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Heavenly DwellingsHere’s an ad I came across recently: Free - beautiful homes to be given away in a perfect city with: 100% pure water - no light bills- permanent pavement- perpetual lighting- everything new - perfect climate- nothing undesirable - immunity from accidents - beautiful music - free transportation- no taxes – and no upkeep. Secure your contract today! Of course you know that I'm referring to heaven. And that is the just of where we are in our ongoing studies of 2 Corinthians. Heaven, it makes you wonder, you wonder what it is like, and you stand in wonder of what we know about it. Because what we know is limited, but what we know of heaven it is truly - a glorious place—a place of wonder— a place prepared by God himself – a place where Jesus went to prepare for those who are the children of God. In the days of Alexander the
Great, the Greeks originated the first group of “Seven Wonders of the World.”
The great pyramids at Giza, Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Temple of Diana
(Artemis) at Ephesus, Statue of Zeus in Athens, Mausoleum of Halicarnassus,
Colossus of Rhodes, and Pharaoh's Lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt. Today we have the Seven Wonders of the Natural World: Mt. Everest, Northern Lights, Victoria Falls, Grand Canyon, The Great Barrier Reef, Paricutin Volcano, and Rio de Janeiro Harbor. And the list could go on, the seven wonders of the modern world, the wonders of the technological world, - the engineering world, I suppose there is even the seven wonders of the sporting world. But there is little consensus of what those are. But then there are the wonders of heaven. Something that the Apostle Paul would tell us in our text today that we are to keep in clear view. That heaven should be seen as a motivation for our lives and and not merely a destination for our souls. C.S. Lewis said, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world -- were precisely those who thought most of the next.” Heaven, I suppose if we asked everyone in this room what their idea of heaven is there would be many different answers. Well, in our text today, the Apostle Paul continues his thoughts from chapter 4, where he spoke about his “light and momentary troubles”, and how he was focused not on his troubles, but on what was unseen. Paul was so focused on eternity that he says. 2 Cor 4:18... For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. This life we now live is seen as temporary for those who have the eternal focus. But just what awaits us beyond this life? How do you explain eternity? How can these finite minds understand a place were time is no more? For me, I have to take myself out of my understanding and think of eternity, think of heaven, think of God's realm, as another dimension. A place where what we understand here on earth does not necessarily apply. The laws of nature and physics do not apply, laws of gravity are not in existence, and time, well heaven is outside time. Here on earth everything is subject to time, we make appointments based on time. We measure history in time periods, our lives are subject to an amount of time we have, everything is about time. But in heaven, time is no more, there is no clock, there is no wearing down of the body. That is where Paul's focus was, not on the earthly dwellings we have now, but the eternal ones created for glory. READ THE TEXT 2 CORINTHIANS 5:1-10 HEAVENLY DWELLINGS. Four things I would like us to glean from this text today.
Our text begins with “now we know.” What do we know? We know that our bodies that we live in now are like -- tents. I've had a few tents in my life, and as I think about a tent, of course I think of camping. And camping can be is fun, but nobody wants to camp out all the time. If you camped out all the time your tent would wear out. The seams would stretch, the stakes would get bent or lost, the poles would get damaged. Camping out is fun but its good to go home. I remember once when Sue and I went hunting in Austin and we camped out only to wake up to six inches of very wet snow. What a mess, mud everywhere our tent was soaked, it wasn't the best trip. Well, that is kind of what Paul likens life to, camping out. He says we know that these tents we dwell in our going to wear out. And Paul understood about tents, remember he was a tent maker. Our tents wear out, but we have a building that is not made like these tents- a house made by God, made to be permanent. I like the way Paul approaches this, he spoke about his troubles - he saw them as “light and lasting just a little while”, then he speaks about his body, and he views it the same way. Saying we know, that “if this earthly tent is destroyed, we have a building from God in heaven.” Do you know that? Is that something you really understand? That is why the Psalmist can write. Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. So why is it important that we have this knowledge? It's important because it effects how you approach life. If you view life in these bodies, as all there is, the permanent place, then you will put all your efforts into what you have and what you accomplish in this body. You will be about things that this world considers valuable. Things like- getting ahead at any cost, building a name for yourself, acquiring things, and pursuing pleasure. But if you have this eternal perspective, knowing that we are just “camping out” right now, then your focus will be on eternal things. You will share God's love with others, you will invest in the kingdom, you will focus not on yourself but on others. Paul is not putting down recreation, he's not putting down success, or planing for the future. But he is reminding us of a knowledge that should motivate us - knowledge of another place, knowledge of heaven. Once for fun Benjamin Franklin penned his own epitaph. Although he didn’t profess to be a born-again Christian, he certainly must have influenced by the bible. Here’s what he wrote: The Body of B. Franklin, A printer - Like the Cover of an old Book - its contents torn out, -and script of its lettering and gilding lies here as food for worms. But the Work shall not be wholly lost: For it will, as he believed appear once more - In a new & more perfect edition, corrected and amended by the Author. First we see our knowledge.
Meanwhile we groan. Groan in our spirits longing to be in our heavenly bodies- bodies that by comparison with these tents is – well, there is no comparison. These tents like we said are temporal, they will wear out, we look in the mirror and we groan. “Who's that old guy looking back at me?” What happened to the young Rich Lammay who was tall dark and handsome? Well, two out to three ain't bad. We groan in a couple of areas. 1. GROAN IN OUR BODIES We groan because of these bodies, the physical pain of getting older, the problems we have because they are tents. The troubles we face in this life. We groan because we live in bodies of flesh that are wearing out, the fact that we are subject to time - we groan. Rom 8:22-25 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Not only are we groaning because we are growing older, but all of creation is groaning in the hope of what is to come, that glorious day of the Lord Jesus, so we wait for it patiently. We groan not just because we are getting older, but with an eternal perspective - we groan as we long for something better. We know that if this tent is temporal, that the future body is a better design-- like our text says in V4, “What is mortal is swallowed up by life.” Life, eternal life, that's what we groan for. A man who was dying called upon his secretary to write a letter to a friend. "I continue to be in the land of the living," his secretary wrote in her desire to help him. But he corrected her. Instead, he instructed her to write, "I am still found in the land of the dying, but soon I shall be found in the land of the living." Sure life now may be good, you may enjoy what you have been blessed with, you may have good health, you might be in love, you love your kids, your grandkids, even your job. But we groan in our Spirit for we know all those good things will come to an end. Life is subject to changes - as situations change, and eventually death will bring an end to every situation. The death of a loved one, or our own death. So as Paul says we focus on what is unseen, and as we do, we groan in these bodies, longing for something better. A few years ago a very respected man known as “Uncle Johnson” died in Michigan at the incredible age of 120. Perhaps his advanced years could be credited in part to the cheerful outlook he had on life. One day while at work in his garden, he was singing songs of praise to God. His pastor, who was passing by, looked over the fence and called, “Uncle Johnson, you seem very happy today.” “Yes, I was just thinking,” said the old man. “Thinking about what?” questioned his pastor. “Oh, I was just thinking that if the crumbs of joy that fall from the Master’s table in this world are so good, -- what will the great loaf in glory be like!” We groan in these bodies longing for the eternal. 2. GROAN FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT John 14:16-18 (Jesus said) I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of what is to come. The word “guarantee” or “earnest”- (kjv), in V5, can be literally translated, “engagement ring.” Like an engagement ring given to a young woman, is the promise of something better. The ring speaks to that young woman every day that one day she will be a bride, she will take her husband's name, and she will begin a new life different then the one she now has. So as believers we groan for the Holy Spirit. He is the engagement ring of our changed life. We groan for the spirit as he shows us what is to come. Every time you see a rainbow, every time you look at the Sierra's in wonder, each time you see nature and think, how awesome is our God. That is the Holy spirit giving you a taste of what is to come. Reminding you of the glories you long for. Even more then that, we long for the Holy Spirit because we know it is only by his infilling power that we can overcome the weaknesses of these tents we dwell in. Jesus said. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." You will receive power, you will be a wittiness for our Lord, as the you follow and are continually filled with the Holy Spirit. We have seen, Our knowledge, and our Groaning.
Paul says, “We are always confident in V6.” Confident of what? Confident that to be absent from these bodies is to be in the the presence of the Lord. The people of God can be found in one of two places: either in heaven or on earth. None of them is in the grave, in hell, or in any "intermediate place" between earth and heaven. Believers on earth are "at home in the body," while believers who have died are "absent from the body." Believers on earth are "absent from the Lord," while believers in heaven are "present with the Lord." Because he had this kind of confidence, Paul was not afraid of suffering, of trials, or dangers. Not that he tempted the Lord by taking unnecessary risks, but he was willing to "lose his life" for the sake of the Lord, and the ministry of the Gospel. Phil 1:21-24 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Paul saw death as gain, because he knew he would not be abandoned to the grave. But he also saw ministry as an assignment from God, and he knew that at least for the time being it was more important for him to remain in his earthly tent to bless others then to be with the Lord at that minute. What great faith Paul had, because “He walked by faith and not by sight.” He looked at the eternal- the unseen, not the temporal – the seen. For Paul, Heaven was not simply a destination -- it was his motivation. How does this absent from the body - in the presence of the Lord work? Thanks for asking, it works quite well. Here is my understanding. When we die, our tent goes into the grave, but our Soul goes to be with the Lord, however that state we are in is not the final state, we will inherit an eternal resurrected body on the day Jesus comes for his Church. Just some quick thoughts. When Paul had his out of body experience he said. 2 Cor 12:2-5 ... I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know — God knows. And I know that this man ... was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. If we are in the presence of the Lord, I believe like Paul, we are not going to know or care if we have our resurrected bodies. It will be sufficient to be in his presence. 1 Thess 4:16-18 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. When Jesus comes for his church, those who were long ago dead and in the presence of the Lord will be united in a resurrected state with those who are alive when Jesus comes. So, Paul says, because we have this confidence that at our death we are with the Lord – we live by faith and not by sight. 1. WE LIVE BY FAITH In Hebrews chapter 11 we read about the great heroes of faith and we see how they all looked forward to a heavenly city and that motivation is what governed their lives. The motivation of eternity helped them to live by faith. Remember our definition of faith. Heb 11:1-2 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. Faith understands that when a believer dies - they are with the Lord. We see that in Paul, and for me that understanding brings greater understanding to an event that happened the day Jesus was crucified. He was one of the people mocking the Lord as they crucified him. They shouted all kinds of obscenities at Jesus that day as they mocked him saying “If you're the Christ, bring yourself down from the cross.” And -“He saved others, he can not save himself.” And this man joined right in with everyone else. But when his partner called insults at Jesus, something came alive in this man. Suddenly he woke up and came to the defense of the Lord. Suddenly this unbeliever in faith - recognized Jesus for who he truly was. This unnamed man, from the cross next to Jesus called out to his friend. “Don't you fear God, since you are under the same sentence: We are punished justly and are getting what we deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then looking to Jesus – he said. “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” What Paul says here about being absent from the body and present with the Lord, makes the words of Jesus come alive. Luke 23:43 I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." We have seen: Our knowledge, Our groaning, Our confidence, finally our goal.
2 Cor 5:9 So we make it our goal to please him... Is that your goal – to please the Lord? TURN TO EPHESIANS 5:8-20 You have become children of light, so, live as children of light and find out what pleases the Lord. Find out, search it out, figure it out, and oh yeah I'll tell you what is pleasing to the Lord. That you follow after the Holy Spirit, that you live with the motivation of eternity guiding your life. That you wake up from your sleep and let Christ will shine on you. That you live a careful life, a wise life, making the most of every opportunity. That we are not foolish, but understanding of what the Lord's will is. His will --- its right here. That you are filled with the Holy Spirit and not distilled spirits. That you are filled with songs of Joy, and we give thanks to God for everything. When heaven is our motivation and not was not simply a destination, our Goal is to find out what pleases the Lord, our goal is to please the Lord. 1. MOTIVATIONS We finished our text with Paul saying we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. The “Beama seat”, the place of rewards for faithful service to Jesus. But is the desire for reward a proper motive for service? It may not be the highest motive, but just as we parents are happy when our children are doing well, so our Lord is pleased when his children are faithful in even the littlest of things. The important thing is not the reward itself, but the joy of pleasing God, knowing we will all stand before him. That day the motivations behind our good works will be revealed. And as we read in 1 Corinthians, they will be tried by fire, with only the things done with the right spirit remaining. Not a judgment of salvation, for that was determined when we confessed Jesus as Lord, but a judgment of motivations. For the unbeliever they will stand before God's great white throne, not clothed like Paul speaks of here, but empty with nothing to say. So we wonder about heaven, I have found some wonderful things about heaven reveled in the bible. Rev 21:1-4 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." The seven wonders of heaven.
PRAYER, INVITE, BENEDICTION, SING. Series: 2 Corinthians -Through the Bible |
(C) High Sierra Fellowship 2008 |
