to be do you remember that but I’m just saying that our minds aren’t as sharp as they used to be you think about these kids when they’re little man they’re just soaking it up you know I’m saying and everything you say they remember what you say if you notice that my grandson Isaiah he was in trouble last Wednesday and his mother said to him you better straighten up or I’m gonna give you a spanking and Isaiah respond to his mother he said I don’t have time for that now where did a two-year-old hear that from he probably heard it from his mother’s grandmother but he said I don’t have time for that and these little kids their minds are so sharp they soak up everything it’s amazing what they remember as we get older our minds are not as mentally sharp but friends what I want you to understand is when you leave this world you may not remember things down here and you may have forgot to brush your teeth this morning but in heaven your mind is as sharp as it ever was it is blessed and you are intellectually able to understand remember what Philippians 321 says that God who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body according to the working by which he is able even to subdue all things to himself this body which includes our mind every aspect of it my friends it is going to be one day transformed hallelujah and one day we are going to have a brand new body and I understand it’s not immediately and I understand it’s after the resurrection but it’s still a great promise and it’s still a great hope that God is going to give you a new body now people talk about getting their knee replaced they get talk about getting their hips replaced and they talk about getting their shoulders replaced and I’m sure it won’t be long they’ll be implanting AI in your brain okay and I’ll be pastoring AI people but none of that compares to the original creation and none of that compares to the new creation of a new body of what God has in store for us and so we understand think about it really it’s this that God is moving everything back to the way it was before sin entered the world and what it was like for Adam and Eve in that paradise in that garden of beauty and all that God had created and so when we think about sin entering to the world we understand that Adam certainly his mental capabilities were greater before the fall than they were after the fall so I want you to know that our knowledge in heaven is greater it is better it is sharper in heaven than it is now number two I want you to learn that even though it will be better and greater that will never be omniscient we will never be omniscient we will not know everything there is to know please keep that in mind you won’t have all knowledge in heaven you won’t have everything figured out in heaven you won’t have all the answers in heaven I know some of you believe you already have all the answers we appreciate you but we know that sometimes your answers aren’t right but we just say to you that’s interesting because you’re a brother and sister in Christ and we don’t want to hurt your feelings but that’s interesting people tell me all kinds of crazy things so I just say well that’s interesting I think to myself do I have time to debate with this person and if I debated with them would they even change their mind right and so I just say well that’s interesting but I want you to know today we possess a very limited understanding the Bible says we know in part we read it twice in this passage we have a limited understanding of life and one day though we’re gonna see better but it does not in any way imply that you are equal with God in knowledge so please don’t go up there thinking in heaven please our pastor told us we would know everything no you won’t which will lead me to my third point where I really want to spend some time with you and that is that we will continue to learn and grow in our knowledge throughout all eternity you’re gonna continue to learn and grow you say well I thought I was done and somebody like I’m never going back to school well you’re going to the school of heaven and it is a wonderful school because your mind is sharp and you’re absorbing your knowledge is sharp you’re gonna be able to learn and grow so what we know in the eternal state will not be static but it will always be increasing will always be learning God made and designed us to be a people who will grow and learn and let me tell you something that you will revel in it you will enjoy it so much there’ll be times that you’ll be walking around and you’ll bump into the old apostle Paul and you’ll be asking him a hundred questions about what it was like and he’s like look I told the other Christian this I ain’t got time to tell you got you say we got all eternity Paul tell me the story again and how you came to Christ or how you handled that shipwreck or I’ve always wondered about this thing in the Bible or this thing that you wrote what did you mean Paul what did you mean and so it’s going to be beautiful now what will we learn about in heaven please write this down but Revelation 610 gives us a little insight here and I want you to know the context it’s the tribulation period these are martyrs who are standing before God Almighty at the throne and they cried out the Bible says with a loud voice saying how long O Lord holy and true does thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth they didn’t know everything they were in the throne of God and they were wondering and they were asking questions isn’t it great that when we get to heaven we’re gonna be able to ask questions and nobody’s gonna be offended and I doubt that God’s gonna say because I told you so but we’re gonna learn and grow so what are we gonna learn number one write this down we will learn more about the person of God we’re gonna learn more about who God is who is God all friends you think you know the holiness of God wait till you get to heaven you think you know about the righteousness of God but you and I really don’t understand all of its depth and breadth and height and width we haven’t fully grasped the faithfulness of God and the goodness of God and the loving kindness of God all these wonderful attributes that describe who our God is all these wonderful words that we use to praise his name to give him glory you are going to know the person of God in a greater and deeper way beyond anything that you’ve ever experienced here on this well the Bible says will be known as we are known so we must understand that there’s a lot of things we will know not that we will know everything because we will grow and we will learn and we will sit at the feet of Jesus and he will teach us it’ll be glorious and all that has been revealed to us through his word about heaven is not the totality of all that we will know and learn in about him but when we get there we will have eternity upon eternity and enjoy the blessings of God’s kingdom and that’s what I want for you and I pray that the goodness of God would bring you to true repentance and that your desire to spend eternity with Jesus would motivate you to come to God and receive him as your Lord and Savior and to repent of your sin if you’ve made a decision for Christ make sure you let us know go to hopeworthhaving.com check out the contact button let us know about your decision your response to God and just remember that in Christ there is hope worth having