John 17:20 (KJV)

20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

1. Heaven is guaranteed place . . ."I will that they whom thou hast give me be with me."
   We recently celebrated Christmas with family and friends. There is great joy when all of one's family arrives safely home for the holidays. There is coming a day when all of Christ's family will arrive home in heaven safe and secure to spend eternity reigning with Christ.
   1. The Father chooses . . . Under no obligation to save lost sinners, the Sovereign God of the universe chose to love you and He gave you to Christ to redeem.
      "I believe the doctrine of election, because I am quite sure that if God had not chosen me I would have never chosen him; and I am sure he chose me before I was born, or else he never would have chosen me afterward" C.H. Spurgeon.
      The marvel of marvels is not that God, in his infinite love, has not elected all of this guilty race to be saved, but that he has elected any" Benjamin B. Warfield.
   2. The Son redeems . . . Under no compulsion from the Father, but voluntarily, the Son came to pay the price of redemption for those whom the Father gave him -- His blood.
      "Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins" (Hebrews 9:22; Eph. 1:7).
      John 6:35-40 tells us that Christ not only came to do His Father's will, He will do it.
   3. The Spirit converts . . . In the fullness of time, the Spirit of God regenerates the hearts of all those whom the Father has chosen and all those for whom the Son has died.
      "Except a man be born of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
      How do I know the Father has chosen me, the Son has died for me, the Spirit has converted me?
   4. The sinner believes . . . "I pray for them which shall believe on me" (John 17:20).
2. Heaven is a glorious place . . . "that they may behold my glory, which thou has given me"
   1. We will behold Him clearly . . . the hideousness of sin, the beauty of Christ, the glory of redemption, the awful price of salvation, the brilliant holiness and justness of God.
   2. We will reign with Him jointly . . ."We are heirs of God, joint-heirs of Christ: if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together" Romans 8:17.
      The best illustration is that of a conqueror --- His bride rejoices and reigns alongside.
   3. We will enjoy Him eternally . . ."One breath of paradise will extinguish all the adverse winds of earth" A.W. Pink. We shall not rest from activity, but there will be no labor.
3. Heaven is a gracious place . . . "for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."
   Can you imagine the love of the Father for His eternal Son? Can you fathom eternal love?
   Heaven will be a time when you will discover the eternal love of God for you, His child.
   You will see that when you were running, God ran after you. When you were desperate, God brought you hope. When you were lost, God found you. He loved you eternally.
   *Never forget this one thing: Your performance, your religion, your faith, your commitment, your striving to please God, never caused God to love you!! He loved you from eternity!