Changed by Eternity Eternity: Hope for a Broken World 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10 July 7, 2013 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 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. Introduction Good evening! I am glad that you are here and that we get to worship together tonight. If you have your Bibles you can go ahead and start making your way to 2 Corinthians chapters 4 and 5, this is where we are going to spend our time together tonight. If you are using one of the pew Bibles we are on page 966. I hope that you have had a good week. For most of us this was short week. On Thursday we celebrated Independence Day and I had was so glad to spend that evening celebrating with y’all. I know many of you had Friday off so you had a long weekend, so I hope that you are coming in tonight refreshed. For most of us this week was a time when we celebrated some of the good things in our lives and tonight we are going to continue our series Changed by Eternity where we are celebrating one of the greatest gifts of all. SERIES INTRO: This summer we are taking time to celebrate that this life is not all there is. We have learned in this series that we are people who have been made to live forever; that although every one of us will die one day, death is not the end, God has made us to be eternal. So we have been discussing that every person will spend eternity somewhere: For those who do not have a relationship with God, eternity will be spent in separation from God in a place called Hell. But for those who do have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, we will spend eternity in God’s presence in a place called Heaven. So this series has been a reminder that this life is not all there is. While this life is good and we have a lot to celebrate here, and in many ways we may enjoy life, we have something much better to look forward to. OUR GOAL is that as we consider eternity throughout this summer it will change our lives. We believe that the more we talk about the glories of eternity: • The more impressed you will be with the greatness of God • The more you will long for the things that He longs for • The more you will recogniZe the temporary nature of the things of this world 1 Changed by Eternity Eternity: Hope for a Broken World 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10 July 7, 2013 • The more you will value Jesus and long to live for Him • We live in a world that is sin-cursed and broken – But there is hope! Part of this series has been the reminder that while in many ways this life is good, but that also in many ways this life is very hard. This series has served as a reminder that we live in a broken world and that ultimately we can never find satisfaction here. We can do all the things that the world says will give us happiness, and for a while it may, but ultimately this world and our lives are frustrating because they are imperfect. If you have lived any length of time then you know that this life does have joy, but this life also has unbelievable pain. We live in a world where things don’t always go right. This week we celebrated freedom, but the reason we celebrate freedom is because there places in the world where people are not free. There are places in the world where people live under oppressive rule. • We live in world where there is strife and anger and war. • We live in a world where nations fight and kill for power and land. • This week in the state news we have been reminded that we live in world where life is not always valued. We live in a world where people are willing to kill unborn children. • We live in a world where people sin against one another and as a result marriages and relationships are broken. • We live in world where people lie and steal and cheat to get ahead in the work place • We live in a world where people lose jobs and lose investments and lose security • We live in world where stuff wears out and falls apart. This week Michelle and I had to sink a bunch of money into car repairs, why? Because we live in a world where everything is temporary and stuff falls apart. It happens to our stuff and it happens to us. • We live in a world where sickness and death are reality. Where we don’t know how long we will maintain the quality of life that we have now. • We live in a world where people are opposed to the things of God. • We live in a world where those who follow God are often seen as ignorant and foolish Why do I bring all of this up? Why am I taking time to remind us of all that is messed up in our world? Isn’t church supposed to be encouraging? I bring it up because for many of us it is eating away at our souls. For many of we try to put on a smile but the brokenness of our world and of our own hearts is overwhelming. For many people the struggles of this life cause sleepless nights and incredible heartache. The Big Idea of this Message But here is the good news (there is good news!!): even while living in a broken world where things are falling apart all around us, we have great hope, and that is what this series on eternity is all about. We have hope, and as we understand the hope of eternity it can change our lives. 2 Changed by Eternity Eternity: Hope for a Broken World 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10 July 7, 2013 The text that Thomas read earlier and that we are considering tonight is all about how the truth of eternity gives us hope and endurance through the difficulties of life. The text begins with this sentence (look at verse 16): So we do not lose heart. Paul is providing the basis on which he doesn’t lose hope. This sentence is wonderful because it acknowledges what we have been saying: That many of us are tempted to lose heart. Many of us are prone to discouragement; many of us long for a better life. The promise of our passage tonight is this: you don’t have to lose heart. Context of the Passage Before we go any farther let me give you quick context update. This passage of Scripture was written by the apostle Paul. I told you last week that much of this series would come from the writings of Paul because Paul was a man who understood the importance of living for eternity. Paul learned to live for eternity because he knew better than anybody that this life is hard. Last week we got a glimpse into the difficulties of Paul’s life. We were reminded that because of his work for the Lord he was often beaten and tortured and imprisoned. For Paul life was hard and painful, yet Paul constantly describes his life as one of joy and peace, how? How could a man who had gone through the things that Paul went through be a man of joy and peace? The answer ultimately comes down to this: he did not live for this life, he lived for eternity. In 2 Corinthians 4 we find ourselves in the middle of Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. Much like Paul’s letter to the Philippians that we looked at last week, in 2 Corinthians Paul is telling the church about all that he has been through and is continuing to go through for the cause of Christ.