Text: Rev. 22:1-5
Title:  “The Place Prepared For You”
Subj:  Funeral

What must it be to step on shore and find it -- Heaven!

To take hold of a hand, and find it -- God's hand!

To breathe a new air and find it -- Celestial air!

To feel a newness of life and find it -- Eternal life

To arise from the cares and turmoil of this earth into one unbroken calm;

To wake up and find it -- Glory!

The funeral of a born-again believer in Jesus Christ is always a bittersweet time.  It is sweet, for when a person has placed his/her faith and trust in Jesus Christ, as ___________ did, we know that at the very moment of death, in the tinkling of an eye, that he/she stepped from this sin cursed earth into the very glory and presence of Jesus Christ.  But while it is sweet--it is bitter, because a loved one has finished his/her course upon this earth, and has gone to his/her long home in heaven, leaving loved ones behind.   Yes, there really is a place called Heaven, and perhaps it is during the loss of a loved one that we give heaven the most thought.

Let's spend a few minutes considering, "The Place Prepared For You."

Rev.  22:1-5 -- prayer

I. THE PERFECT PLACE (v1-2)

The Bible reveals that the final resting place of those who trust Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour is actually a walled city some 1400 miles wide, deep, and high. 
The city itself is made of pure gold.  If set upon the United States, this city would cover from Canada to Florida, and from the Atlantic ocean to Colorado, and then 1400 miles straight up.  The walls are 244 feet thick and constructed of crystal-clear Jasper.  In each wall are 3 gates of pearl, guarded by an angel. 
From each gate runs a street of pure, transparent gold, which takes you to the center of the city and the throne of God, which is the central focus of Heaven.  Leading away from the throne of God are innumerable hallways with rooms on either side, just as Jesus said, "In My Father's house are many mansions" (rooms down the hall from the Father).

II. PERFECT ACCESS (v1)
     A. To the Throne of God  (from which He rules in the affairs of men)
       1. This is not a world of chance and circumstance with God

     B. To the Throne of the Lamb (v1)
       1. Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. 

Note: He is called the Lamb of God because God determined that innocent animals would be sacrificed for the sins of mankind until the coming of Jesus Christ.  When Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary, He died as an innocent for the sins of the guilty.  He paid in full the penalty you owed God because of your continual breaking of God's laws, and rejection of God's rule over your life.
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit"  1 Peter 3:18

In Heaven, _____________ has perfect access to the Lord Jesus Christ, and, on earth as long as God gives you breath, you have perfect access to the Cross of Christ.  At any time, even today, when you are finally tired of your sins and the devastating effect sin is having on your life and those that surround you, you can call out to God in repentance and faith, trusting in the shed blood and death of Jesus Christ on your behalf, and believing His promise, "That whosoever will call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved." 

III. PERFECT PROVISION (v2)
      A. Every need of the human heart is met in Heaven.
           1.  There is fellowship on the street (____________ will never be lonely)
           2. There is the water of life in the river  (____________ will never be thirsty
           3. There is the food of life on the trees (____________ will never be hungry
           4. There is the health of life  in the leaves (___________ will never be sick

IV. PERFECT PEACE (v3)
       A. Where Christ is on the Throne, there is peace
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me...".
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid "  John 14:27

            1. No more curse <:f><:f220,2Times New Roman,0,0,0>(negative), which distorted everything

Note: God cursed this earth and all that is on it when man disobeyed Him in the Garden of Eden.  Since that time, every man/woman has been born under the effects of the curse, and the resulting 
sickness, trouble, heartbreak, and death.

            2. We shall serve Him with eternal service (positive), which restores everything

V.  PERFECT VISION & LIKENESS (v4)
      A. See His Face (we will see Him for all He is, and for all He has done for us)
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  1 Cor. 13:12

     B. Carry His Name
          1. We will be fully identified with Christ
          2. We will be fully under the authority of Christ
          3. We will be marked for servanthood for Christ

VI. PERFECT DAY (v5)
      A. No Night  (nothing of darkness), but God's Light (we know the effect of night when we are sick, worried, and afraid)

      B. No Ending, But Eternal Reigning

Concl:  _____________ is gone to be in the presence of his/her Saviour forever.  But you are still here in the presence of your sin.  There was a time and a place when ____________ realized that he/she was a sinner, lost and undone, and on his/her way to Hell.  But he/she trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, and was changed from eternal death to eternal life.  Tonight he/she is more alive than he/she has ever been--alive in heaven! 

And you need to be changed too, this very day, this very hour.  Let's have every head bowed and every eye closed.

Give plan of salvation