Things Above

Sunday Sermons

Mark Dunagan
10/07/07 - Sunday Morning

Things Above

“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1)

Around the time we were baptized into Christ our thoughts were often focused on eternal issues. Heaven, hell, and the Second Coming are frequent thoughts for the new Christian. Yet the above verse reveals that we are to keep seeking the heavenly things. In this lesson I want to help us remain focused on our heavenly goal and not only focused, but motivated by it to live faithful and pure lives for our Savior.

Heaven is Home

“Our greatest affliction is not anxiety, or even guilt, but rather homesickness—a nostalgia or ineradicable yearning to be at home with God” (Theological Workbook, Donald Bloesch, p. 333). Even after I go on a wonderful vacation I still look forward to coming home. Sleeping in my bed, living in my house and feeling secure. Seeing that we are God’s own creation, heaven is our true home. Thus, the Christian does not fear death. For the faithful Christian who departs from this life is not leaving home, rather they are going home - and when a loved one who is a Christian dies, all that means is that they are going home just a little before us. We’ll be arriving home a little later.

Heaven is the Real Party

I’ve heard people express the idea that “I would rather be having a good time in hell than be bored in heaven”. Isaac Asimov wrote, “I don’t believe in an afterlife, so I don’t have to spend my whole life fearing hell, or fearing heaven even more. For whatever the tortures of hell, I think the boredom of heaven would be even worse”. Yet, it is Jesus who often pictured heaven as the party (Matthew 8:11-12), and hell as the place of misery. When Jesus described hell as a place ofweeping and gnashing of teeth, we should not forget that hell is not only a place of pain, but equally a place of frustration, where people still have all the desires for happiness, love and fulfillment, yet they have cut themselves off from any hope of fulfillment. One could say that hell will be a very boring place. “Christians faced with terminal illness or imminent death often feel that they’re leaving the party before it’s over. They have to go home early. They are disappointed, thinking of all they’ll miss when they leave. But the truth is that the real party is underway at home---They are not the ones missing the party; those of us left behind are” (Heaven, Randy Alcorn, p. 441).

Where the Moments Last

Even the great and endearing moments in this lifetime do not last. At times we wish we could stop time and just savor a moment or bottle it and hang on to it forever. Heaven is a place where such moments do last forever, with no fear that life will ever end or that some trial will interrupt our happiness (Revelation 21:4). “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11); “and will not fade away” (1 Peter 1:4).

The Foundation of True Optimism

Even the most painful experiences of this life are only temporary setbacks for the person whose mind is set on things above (Romans 8:18).
Christians are the only true realists, for we are focused on the reality of God’s love, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the forgiveness of our sins and the glory of eternal life.
Knowing that all suffering and trials will end, makes such things bearable. In fact, we are able to rejoice even in the midst of our trials. “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake” (Colossians 1:24). “But to the degree that you share in the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation” (1 Peter 4:13).
In this sense, thinking about heaven is one of the greatest pain relievers that God has given us.
In addition, I do not have to pretend that everything on this earth will go smoothly. Neither do I have to place all my hopes in perfect circumstances (which will not last). How many people postpone any sort of real happiness or rejoicing in his life because they are always awaiting that perfect day, perfect year, perfect relationship or ideal time?
So the Christian does not say, “Let us eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die”, but rather, “Let us eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we will never die”.

Tastes of Heaven

In Ephesians 2:6, the Holy Spirit says, “and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. This same concept is equally found in 1:3 as well. Our current relationship with Christ, the relationship we enter following our baptism, is spoken of as a heavenly place. Even in this lifetime the child of God experiences some of the joys and blessings (in small doses) of eternal life. Alcorn writes that “the best things of life are souvenirs of Eden, and appetizers of eternal life. There’s just enough of them to keep us going, but never enough to make us satisfied with the world as it is, or ourselves as we are. Desire is the signpost pointing to Heaven. Every longing for better health is a longing for Heaven. Every longing for romance is a longing for the ultimate romance with Christ. Every desire for intimacy is a desire for Christ. Every thirst for beauty is a thirst for Christ. Every taste of joy is but a foretaste of a greater and more vibrant joy that can be found on earth” (p. 442). Heaven holds joys that are not corrupted by sin, joys that never end and joys that will completely leave us wanting nothing more (Romans 8:18).

Motivation for Purity

“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purified himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). “Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).

“If my wedding date is on the calendar, and I’m thinking of the person I’m going to marry, I should not be an easy target for seduction. Likewise, when I’ve meditated on Heaven, sin is terribly unappealing. It’s when my mind drifts from Heaven that sinseems attractive. Heaven should effect our activities and ambitions, our recreation and friendships, and the way we spend our money and time. If I believe I’ll spend eternity in a world of unending beauty and adventure, will I be content to spend all my evenings staring at game shows, sitcoms, and ball games?” (Alcorn p. 455). Remember, God is not calling us away from pleasure or gratification, rather He is calling us to healthy pleasures and delayed gratification. “When we realize the pleasures that await us in God’s presence, we can forgo all sinful pleasures now” (p. 455). The believer who has a thirst for God and heaven will realize that all the sinful pleasures of this life and all the things that compete for God’s attention are “stale leftovers”. “He smells the banquet being prepared for him. He won’t spoil his appetite. He knows what his mouth is watering for” (p. 456).

Being Imperfect is All Right

Heaven helps me cope with the imperfections of this life and even my own imperfections. I do not demand that this world meet my every need, and neither do I demand that others be perfect. I know that a perfect world is coming and I can wait. In addition, I do not grow discouraged when looking at my own imperfections for I realize that I will never reach perfection in this life (Philippians 3:12-14).

Questions in Light of Heaven

Do I ponder my own mortality on a regular basis?
Do I remember that this world is not my final home?
Do I remember that all material possessions and achievements are temporary?
Do I reflect upon the fact that many decisions that I make are either moving me closer to heaven or farther away?
Do I remember that my life will be examined by God, and that only His view of my life will matter?

A word to the disappointed, or disabled

“Without an eternal perspective, without understanding the reality that the best is yet to come, we assume that people who die young, who are handicapped, who aren’t healthy, who don’t get married, or who don’t…….(fill in the blank) will inevitably miss out on the best life has to offer” (Alcorn p. 415). The believer does not get discouraged if some, or even if many, of their dreams in this life never materialize. If the believer is disabled, this does not mean that they have been cheated out of being a complete person, rather, they are just going through a delay of seventy-years or so. Our resurrected bodies will be perfect, with no imperfections or flaws! Jesus reminded His disciples to help people who cannot repay them and then He said, “For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:14). The idea is that the joys of heaven will more than make up for whatever “injustices” we experienced in this life:

If your life here was not fulfilling, you will be satisfied there (Luke 6:21).
If this life was filled with tears, the next will be full of joy (6:21).
“But now he is being comforted” (Luke 16:25).
If your dreams were dashed here, they will be fulfilled there!
If your relationships here are disappointing, you can be joyful in them, because a far greater relationship is coming. Jesus noted that our reward in heaven is so great that the very thought of it should cause us to jump for joy (Luke 6:23).

Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017