This And That
Have you ever used the expression this and that? Generally, we use this expression when we aren’t talking about something in particular. For example, someone asks you what you are doing and you might reply, “I’m doing this and that” or you might say “a little of this and a little of that.” Most of us are probably familiar with this expression. But have you ever heard of “that world”? What if I told you Jesus said “that world”?
That’s right, in Luke 20:27-40 the Bible says: Then came to him (Jesus) certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
Accounted Worthy To Obtain That World
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said. And after that they dared not ask him any question at all.
I read all of these verses so you could get the context of what’s going on. But did you catch verse 35? Jesus said: But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage. The Lord said that world. This jumped out at me when I read these words. That world. Not this and that, but clearly if Jesus is talking about that world, He’s not talking about this world.
Talk about this World And That World
So it is reasonable to talk about this world and that world. This world and the next one. Obviously, Jesus is talking about Heaven when He mentions that world and He talks about those who are worthy to obtain that world. So the obvious question should be, are you worthy to obtain that world? Are you worthy to go to Heaven? If you say yes you are, then more likely than not, you are not worthy.
In other words, if you think you deserve to go Heaven, you don’t. None of us deserve eternal life. Instead, we all deserve eternal damnation. In this world, in this life, we have all rebelled against God. Each and every one of us have gone our own way. There is not a righteous person on this earth. We have all sinned against God. Since, God’s standard is perfection and none of us meet that standard, then none of us are worthy.
Since we are not worthy, all we can do is plead our case, cry out for mercy to the one who is worthy. Who is worthy? The spotless Lamb of God is worthy. Worthy is the Lamb. Jesus is worthy. The Lord, God in the flesh, Immanuel, walked this earth 2,000 years ago and Jesus did what none of us could do. He lived a perfect, sinless life. Jesus never sinned, not one time. He never lied, stole anything, lusted, coveted or was angry without cause. Jesus always did the will of God the Father.
Jesus Suffered Bled And Died
Yet He was bruised for our iniquities. By His stripes we are healed. Jesus was beaten beyond recognition. God poured His righteous anger over sin out upon His own precious Son. God hates sin and cannot tolerate sin, so sin must be punished. Jesus drank the cup of the wrath of God so that repentant sinners could be counted as worthy.
Jesus suffered, bled and died on that cruel cross. Then He rose from the grave three days later. Jesus defeated sin, death, Hell and Satan. God offers eternal life to all who repent from their sins and put their trust in Jesus. When you do this, Jesus takes your sins as He hung on the cross and God now sees you as righteous, through the righteousness of Jesus. It is the great exchange.
Oh, when a person truly repents and surrenders their life to Jesus, they are counted as worthy to obtain the next world. What are you counting on to save you from the wrath of God? It’s appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). We are all going to die someday. What will you do with your sins on Judgement Day?
If you think that you are worthy on your own, for any goodness in you, then you are sadly mistaken. There is none righteous, no not one. You cannot work your way to Heaven. You cannot earn God’s favor and the great Creator God cannot be bribed. He is a good God and because He is good, He is also just. Because He is just, He must and does punish sin.
Only Those Who Are Worthy
Only those who are worthy obtain to the next world and none of us are worthy on our own. Oh, recognize that you are a sinner. Confess and forsake your sins. Cry out for God to save you. Repent and put your faith in Jesus Christ the Lord. Oh, when you do this, your life will never be the same. You become a new creature in Christ. The old passes away, all things become new.
You are no longer primarily focused on this world. No your priorities change. You become more focused on the next world, on that world, on Heaven. Does that mean you just quit your job and do nothing? Of course not. God told Adam that he had to work the land. God expects us to work. We are still in this world, we still live and work here, but our primary focus is on Jesus when we truly repent and submit our lives to the Lord.
You are not so much worried about this and that. No, you primarily become focused on that, that world, the next world. When you are truly saved, you have a burden for lost souls. You don’t want people to die in their sins and go to Hell and that is where all unrepentant sinners are headed. This burdens you when you are saved. You want your family, friends, co-workers and strangers alike to become followers of Jesus. You want to tell them of the Lord Jesus and the great salvation, the only salvation that is found in Christ alone.
What Are You Focused On?
Are you going through life mainly focused on this? On this life? Are you focused on yourself or on Jesus? Who or what has your heart? Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. What do you treasure? Are you focused on what you can get out of this life? Who or what are you serving? You can’t serve two masters. Are you spending your time, talent and treasure on this life, on this world?
Or are you focused on that world, on Heaven? If Jesus is not your Lord and Savior, today is the day to get right with God. Now is the time of salvation. Repent and surrender your life to Jesus. Call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.
In order to go to that world, to Heaven, you must repent and believe the Gospel in this world. Today is the day of salvation. Now is the time to get right with God. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10). For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Oh do this tonight. Repent from your sins and believe in the Gospel. Call upon the precious name of Jesus to be saved. He has the name above all names. Bow your knee, confess with your tongue that Jesus Christ is lord.
Jesus Is Coming Back Again
Jesus said that He goes to prepare a place for us (for those who are born-again, for those who are truly His followers). He also said that if he goes, he will come again. Jesus is coming back. Oh, but don’t miss that He is preparing a place for His own. Heaven is a wonderful place. The streets are made of gold. God wipes away all tears.
Jesus provides for the saints in Heaven. Revelation 22:1-5 states: And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 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. 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: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Only One Way To That World
Oh, I want to see you in Heaven, but you can only get there one way – through Jesus Christ alone. There are a million ways to Hell, but only one way to Heaven. The Bible says we are to have repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). Truly repent from your sins and surrender your life utterly and completely to Jesus Christ the Lord. Do this today and be saved. Come to Jesus in this world in order to spend eternity with Him in that world, in Heaven.
(This message was lifted up in downtown Springfield, Mo on September 13, 2019)