Text:
2Corinthians 5:1-6:
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon,
that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
Philippians 1:20-24:
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Theme:
I Want To Go Home
Introduction:
- On Friday morning at 1AM, Deacon William L. Powell, my Granddaddy, died.
- The wake was on August 31, 2002 at 7pm. The funeral was on September 2, 2002 at 12 noon.
- My Granddaddy, through his mortal death, has gone home…..
- The text starts with my assertion at this time…FOR WE KNOW!
- My Uncle George told me in 1987 to “Take Time To Know!” à Take the time to know God — know who we are and whose we are.
- Now I know!!!!
- Now that I know, I can honestly say as the old folks say, “I Want To Go Home!”
Body:
- I used to wonder about Heaven, about dying.
- Is there really a Heaven?
- Yes, there is!
- Verse 1 à “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
- Old folks sang of this Heaven:
- Is there really a Heaven?
[Come and go to that land]
[Come and go to that land]
[Come and go to that land]
Where I’m bound, where I’m bound.
[Come and go to that land]
[Come and go to that land]
[Come and go to that land]
Where I’m bound, where I’m bound.
(other verses as desired and/or moan)
[I’ve got a Savior in that land]
[Peace and happiness in that land]
[I’ve got a father in that land]
- What should I be focusing on now?
- I need to be trying to get to Heaven.
- Verse 2 à “For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:”
- This hymn paints the picture:
When my work on earth is done,
I’m going home to live with God.
All of my troubles will be over.
I will make a new song.
On that morning when I rise
I’ll shake the dust from my feet and wipe my weary eyes
I know that my troubles soon will be over by and by.
- How does this desire benefit me now?
- If I keep trying to get to Heaven, when Jesus comes back , I will be where and doing what God wants.
- Trying to get to Heaven is what gets me into Heaven!!
- Verse 3 à “If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.”
- The old hymn testifies to this desire:
[Jordan River, I’m bound to cross]
[Jordan River, I’m bound to cross]
Oh, [Jordan River, I’m bound to cross]
I’ve got one more river to cross.
(other verses as desired and/or moan)
[Mama, she’ll be waiting, but mama can’t help me to cross]
[Father, he’ll be waiting, but father can’t help me to cross]
[Jesus, He’ll be waiting, and Jesus gonna help me to cross]
- What change does this focus wrought in our life?
- Trying to get to Heaven effects a change in my life now!!
- Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
- Verse 4 à “For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon that mortality might be swallowed up of life.”
- The old Hymn, that’s not in the books, explains it best:
“I love the Lord. He heard my cry,
And pitied every groan.
Long as I live and trouble rise,
I’ll hasten to His throne.”
- Who has done this for me?
- I know it was God!
- Verse 5 à “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.”
- The hymn tells my story:
[Nobody but you], nobody but you.
[Nobody but you], nobody but you.
When I was in trouble, you brought me over,
Nobody but you, Lord, nobody but you.
(other verses as desired and/or moan)
[You’ve been a lawyer in a courtroom]
[You’ve been a doctor in a sick room]
[You brought my mother]
- Can I just live in this body and not worry about Heaven?
- I can’t do that because NOW I have to have Jesus! Without this desire, I can’t feel God’s Preasence.
- Verse 6 à “Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:”
- As the hymn says,
“Time is filled with swift transition,
Naught of earth unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on things eternal,
Hold to God’s unchanging hand.”
- As the text teaches us, the desire to go to Heaven is REAL for the Believer à I WANT TO GO HOME!
- Now why do I bother with this life when I WANT TO GO HOME!
- No matter what, God gets the glory!
- Verse 20 à “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”
- No matter what, it is for my benefit!
- Verse 21 à “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
- Although I don’t want it, this life is where I get God’s Work done!
- Verse 22 à “But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not”
- Although I WANT TO GO HOME, I can’t do God’s Will unless I am here in this life!
- Verse 23-24 –> “For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you”
- The gospel selection says it best:
- No matter what, God gets the glory!
“To live is Christ and to die is gain
To suffer with Him I know that I shall reign
In His arms over there
In the land bright and fair
To live is Christ, Oh Christ
And to die is gain.”
Conclusion:
- I have always heard about this place called Heaven:
- “Today” will have to end for that “tomorrow” to come!
- First, this BODY
- 1Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”
- 1Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
- Second, this WORLD
- 2Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
- Heaven is a beautiful, joyous place!
- A gospel songs says:
- First, this BODY
- “Today” will have to end for that “tomorrow” to come!
“I am going where the wicked will cease from troubling and the weary will be at rest”
- Old folks would describe Heaven as:
- Having pearly gates
- Having streets paved with gold
- The gospel song describes it in this way:
“One of these mornings it won’t be long
You’ll look for me and I’ll be gone
I’m going to a place. I’ll have nothing to do
But just walk around heaven all day.
When I get to Heaven, I’ll sing and shout.
Nobody will be able put me out.
My mother will be waiting and my father too.
We’ll walk around Heaven all day.
Everyday will be Sunday. Sabbath will have not end….”
- The hymn tells my story!!
Where We’ll Never Grow Old
Hymn #427
I have heard of a land on the far away strand,
’Tis a beautiful home of the soul;
Built by Jesus on high, where we never shall die,
’Tis a land where we never grow old.
Refrain
Never grow old, never grow old,
In a land where we’ll never grow old;
Never grow old, never grow old,
In a land where we’ll never grow old.
In that beautiful home where we’ll never more roam,
We shall be in the sweet by and by;
Happy praise to the King through eternity sing,
’Tis a land where we never shall die.
When our work here is done and the life crown is won,
And our troubles and trials are o’er;
All our sorrow will end, and our voices will blend,
With the loved ones who’ve gone on before.
#186
