The Home of the Soul

“Let not your heart be troubled…” (John 14:1)

This world, though created by God for our comfort, has been made a mess by man. Just turn on the news. Tension between nations, senseless violence, the murder of the unborn, the promotion of immorality, rampant human trafficking, drug and alcohol abuse—evil is not just present, it's celebrated. And sometimes you might wonder, is this the life God meant for us? Is this the joy He promised?

The answer is yes—He offers a life of joy, but not through this world. This present world is not our home. Our hope, our comfort, and our peace lie in what Jesus calls the "home of the soul"—heaven.

Even the apostles needed that reminder. In John 14, Jesus had just told them that His time was short. He knew He was about to be betrayed, arrested, falsely tried, and crucified. Yet what did He say to them in that hour? “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions… I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1–3).

He wasn’t just comforting them with empty words. He was promising something real—something eternal. A place where sorrow and death will not follow. A place He Himself was preparing.

Years later, Christians were still suffering. The apostle John, exiled on the isle of Patmos, wrote to the persecuted churches of Asia. In Revelation 1:3–5, John wrote that a blessing awaited those who would read, hear, and obey the words of that prophecy. The message was this: Jesus is still on the throne. He is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. The Roman emperors might think they ruled the world, but they didn’t. God did—and still does.

Revelation was written to encourage those who were losing everything because of their faith, and remind them that heaven is real. And not just real—it’s beautiful, it’s pure, and it’s waiting.

So where is this home? The Bible always points up. Heaven is not a renovated earth, as some falsely teach. 2 Peter 3:10 tells us this world will be burned up—it won’t be improved, it will be destroyed.

Hebrews 11:10 tells us that Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker is God. Verse 16 says that the faithful desire “a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” This world was never meant to be our permanent dwelling. Heaven is our home.

Paul confirmed it in 2 Corinthians 5:1, when he said, “we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Jesus ascended to that home in Acts 1, and sat down at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33). He is there now, awaiting the day He will bring His faithful people home.

But what is that home like? Since we’re finite beings, God paints us pictures. Revelation gives us many of those. In Revelation 21:14, we read that the walls of that city have twelve foundations, inscribed with the names of the twelve apostles. The city itself is pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations are adorned with every kind of precious stone. The gates are made of pearl. The street is transparent gold.

These are not just decorations—they are images to help us grasp the glory and splendor of heaven. But more important than what heaven looks like is what will not be there.

Revelation 21:27 says, “there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie.” Heaven is holy. It is pure. There is no sin there. No evil of any kind.

That’s hard to imagine, isn’t it? Because in this world, the moment we walk outside our doors, temptation greets us. Satan doesn’t rest. He wants hell to be full. But in heaven, Satan is not there. Trials are over. Temptations are gone. Struggles cease.

That’s why Revelation calls heaven a place of eternal rest. No deadlines. No heartbreak. No aging. No arthritis, cancer, or dementia. No goodbyes. No partings. No sorrow. Revelation 21:5 says, “Behold, I make all things new.”

And why is everything new? Because access to the tree of life has been restored. In Revelation 2:7, Jesus says, “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” We lost that tree in Eden when sin entered the world. But in heaven, we regain it.

In Revelation 22:2, we see the tree of life bearing twelve kinds of fruit. Its leaves are for the healing of the nations. In heaven, all is healed. All is restored. All is right.

There will be no more tears. No more pain. No more funerals. And best of all, no more departures. Everyone who is there will remain there forever. Together.

There’s a story of a gospel preacher named Kenneth who preached in Mississippi for many years. He and his wife Sue had a tradition. Based on Revelation 21, which says there are twelve gates in heaven—three on each side—they would say to one another, “East side.” And the other would reply, “Middle gate.” It was their parting phrase. Whether it was bedtime or a trip to the grocery store, they never knew which farewell might be their last. They made a promise: whichever one got there first would wait at the middle gate on the east side. Since then, Kenneth has gone on. But the hope remains.

What about you? Will you be there?

That’s the most important question of all. Because heaven is prepared—but only for a prepared people.

God wants everyone to be there. 1 Timothy 2:3–4 tells us that God desires “all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” But not everyone will be there. Not because God excludes them—but because they exclude themselves.

Hebrews 5:9 says Jesus is “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” The condition is obedience. Not just belief. Not just claiming His name. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father.”

Most people won’t go to heaven. Jesus said that too. In Matthew 7:13–14, He described the narrow gate and the difficult path that leads to life—and said few would find it. But He also said He was going to prepare a place for us—and He is coming again to take us home.

The world may be a mess. But the Christian doesn’t despair. We have peace. We have joy. We have hope—not because of the world we live in, but because of the one we’re going to.

And while we wait, there’s work to do. We must prepare ourselves. We must teach others. We must study, pray, and serve. Because the day is coming when the gates of that holy city will open—and only those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enter in.

If you are not a Christian, why not begin preparing today? Just as Peter said in Acts 2:38, you must believe in Jesus, repent of your sins, and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins. That is how we begin our walk toward heaven.

Heaven is real. The home of the soul is waiting. And Jesus is standing at the gate. Will you be there?

Sermon Outline: The Home of the Soul

Text: John 14:1–3
Theme: Our hope is not in this broken world, but in the eternal home Jesus is preparing for the faithful.

I. This World Is in Ruins—But Heaven Awaits

The beauty of the earth testifies to God’s power, but man has corrupted it. The daily news is filled with death, immorality, division, and despair. Abortion, homosexuality, addiction, and violence dominate the headlines. It is easy to grow weary—but for the Christian, this is not home.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:1–3 to take comfort in the promise of a prepared place. His words were spoken on the eve of His betrayal and crucifixion. They were about to watch the Son of God suffer and die—but He told them to believe, to hope, and to look beyond.

II. Revelation: A Message of Hope for the Persecuted

By the time Revelation was written, Christians were being hunted and killed for their faith. And yet, God’s message to them was not fear—it was faith. Revelation 1:5 declares that Jesus is “the ruler over the kings of the earth.” Rome may have been powerful, but it wasn’t in control. God was. The entire book is a reminder that the saints will triumph—and that heaven awaits them.

III. Heaven Is Not on Earth—It’s Above and Eternal

The Bible always points up when describing heaven. 2 Peter 3:10 says this present world will be destroyed, not transformed. Hebrews 11:10 speaks of Abraham seeking a better, heavenly country. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:1 that our eternal home is “in the heavens.” Heaven is not a new version of earth—it is the pure, unshakable dwelling of God.

IV. What Will Heaven Be Like?

God uses pictures to describe heaven because our limited minds cannot grasp its full glory. Revelation 21 and 22 describe walls of jasper, streets of transparent gold, gates of pearl, and foundations adorned with precious stones. But beyond these images, we are told that nothing defiled can enter (Revelation 21:27). It is a holy city, filled with righteousness, beauty, and peace.

There will be no more pain, no sorrow, no tears. No goodbyes. No aging. No death. All things will be new (Revelation 21:5). Access to the tree of life—once lost in Eden—will be restored (Revelation 2:7; 22:2). Paradise lost becomes paradise regained.

V. Who Will Be There?

God wants everyone to be there (1 Timothy 2:3–4). But not everyone will accept His invitation. Jesus said in Matthew 7:13–14 that the path is narrow and few will find it. In verse 21, He warns that not everyone who calls Him “Lord” will enter, but only those who do the Father’s will.

Hebrews 5:9 says that Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Obedience—not just belief—is the condition for entrance. And that obedience begins with repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).

VI. While We Wait—We Work

Knowing what awaits, the Christian has peace and joy—even in a broken world. But our time here has purpose. We must pray, study, teach, and prepare ourselves and others. This is not a time to be idle. It is a time to labor for the souls of men.

Conclusion: Will You Be There?

Heaven is not for the half-hearted. It is for the faithful. And it is waiting. The only question that matters is: Will you be there? If you’ve not obeyed the gospel, the time is now. And if you are a Christian, then let this lesson renew your resolve to stay on the narrow path—and help others find it.

Applications for Us Today

We live in a world full of corruption and sorrow, but Christians must not lose hope. Heaven is real. And it is worth every sacrifice we must make in this life.

Now is the time to examine ourselves. Are we truly walking the narrow path? Are we helping others walk it with us? Are our eyes fixed on the home of the soul—or have we become too attached to the things of this world?

If you’re not a Christian, obey the gospel today. If you are a Christian, renew your commitment. Your name must be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 21:27)—nothing else matters more.