Chapter 4 Discussion

Joab Black’s son was killed by wild dogs, and Joab went to bring his wife, Sarah, to town. In this chapter, Sarah Black sees her son and insists they bring him home. She is devastated and struggles to believe what she has been told and what she sees.

Sarah doesn't see any hope right now. She only feels pain and shock and anguish.

Disaster can strike at any time, and we need to be prepared. In chapter two, when we first meet Sarah, her thoughts are on her beautiful home and how God had blessed them. She wasn't prepared for the news Joab would bring her.

In our Route 66 Bible reading we are in Psalms. I've noticed that many of the Psalms open with the psalmist revealing the sorrow and hurt in his life, but close with him determining to praise God. We should praise God always.

We can be better prepared for tragedy if we discipline ourselves to daily praise the Lord and set our hearts on the hope of eternal life we receive when we believe in Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for the redemption of our souls from sin.

Our hope lies in our eternity in Heaven.

Let’s focus on that hope we have. What do you look forward to in Heaven?

• Spending time with Jesus

• Worshiping God with the angels

• Not suffering anymore

• Getting rid of this ugly old body

• Not struggling against my flesh anymore

• Seeing people who have gone before me

And so much more.

Read John 14:1-3.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

What will be waiting for us in Heaven? A place just for you and a place just for me.

Read Revelations 21:1-3.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Who will we be with? We will be with God.

How do you feel about that? Excited and maybe a little fearful/awed.

Read Revelations 21:4-5.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

What will you not find in heaven? Death, sorrow, crying, pain, the former things.

What does God say He will do?

• Wipe away our tears,

• Make all things new.

What does that mean with respect to our sorrows we experience here on earth? They will no longer affect us, because they will have passed away.

Read Revelations 21:6-8.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Who will be in heaven?

He that overcometh. That refers to those who are saved. We find the definition of this in Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death.”

Who will not be in heaven?

Sinners, those who are not saved—who are unbelieving. We have all lied. We’ve all been fearful and idolaters in some way. The difference between the two groups is that those who overcome go to heaven, and we see in Revelation 12:11 that it is through Christ that we overcome.

Read Revelations 20:10.

And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

What happens to Satan?

He is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone.

After that, will he ever be able to torment another again? No. Will anyone ever have a Job experience again? No.

Remember Revelations 21:4.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

We have a hope that we must cling to—a hope that will help us endure to the end. And that hope is eternal life in the new heaven and new earth.

EXTRA:

Spend some time looking at the description of heaven in Revelations 21:9-22:5 and let it bring you great joy.