August 6, 2006
"Crossing The Great Divide"
Heaven—A Place Prepared For You—Part 5
2 Corinthians 4:16-5:8
Why do we need to talk about death?
- Our eternal destiny is at stake.
- This subject forces us to examine the reality of our faith.
- It makes us focus on what is really important.
- The Bible gives you courage to not lose heart and live the self-sacrificing life that pleases God.
The problem: Ignoring or denying death causes a person not to be ready to face it. The very thing we ignored happens suddenly. By refusing to face death's reality, we keep ourselves in ignorance about it and unprepared for it.
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.
—Ecclesiastes 7:2
The basic questions: What happens when you die?
What the Bible teaches about death for the Christian:
- The Bible pictures death as sleep. (1 Corinthians 15:51)
- The Bible pictures death as taking down a tent. (2 Corinthians 5:1)
- The Bible pictures death as a departure. (Philippians 1:22-24)
- The Bible pictures death as coming home. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)
How do I live abundantly with death in view?
1. Don't let the struggles of this life get you down.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
—2 Corinthians 4:16-17
2. See life and death the way God sees life and death.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
—2 Corinthians 4:18
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
—Psalm 116:15
3. We have a certain future hope.
- We know
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
—2 Corinthians 5:1
- We groan
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
—2 Corinthians 5:2-4
- We have a guarantee
Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
—2 Corinthians 5:5
- We live by faith
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
—2 Corinthians 5:6-9
Conclusion: For the Christian, death is no longer feared. Whatever death brings, it will not separate us from Christ.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
—Romans 8:35, 37-39
Important note: God's promises are only for those who claim Jesus as their Savior. If you do not know Christ, if you have never personally trusted Him, you ought to be terrified of death. You will face death alone, and you will face eternity alone.
"Crossing the Great Divide"
Personal and Small Group Study
Getting Started
- If time or money were no object, what room in your home would you begin to remodel?
- When you are discouraged, what thought, song or verse encourages you?
Digging Deeper: Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10
- What truths keep Paul going even when ministry is difficult and is taking a toll on his physical life?
- How does Paul's confidence in the future relate to verses 16-18? What role does faith play in this?
- How does Paul's future home affect his daily living? What is this heavenly dwelling like?
- Is Paul motivated more by the desire to be with Christ or the fear of judgment? Which motivates you?
Applying It To My Life
- How do verses 16-18 help you cope with your current difficulties?
- Verse 5 says, Now it is God who made us for this very purpose... How does God's purpose apply to your current situation?
- How can knowing the location of your ultimate home encourage you to be more hospitable to others here and now?