Spiritual Growth
Living in the Light of Eternity
June 11 and 18, 2006

But as it is written: “ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor 2:9


Views on death and eternity.

· Avoidance, too morbid to think about death and beyond.

· Believe the devil’s lies.

o Heaven doesn’t exist.
o Heaven will be dull and boring. There will be endless tedium.
o It’s unloving and uncivilized to talk about hell.
o Everyone will go to heaven.

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

· Paul’s view.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1 Corinthians 15:14-19

· The importance of forming our thoughts of heaven and eternity based on scripture.

· The importance of right thoughts about eternity to our spiritual growth.


Hearts and minds set on earthly things.

· Materialism – the most widespread cause of wrong thinking about heaven.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-2

· Immediate gratification.

· The health and wealth gospel.

· Worldliness – love for earthly things, esteem for earthly values, and preoccupation with earthly cares.

o Those who conclude that the brevity of life is justification for hedonism.
o The tendency for us to hold tightly to the world because that is all we
know.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17



Hearts and minds set on things above.

· Everything we should love everlastingly, everything we should rightly value, everything of eternal worth is in heaven.

· The Father is there.

Pray, then, in this way: “Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.” Matthew 6:9

· Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand and makes intercession for us.

For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. Hebrews 9:24

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25

· Many brothers and sisters will be there.

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to thousands of angels in joyful assembly. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God himself, who is the judge of all people. And you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect. Hebrews 12:22-23

· Our names are recorded there.

However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. Phil 3:20-21


Living in the light of eternity.

· The Bible uses terms like aliens, strangers, foreigners, and pilgrims.

They admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13-16

· The eternal things of heaven can only be grasped by faith.

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. 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 Cor 4:18 – 5:1

By faith he (Abraham) lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10

· Paul – an example of a proper biblical perspective.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18



· The value of pain and pleasure.

I still can hardly believe it. I, with shriveled, bent fingers, atrophied muscles, gnarled knees, and no feeling from the shoulders down, will one day have a new body, light, bright, and clothed in righteousness – powerful and dazzling…
It’s easy for me to “be joyful in hope,” as it says in Romans 12:12, and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the past twenty-odd years. My assurance of heaven is so alive that I’ve been making dates with friends to do all sorts of fun things once we get our new bodies…I don’t take these appointments lightly. I’m convinced these things will really happen. Joni Eareckson Tada

I learned long ago that spiritual growth will always include an awakening of deep longings for heaven, for pleasure at its best. Such an awakening leads to the true contentment of asking less of this life because more is coming in the next. Joni Eareckson Tada

· Renewing our citizenship.

o Use this earthly life to grow in holiness.

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3

Heaven is a holy place. Its inhabitants are holy. Its occupations are holy. To be happy in heaven, it stands to reason we must be prepared for it. Our hearts must be somewhat in tune, somewhat ready for it. J.C. Ryle

o Invest wisely, using this earthly life to lay up treasure in heaven.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Col 4:5

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10

What are a heavenly citizen’s best investments? Praying for unsaved neighbors. Visiting nursing homes. Asking forgiveness when we’ve offended someone. Building the character of children (and grandchildren). Supporting our husbands. Honoring our wives. Telling the truth. Encouraging the weak. Sharing a Christian viewpoint when the women at the hair salon start gossiping. Trusting and obeying God in small and great ways.
Joni Eareckson Tada


What does the Bible teach about our eternal state?

· The Christian view of death.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

· Intermediate heaven and the new heavens and earth.

o Intermediate heaven is where a Christian goes when he or she dies.
o This is temporary, where we dwell until prior to our bodily resurrection.
o The Bible does not teach purgatory or soul sleep.
o Our final destination is the new heaven on the new earth.

· The return of Christ.

"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:11

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. John 5:28-29

· The judgment seat of Christ.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:10

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

· We will receive our resurrection bodies.

This image of planting a dead seed and raising a live plant is a mere sketch at best, but perhaps it will help in approaching the mystery of the resurrection body—but only if you keep in mind that when we're raised, we're raised for good, alive forever! The corpse that's planted is no beauty, but when it's raised, it's glorious. Put in the ground weak, it comes up powerful. The seed sown is natural; the seed grown is supernatural—same seed, same body, but what a difference from when it goes down in physical mortality to when it is raised up in spiritual immortality! 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 (The Message)


A new heaven and a new earth (read Revelation 21:1 – 22:5)

· The physical creation will be renewed and we will continue to exist and act in it. (21:1)

But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

· The Church (New Jerusalem) is presented as a bride to her husband. (21:2)

· The presence of God and unending fellowship with Him. (21:3)

God said I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16

· No tears, death, sorrow or pain. (21:4)

· Physical features described. (21:10 -22:2) Biblical writers attempt to describe another level of reality in earthly terms.

· The curse has been removed. (22:3)

· We will serve God. (22:3)

Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Revelation 7:15

· We will see God face to face. (22:4)

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. Psalm 27:4

· No more night. The Lord will give us light. (22:5)

· We will reign forever. (22:5)

· Other descriptions.

o Christ will welcome us.

Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Mat 25:34

o It is a place prepared by Jesus.

Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3

o No hunger or thirst.

Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. Revelation 7:16

o There will be joy and happiness.

His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
Matthew 25:34

o We will rest from our labors on earth.

Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them." Revelation 14:13

o We will have improved minds and clear thinking.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

o Feasting together.

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11

o Heaven will be a melting pot of ethnic diversity united by a common worship of
the Lord Jesus.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. Revelation 7:9-10


The Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have begun thinking less of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at heaven and you get earth thrown in; aim at earth and you get neither. W.R. Inge

Time is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable that this short life be lived in the light of eternity. Charles Spurgeon