Dear Brethren,

What is real and what is make believe?  Those things that we see about us in the physical realm can seem to be very real.  However, the Bible reveals that the things of heaven are in fact real, actual and authentic, but because they are unseen, most people relegate them to the mysterious and mystifying realm.  The world believes only in what it can see, but we know that eye has not seen neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him (1Corinthians 2:9).  God tells His people where they must place their focus.

Colossians 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

There is a new technological trend that is sweeping the digital world, and it is the realm of Virtual Reality.  Literally billions of dollars have been spent on this trend in the last few years – and it is growing wildly.  For some it is entertainment and games, while for others it is a new way to escape reality.  The developers of virtual reality wish to sell it as a means of education and exotic travel experiences – while staying right at home.  But what is to keep this latest craze from exploding into the unknown?  What are the unintended consequences of a powerful new way of creating fantasy and make-believe?  There is a big danger lurking on the horizon that is brought about by the unscrupulous and the greedy.  The one thing virtual reality is about is immersing a person in an entirely fictitious world void of reality.

Virtual reality takes its name from the fact that what a person sees does not physically exist as such, but is made by software to appear to do so.  The developers’ goal is to perfect the technology so that virtual reality and reality are – essentially the same.  Anyone will be able to go anywhere and do anything; go where no man has gone before; fly a space ship; dive to the deepest parts of the ocean; go deep inside a surgical operation; navigate the inside of a bee hive; you name it—all in the comfort of their living room.

Genesis 11:6  The Lord said, …and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

God divided and brought Babel to a halt because it was a Godless society.  Virtual reality has its roots in a Godless society – and who knows where the irresponsible entrepreneurs will take it?  As Christians, our primary defense is to know and stay close to Reality – the Reality that is in heaven.  For those of us in God’s Church it is incumbent that we stay close to the trunk of the tree.  Jesus said, “Pray, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  That is because God’s will is done in heaven.  It behooves us to know what is in heaven and what the will of God is.  Jesus said:

John 3:12  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

The purpose of today’s sermon is to see in the Scriptures that the spiritual things in heaven are the real reality – way more so than the physical things of this earth – which everyone considers being REAL.  The eternal spiritual sanctuary in heaven is REAL.  The spiritual things of God are eternally real, and physical things of our world are temporary.

Psalm 11:4  The Lord is in His Holy Temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven.

Solomon’s magnificent Temple in Jerusalem, dripping with gold, was a mere replica of the heavenly Temple.  The real eternal spiritual Temple is in heaven and God showed it to Moses and later to David in writing.  God gave them explicit instructions to follow every detail of the heavenly pattern or blueprint when building the earthly tabernacle and temple at Jerusalem.  God said to Moses:

Exodus 25:8-9  Let them make me a sanctuary [Heb. ‘kodesh’ – holy place – and it is holy because of God’s presence]; that I may dwell among them.  According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exodus 26:30  You shall raise up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount [Sinai].

It was God’s intention that not only the earthly tabernacle and Temple at Jerusalem be constructed according to every minute detail, but that all the instruments and accoutrements also be of a perfect heavenly design.  Every element of every object of temple service pointed to the reality of the heavenly.

2Chronicles 8:16  Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the House of the Lord, and until it was finished. So the House [the Temple] of the Lord was perfected.

Brethren, this world is careening uncontrollably off course in every segment of society.  In the difficult days ahead we must look to heaven – where God’s throne is – for direction, instruction and the will of God.

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Sermon:

"Patterns in Heaven"