The sermon emphasizes the importance of focusing on the eternal kingdom of heaven and its joy and glory to drown out earthly suffering.
In this sermon, Basilia Schling discusses the concept of heaven as a real and eternal kingdom built by God. She emphasizes that despite the troubles and suffering in our current world, there is another world, the City of Peace, named Jerusalem, where peace reigns instead of hatred and violence. The sermon encourages listeners to sing about heaven and focus on the joy and glory it brings, as it can help alleviate earthly suffering. Basilia shares her personal experience of finding solace in writing verses about heaven during a time of grief, and highlights the promise of Revelation 21-2 that the New Jerusalem will descend upon the New Earth, with Jesus himself bringing peace.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today, and his greatest love is for us, his sinful children. We see this love especially in the fact that he has built us an eternal kingdom, the kingdom of heaven that Jesus spoke so much about. If you long for such a paradise, and yet feel very far away from it, in the midst of troubles and suffering, listen to today's meditation by Basilia Schlink called, Sing About Heaven.
Whoever understands, even in a small way, what kind of times we are living in, can scarcely comprehend that there could be another world. Our own world is drowning in criminality, violence, sickness, death, and sin. However, there is another world, and it is just as real as the one we are living in now.
In this other world, peace reigns, instead of hatred, wars, murder, and horror. God has named it Jerusalem, the city of peace. According to the promise of Revelation 21-2, this city will descend upon the new earth.
Jesus himself will be the peace that reigns within her walls. And where Jesus is, everything must be beautiful and heavenly. There we will hear the sounds of angels singing.
Wonderful music will fill the air. Several years ago, our sisterhood was touched by a deep grief. However, it was just at that time that Mother Basilia thought, Now heaven must come down.
Surely heaven is stronger than all the grief and suffering. And so she went to her room and began to write down verses about heaven. And what happened? This song has become the longest of all our songs.
It didn't seem to want to end. Here are a few verses of this song. Where trees of life are growing, In shafts their dream fulfilling, Oh, that we were there, Oh, that we were there.
Where sickness no more filling, For heaven's footprints healing, Oh, that we were there, Oh, that we were there. This song tries to express the joy and glory of heaven. This joy is so great that it can drown out all suffering.
That is why the message of this song seems so important now, especially for our times. When we sing a great deal about heaven, our earthly suffering will disappear. Then we will be living in the one great reality, heaven.
Heaven is our eternal home and earth our home for only a few decades. At most, no more decades than the fingers on both hands. We must realistically face this truth and look at it again, ever anew.
And then we should sing, Oh, that we were there, And continue, soon we shall be there. Then we will already feel a bit happier, no matter how depressed we may have been. Soon, yes, soon we will be there where Jesus' arms are open to embrace us.
There, in the new Jerusalem, He is radiating like the sun. And the words of Revelation 22 will be fulfilled. For we shall see His face and be satisfied.
This program by Basilia Schlenk has come to you from the little land of Canaan. If you would like a free leaflet by the same author, please write to God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099. That's God Lives and Works Today, 9849 North 40th Street, Phoenix, Arizona, 85028-4099.
God bless you.
Sermon Outline
- God's Eternal Kingdom
- God has built an eternal kingdom, the kingdom of heaven
- This kingdom is a paradise where peace reigns
Key Quotes
“Where trees of life are growing, In shafts their dream fulfilling, Oh, that we were there, Oh, that we were there.” — Basilea Schlink
“For heaven's footprints healing, Oh, that we were there, Oh, that we were there.” — Basilea Schlink
“Soon we shall be there. Then we will already feel a bit happier, no matter how depressed we may have been.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- We should sing about heaven to experience its joy and glory and drown out earthly suffering.
- Heaven is our eternal home, and earth is only a temporary home.
- We should face the reality of our mortality and look forward to heaven with hope and joy.
