Title: Jesus promise to take us home!

Intro

Ten years ago (1989), an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened Armenia, killing over 30,000 people in
less than four minutes. It's hard to imagine the anguish, the pain, and the suffering that began in
those four brief minutes of time. People's worlds were shaken and lives crushed. But let me show
you the loving heart of one father. In the midst of chaos and destruction, he rushed to his son's
school. But instead of a school, he found a shapeless heap of rubble. Imagine what went through
his mind. What would have gone through your mind? Perhaps, shock would have crippled you as
it did to the other parents who were walking around dazed, clutching at their hearts and calling
out their children’s name. But in the case of this father, the sight of rubble and ruin only made
him spring into action. He ran to the back corner of the building where his son's class room used
to be and began to dig. Why? What real hope did he have? What were the chances that his son
could have survived such destruction? All he knew was that he had made a promise to his son.
He had always told Armon his son that he would come for him if he was ever in trouble. It was
this promise that gave strength to his body and motivated him mentally.

As he began to dig, some parents tried to pull him out of the rubble saying: "It's too late!"
"They're dead!" "You can't help!" "Go home!" "There's nothing you can do!" The fire chief tried
to pull him off the rubble by saying, "Fires and explosions are happening everywhere. You're in
danger. Go home!" Finally, the police came and said, "You're angry, distraught, but it's over. Go
home." But this father had made a promise, and he was going to keep it! The love this father had
in his heart for his son kept him digging for eight . . . 12 . . . 24 . . . 36 hours. Then, in the 38th
hour, he pulled back a boulder and heard his sons' voice crying for help. Immediately, he
screamed, "ARMON!" Back came the words, "Dad!? I told them! I told them you would come
because you had promised. I told them, that you would always be there for me. I knew you
would return. You promised me, and you did it, dad! Just as Armon's father promised his son he
would always come for him, even more certain is Jesus' promise to his followers. Jesus Christ
has made a promise for you and me, that He is coming again to take us home.

1|Page
Comfort in Trouble

My dear friends, I just want to take you back to John 13. Jesus is in the upper room. Jesus had
just finished the last supper with His disciples, after He had washed their feet, eaten the bread,
drank the wine and explained to them what it meant. (John 13:1) He told His disciples about His
betrayal by one of the 12, as Judas has shipped out into the night (John:21-30). He went on and
told His disciples that He will only be with them a little longer, but where He was going, they
cannot come yet (13:33). Jesus was talking about His crucifixion, death, resurrection and His
accension to heaven. He also foretold Peter’s denial (John 13:36-38). Can you imagine at this
time, what must have gone through the minds of the disciples? They were troubled, they were
shocked in disbelief…their beloved brother whom they have walked with for more than 3 and a
half years! How is this possible? They were troubled, because their beloved Teacher announced,
that He will be leaving them. They have never expected Jesus to ever leave them and now they
must face trouble on their own. They had built their lives around Him, see Him heal the sick,
how He fed the 5000 people, how He made the blind to see, and how He has raised the dead.
They felt safe in the presence of Jesus, because they could ask Him anything, and He would take
care of it. For example, during the storm on the Sea of Galilee, they cried out, “Jesus, we perish!
Don’t you care?” and He commanded the wind and the waves to be still and everything calmed
down. My dear friends, can you imagine how the disciples must have felt, how deeply disturbed
and perplexed they must have been? Jesus himself was troubled as the hour of His death was
coming closer.

He knew that soon He would be arrested, maltreated, spat upon, and be crucified. My dear
friends, don’t you think that in that moment the disciples were supposed to comfort Jesus in His
time of trouble? But out of love instead, we read in John 14 that Jesus starts comforting His
disciples, “Let not your hearts be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me.” Geliefdes,
ware verlossing uit 'n bekommerde hart kan slegs kom deur geloof en geloof in Jesus Christus.
Om in Jesus te glo, sal u verlos van allerhande probleme, want Hy is die enigste weg. Hou aan
om in Jesus Christus te glo terwyl jy in die middel van swaarkry is, want dit sal u deurdra. Ons
moet onthou dat die bron van alle probleme in hierdie wêreld sonde is. So, Jesus was saying,
“Yes, I know you are troubled and I know the reason for your trouble, but I am going to take care
of everything. My brother and my sister, it is as Jesus is saying to us, “don’t worry my child,

2|Page
everything will be okay, just believe and trust in Me, even if you have failed me so many times, I
would still receive you unto Me, just keep on believing. My dear friends, Jesus wants us to have
peace in Him. To assure us of an untroubled heart, He offers us His own peace. In verse 27, He
says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. When bad times or situations come our
way, we are to be anxious for nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication, and with
thanks giving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses
all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Jesus Christ (Philippians 4:6-7). So, the
solution to troubled hearts is not self-trust, but to trust in God the Father and in Jesus Christ his
Son.

I go and prepare a place for you

When Jesus says He’s going to prepare a place for us. It means that through His going, the place
will be prepared. Where is He going? Firstly, Christ is going to the cross, He is going to die, He
is going to the grave, He is going to arise and then Jesus is going to ascend to heaven where He
is sitting at the right hand of His Father interceding for you and me. Beloved through His death
and resurrection, He opens the way for us to enter the glory of the Father’s house.

Jesus sê vir Sy dissipels; "in die huis van my Vader is daar baie wonings." Hier verwys Jesus na
die hemel. Dink net hoeveel hoop dit vir die dissipels moes gegee het. Daardie belofte het hulle
nuwe perspektief gegee, omdat hulle besef het dat Christus hemel toe gaan, en dit vir hulle voor
te berei. En dit is 'n belofte vir ons almal hier vanoggend. Jesus sê verder dat daar in die huis van
my Vader baie wonings is. In Revelation 7:9 John gives us a hint: “After this I looked and there
before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and
language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” A great multitude no one can
number! But there is room enough for everyone, all of God’s chosen people, where we will enjoy
sweet fellowship with God. John continues to give us the glimpse of the beautiful city that God is
preparing for us. That’s why he could sing, “when we all get to heaven!” (Singing)

Revelation 21:12-13 “It had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at
the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the
children of Israel. There were three gates on the east, and three gates on the north and
three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.” Who were the names of the tribes of

3|Page
Israel? We think of Reuben, Simeon, Levi. We all know the sinful deeds and acts that they have
committed. But why are their names on the gates? To testify to you and me, that any man or
woman that accepts the grace of Jesus Christ can walk through those gates. They were sinners
redeemed by Grace. Revelation 12:14 says “And the wall of the city had twelve foundation
stones, and on them were the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” Who was the twelve apostles?
James and John, the sons of thunder. Peter who denied Him, Thomas who doubted Him. These
names indicate that they were sinners saved by grace. These followers of Christ were people with
their faults, but their names are on the foundations of the Holy City. Why? Why were their
names on the foundation of that Holy City? Because God is saying to us, if they can make it, so
can we. You can enter in through the gates into that Holy City. Heaven’s goal is to get as many
people in as possible. When I look at myself, I see no possibility to being saved, but when I look
at Jesus, I see no possibility to be lost. Jesus will get you in! If u surrendered your life to Him,
He has never lost a case. God is saying, “whoever you are you can make it through one of those
gates.” Whatever you’ve done, His grace can forgive you.

The bible says in Revelation 21:16 “And He measured the city with the reed: twelve
thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal.” A city of 12,000 furlongs
would be 25000 Km on each side. Just imagine the space! We had one mathematician estimate
how big that would be. He estimated, that the New Jerusalem could house two billion people just
on the ground floor. If we use magnificent, multi-story building the possibilities are endless.
There is room for you! X2 The Bible states in Revelation 21:21 “The twelve gates were twelve
pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like
transparent glass.” Every gate is a pearl, Jesus Christ the great Prince swings open those gates
for you. We can be there! The city is so valuable, because You are so valuable. God wants you to
be with Him in that Heavenly Home. God is looking for you. He’ll be disappointed, if we’re not
there. There’s a place in His heart only for you. I don't want to disappoint Jesus. I don't want
Jesus looking for me, I don’t want to miss Heaven. It's one thing to miss the bus, it's another
thing to miss the train, it's another thing to miss your ride, but it's another thing to miss Heaven.
We don’t want to miss Heaven. Whatever it takes, surrender your life to Him, and say Jesus I
want to be there with you one day, and live with you forever!

4|Page
1 Corinthians 2:9, But just as it is written: “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not
heard, And which have not entered the human heart, All that God has prepared for those who
love Him.”
Your eyes have never beheld something so spectacular. The things which God had prepare for
those that love Him. You've never seen something so amazing. Eye has not seen something more
beautiful than any magnificent sunset. More magnificent, more glorious, more beautiful than the
most magnificent flowered garden. Gods’ holy city is more beautiful than anything we can
conceive or imagine. Heaven is beyond our wildest dreams; Heaven is beyond our imagination.
The Bible in Hebrew 11:10 “For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and
maker is God.” There is a city that’s coming, whose builder and maker is God. My dear friends,
are we looking forward to that City? Down through the centuries men and women of faith have
looked forward with hope-filled hearts to their journey into eternity. There is one thing for
certain. THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME!

There’s one thing that burns within my soul. There are many things I do not know, but I know
for sure that there's a better land coming. I know for sure that this world it's not our home, when
children die of brain cancer too young! This world is not our home. Deep in my heart, my heart
cries out for something better. This world is not our home. When young people living on streets
shoot drugs into their veins, that destroys their mind and bodies with all types of drugs. This
world is not my home! There must be something better, when our youth are living fruitless and
meaningless lives and dying on the streets. God has something better; this world is not our
Home. This world is not our home, when husbands and wives must say goodbye, because their
husband or wife may have died of cancer. God has something much better than cancer, heart
disease and suffering. God has something better than divorce, heartache, sorrow, disappointment
and loneliness. Deep within your heart, I know you feel it. Deep within your heart I know sense
it. Deep within your heart, you know you were created for something better. You were made for
something better than loneliness, sorrow, sickness and death. You were made for something
better than aging and going into the grave as a sinner. God’s plan is so much better than this! I
know that this world is not our home.

I will Come Again

5|Page
Jesus says, “I will come again!” How many of you travel by taxi? Anybody travel by taxi here?
How many travels by buses? We all travel in different ways, don't we? Some by motorcycle,
some by Ubers, some by buses, and some of us travel by cars. Others travel by airplane to get to
their destination. I've got incredibly good news for you, you are going to take a remarkable space
journey where you do not need a motorcycle, you do not need a taxi, you do not need a jet
airplane with wings, and the price will even be affordable. One day, when Jesus comes, we will
take an incredible journey beyond the stars, we'll travel thousands of miles through space beyond
the moon. We will travel beyond the planets of Saturn, Pluto, Mars and Jupiter. Think of the
amazing views we're going to have as we travel through space. We'll travel with Jesus and the
angels. Travelling through that empty space in Orion, travelling to the throne of God and the
doors of heaven. The Golden Gates of Glory will be opened, and the angels will be singing as we
enter those Gates. We will be welcomed home forever! I am looking forward for that incredible
space journey, aren't you? Aren't you looking for that space journey, because Jesus said John 14
“I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also.”
Jesus didn't say perhaps I will return, Jesus didn't say hope for my return, Jesus didn't say it's
highly likely I'll return. Think about it, Jesus said I will come again 1500 places in the Bible.
Enoch the seventh from Adam said our Lord comes with ten thousand of his Saints. In Psalm
50:3 the Bible says” our Lord will come and not keep silence.” Remember throughout the New
Testament, promise after promise of the second coming of Christ, God's end-time plan is
revealed in His word. The first book of the Bible Genesis begins with a perfect world, and the
last book of the Bible Revelation ends with a perfect world. As we travel with God from star to
star, planet to planet, we travel with Him too vast civilizations without sin. We are Princes and
princesses; we sit on the throne with Jesus. Do not throw away your heritage! Do not throw away
your heritage! The world has nothing to offer! You are a prince; you are a princess. One day
you'll travel from galaxy to galaxy, you will share God's grace, you will share His love, you will
share is mercy, because we have a testimony to tell about the grace of God, and how He picked
us up from the gutter most and led us to the utter most. He has led us from the depths of despair
to the delights of discipleship, He led us from where we were, to where He is! Don't give into for
a few sinful pleasures of this world! You are a prince; you are a princess! You have royal blood
running through your veins! Jesus promises to come back and to take us where He is! That is
why we can sing when the roll is called up yonder (singing).

6|Page
O beloved, 1 Thessalonians 4:16 describes that the Lord will descend with a what? With a shout,
with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God. Christ coming will be an audible
event. It will not be a secret event. Christ came silently once as a baby and was born in
Bethlehem. Very few recognized His coming then, but His second coming will not be a silent
one, but with a shout and with the trumpet sound, with the voice of an archangel. That voice that
will pierce through the graves, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. The dead shall hear His
voice and awake from their sleep. Here the universe must know, every planet will know, because
there will be no secrecy about His second coming, cause every eye shall see and every ear shall
hear Him coming. O my liewe vriende, dink net aan daardie wonderlike dag wanneer ons, ons
geliefdes weer sal sien. U se ouers, u broers, u susters, en u kinders wat u deur die dood verloor
het. Vanoggend is Jesus hier om ons te bemoedig. Geliefdes, dood is nie die einde nie x2. Die
graf is nie 'n donker gat in die grond vir 'n lang nag sonder 'n oggend nie, daar is hoop vir
Eersterivier se kerk, daar is hoop vir die wêreld van Jesus kom weer. But that’s not all! 1
Thessalonians 4:17 says “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together
with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the
Lord.”
Caught up together with Christ, in our heavenly home! Where there will be no more sin, and war
will be over! One day chaos, calamity and confusion will be over. One day disaster and diseases
will be over. One day poverty, pollution and pestilent will be over. One day Jesus Christ will
come again and make an end to all suffering, sorrow and heartache. My dear friends, we must
prepare ourselves and get ready if we want to be with Jesus in that heavenly home. We cannot
expect to be in heaven if our sinful habits are still keeping us behind. Never become enthralled
with its fleeting pleasures! We are pilgrims and we’re strangers here. Jesus is coming again!
Testimonies for the church vol 5 p. 745 quotes “If we find no pleasure now in the contemplation
of heavenly things, if we have no interest in seeking the knowledge of God, no delight in
beholding the character of Christ, if holiness has no attraction for us, then we may be sure that
our hope of heaven is vain.
So how should we live while we wait on the coming Lord? Christians should be on guard,
watching and praying until the day of the Lord’s return. Luke 21:34-36 says “But be on your
guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and
the worries of life, and that [a]this day will not come on you suddenly, like a trap; 35
for it

7|Page
 36
will come upon all those who live on the face of all the earth. But stay alert at all times,
praying that you will have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place,
and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Conclusion
My dear friends, this world is not our home. As I close off with my sermon. A story is told of a
pastor who had a campaign one night in Rwanda. The pastor left the meeting and was about to
make his way to his car. It was very dark and there were many orphans running in the streets. As
he was about to get in the car. A young boy ran out of nowhere with many other orphans. The
boy grabbed the pastor by his legs, and said “mister I’m an orphan of the streets, I have no
daddy. Will you be my daddy?” The pastor knelt down on the ground, and he looked this boy in
the eyes, and many other orphans gathered around. He knew that whatever he did he could never
solve the problem that these kids had. And he hugged that boy, and he pointed up to the stars,
and he said “son there's a Daddy better than me. He's a loving heavenly father and never forget in
your life, that one day you will have a home beyond stars. This world young man it's not your
home, deep within your heart grasp it, reach out to it, there is a better world coming, there is a
better world coming. A world beyond our eyes could see. One day Jesus will come and takes us
home. You were made for something better; you were created for something better; you were
created by the living God. One day we will meet Jesus’ face to face. O my dear friends, it’s been
a bloody conflict, it's been a long conflict, but He's coming to take us home. And deep within our
hearts we long for home. Imprinted in our brains is the longing for home. His coming has been
delayed, but the promise is sure. When the fullness of time has come, God again will send forth
His Son to take his children home. And deep within my heart I want to be ready, don't you? I
don't want to miss the great homecoming. I want nothing in my life to be between me and the
savior. Think of what it's going to be that day, when we stream with Him in dazzling glory
through the sky. Back from this war-torn weary world to be welcomed to the greatest celebration
of the ages. The marriage supper of the Lamb. Do you want to go, and experience that heavenly
home with Jesus?

8|Page
Appeal - Our Eternal Destiny depends on the choices we are making today. Would you like to
see your loved ones again? Would you like to be reunited with those that have died? Would you
like to one day, receive a glorious Immortal body and ascend into heaven with Christ? If that is
your desire today, I want you to come forward. Today, is there anything in your heart that would
keep you from being ready for Jesus’ soon return? Don’t you just want to surrender that one sin
to Him today? You may be here in this congregation, but you know that if Christ came today,
you would not be ready for His coming. He speaks to your heart today. Our Eternal destiny is
based on our choices, if there's something in your heart and you want to say Jesus “I’m
surrendering that thing to You.” If you want to make a full surrender to Christ, today I want to
make an appeal. If there is some habit in your life, that would keep you from being ready for the
coming of Christ. If you just don't feel it in your heart that sense that you're ready, and you want
to make a full commitment to Christ today. I invite you to come forward. If there is somebody
who says, I need the assurance that I'll be ready for Jesus’ coming. I need the security. I want you
to come. There may those who knew Christ, but have drifted away, I invite you to come. Don’t
wait, make that decision today. If God is touching your heart today; If God is speaking to you
today. Make your decision today. Jesus promised that He will come again, and take us where He
is. My dear friends, what a loving Lord we serve. Jesus did not say I will send someone or the
angels. No, he said I will come personally. Does that mean anything to you, and is it your desire
to be ready to meet the Lord in the air soon and very soon. I want to offer special prayer to you.

9|Page