When you lose focus and joy in your ministry, where do you turn? Jay Wolf, pastor of First Baptist Church, Montgomery, said he turns to the vision of heaven presented in Revelation 21.
Delivering the convention sermon on the last day of the convention’s annual meeting, Wolf said keeping the end in sight — where you’ll spend eternity — will help keep Christians focused on the ministries God has called them to.
“The key to achievement is focus,” Wolf said. “Our focus should perennially be on heaven; heaven and being faithful to the cause of Jesus Christ.”
One way of keeping that focus is by following advice Wolf learned from Henry Blackaby when he worked with him. “He always said, ‘Guys, always remember you want to measure your ministry against the backdrop of eternity and that will give you Kingdom focus.”
Diving into the Scripture passage, Wolf pointed to five features of heaven that will help Christians refuel their passion for ministry.
“Heaven is indescribably beautiful.” Compared with a bride and a mansion by John, Wolf said the apostle used the concrete images to help describe a place that is indescribable. However, “When we compare what architects and humans can create with the wonders of God, they pale in comparison,” he said.
“Heaven is indescribably beautiful because God is present.” Wolf said the essence of heaven is that presence of God and continually being in that presence.
“Grief is absent.” As well as citing the familiar there is “no sighing, dying or crying,” Wolf pointed out that all things will be made new, so everything will work perfectly. He added that he hopes heaven will smell like a brand-new car that works smoothly.
“All needs are satisfied.” One of the most basic human needs is that of quenching thirst, Wolf said. In heaven, that thirst will be quenched by the River of Life. He added that besides meeting our physical needs, in heaven all our mental, emotional and spiritual needs will be met.
“We are completely secure.” There will be nothing in heaven to cause us fear or worry, Wolf said, because God is on guard.
Wolf went on to tell how to use these features of heaven as ministry motivation.
Christians must take seriously the Great Commission command to share the gospel, Wolf said.
“You need to have something going on that leads people to Christ,” he said. “If you’re not sharing Jesus on a recurring basis with those people you meet naturally every day, then you’re not evangelizing.”
He said to do this, Christians need to get creative in witnessing. This doesn’t necessarily mean starting a new program, but rather “being all things to all men” in order to build relationship bridges that will open up communication.
“We are compelled by the Great Commission to meet people where they are,” Wolf said.
He mentioned a football luncheon held yearly by First Baptist Church, Montgomery, on the Friday before the University of Alabama and Auburn University football teams play each other.
“The talk about the Iron Bowl is the appetizer, but Jesus is the meat,” Wolf said. “It’s creatively using the things of the world for the Kingdom of God.”
By surrendering anew to the will and leading of God, “heavenly information becomes my motivation,” Wolf said. Citing Acts 7:7 where Stephen is stoned for his devotion to Christ and Stephen’s vision of Christ standing beside the Father in heaven, Wolf asked the audience if they could envision that scene when they arrive in heaven.
“Can you imagine that King Jesus is standing for you because you faithfully stood for Him? And He will say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’ ”
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