Picasso (famous painter and worldly man) made paintings that were fractured and unusual looking, to say the least. And the so-called painting experts have tried to interpret them to mean something. But Picasso gave his painting philosophy and said, “The world doesn’t make any sense, so why should I make paintings that make any sense.”

Today, there are the so-called wise and elite who don’t believe in God or heaven, and say that the world doesn’t make any sense. And they say there is nothing to look forward to, and so they say let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

1 Cor 15:32

32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

But, the Bible says that there is every reason to hope for a better life beyond this earthly life, an eternal life in heaven with God and Jesus and the saints and angels.

It is a prepared place, an eternal dwelling in heaven – and this has been the earnest desire and goal of all the faithful of all time.

Heb 11:8-10 (In Abraham’s day, he looked for a city with foundations, built by God)

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Heb 11:13-16 (those in the O.T. who died in faith sought a better country, with a city prepared by God)

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

And today we too can have the fulfillment of that earnest desire of all saints of all time – an eternal home in the heavens – a house not made with hands

2 Cor 5:1

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

And Jesus talked about a heavenly dwelling -- mansions in heaven in the Father’s house, the dwelling place of God

John 14:1-3

14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 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. 3 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.

Regarding our home here on earth, we have houses made with human hands, but we really have no certain dwelling place.

Many things can destroy a home – in 1955 in Pekin, fire destroyed the old home place farm house in Pekin; in 1998 in Selma, hurricane George hit the gulf coast, and wind and water damaged our house; and then in 2012 in Pekin, an F5 tornado with baseball sized hail damaged our home and car; and then in 2018 in Salem, a car out of control rammed and damaged our old house/rental property.

Today, homes are sometimes threatened with foreclosure due to unpaid mortgages and back taxes.

And it is possible that the right of imminent domain (to satisfy the public need) may take our home to make way for highways, schools, airports, lakes, shopping centers, etc.

No home on earth is really secure -- Writer of Hebrews sums it up this way.

Heb 13:14

14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Our mansion (an abiding, dwelling, abode, Thayer) to come is in God’s house, his dwelling place is in heaven

Deut 26:15f

15 Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel….

Ps 23:6

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

John 14:2

2 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 he has promised us that this home will be permanent – eternal

2 Cor 5:1-2

5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

There will be no calamities to damage to our home and possessions in heaven – no fires, wind, floods, landslides, termites, thieves

Matt 6:19-21

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

And Jesus won’t foreclose on us -- Price for the mansion in heaven has already been paid by Jesus – not with silver and gold, but with his own blood that our sins might be forgiven

1 Peter 1:18-19

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

Won’t lose power -- and have the lights go out

Rev 21:23

23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

Here we may have to lock our homes (thieves & murderers) -- but there the gates are always open

Rev 21:25

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

In heaven no one is going to uproot us, lay claim to our home by right of imminent domain -- God won’t say, “You’ll have to move out of heaven -- I need your spot” – it is an eternal home (and he has promised)

2 Cor 5:1

5 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Our home in heaven is a place of sweet rest and peace and tranquility

Here we become weary with the labors and duties and cares of this life – with work, finances, raising a family, keeping the cars going, keeping the house in repair, dealing with heartache and sickness and death, trials and tribulations.

Job 14:1-2 (Job)

14 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

But in heaven there is sweet rest and peace and happiness and joy

Rev 14:13

13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Rev 21:3-4

3 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. 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.

And we will not desire anything more than our home in heaven – all our needs will be met – peace and tranquility and eternal life in the presence of God and of Jesus our redeemer and the saved (I want to be with Jeanine).

Rev 22:1-5

22 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: 4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. 5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

And Jesus tells us how to get to heaven. He gave us the road map.

John 14:4-6

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Rev 22:12-15

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The city of God will have 12 gates (named after the 12 tribes of Israel, Rev 21:10-12), and my sister Marjorie Ann told the family to meet at the Judah gate.

Jesus is coming again to receive us unto him – and all the dead will be raised – the wicked will receive eternal punishment -- and the righteous will be taken to our eternal home.

So, let us come to Jesus and take the water of life freely – and look forward to that mansion in heaven.

Rev 22:16-17

16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.