Swallowed up by life

This past week I attended a funeral for a man that was the father of one of our church members.  I had never met him, but wanted to go to the funeral to show support to the family.  It was a great service and a great testimony to the man’s faith in Jesus Christ and hope for eternal life.  Yes, it was sad for the family to say goodbye, but it was also a time of rejoicing that he was with Jesus in Heaven.  Then, last night for youth group we were looking at a great passage of scripture; 2 Corinthians 5.  Let me share a portion of that with you now and then let’s think through some of what Paul is saying as it relates to dying, death, and life.

2 Corinthians 5:1-10

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.  ²For 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.

Things to think about:

·      Paul is making a comparison between a tent and a home/house.  What is the metaphor supposed to teach us?  What is the tent?  The home?

·      In verses 2 and 4 he talks about our current situation where we groan and long for something more.  In your life how would you describe these groans and longing?

·      Look at verse 4 again – when we are further clothed what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.  What an amazing phrase.  We often think of death as the end or a tragedy…but for the believer it isn’t the end, it is really the beginning of true life.  If you want to know what living is ask a dead Christian.  They would say that the life we have now in this “tent” is like living in a fog, like seeing things poorly, like living in uncertainty.  Life after “death” is what living is really all about.  That is life!  What an idea to rethink the death of a believer as their life being swallowed up by life; real life.  Abundant life! 

·      We know that we receive this life because of the guarantee of the Holy Spirit so we are in good courage! 

·      We have a mission, we have a purpose – and that purpose is the same purpose that we will have in Heaven!  What is that purpose?...read verse 9 again.

May God give us courage as we wait for the day when we too are “swallowed up by life…”

The Tapestry of Life

What did you do today?  Think about it.  What happened?  For some of you maybe you had a really significant day where you graduated from something, had a child, celebrated a major event, or finished a major project; but for most of us it was probably just a normal day.  On these normal days do you ever stop to think “what’s the point of it all?”  There is a temptation to live from one major event to the next and just try and “get through” or “survive” the days in between.  My prayer for you if you are reading this is to not let that be the case.  You were created by a God of purpose, a God of planning, and a God of wisdom.  No day is a waste for it all shapes us into who God wants us to be.  I was reminded of this simple truth today when I finished a book called The Family Blessing by Rolf Garborg.  In the last chapter the author reflects on his fathers final days here on earth and quotes the last thing his father read – a devotional called Rest a While from Norway, written in 1948.  I thought it was so good I wanted to give it to you in its entirety.  Here it is:

Like a weaver I have rolled up my life;
He cuts me off from the loom;
From day to night Thou dost bring me to an end.
Isaiah 38:12

A human life is likened unto a tapestry that is to be woven.  Day by day the shuttle moves back and forth, and the tapestry grows.  As thread is laid upon thread, the design begins to emerge.  A thread is such a tiny thing.  And yet the whole tapestry is made up of such threads.  If some threads are improperly woven, the whole design will be marred.
A day appears so small and insignificant.  And yet, each day is a part of my whole life.  If each single day is lived improperly and carelessly, what will this do to the design of my life?  When the tapestry is finished, it is rolled up, and the ends of the threads are cut off.  Then it can be woven no more.  It is put away until the day when it is placed on exhibition and judged.
Dear God, grant that the tapestry of my life may be properly wove.  I give Thee the shuttle.  Do with me as Thou wilt, if only Thy image may some day be the design in my tapestry when the threads of my life are cut off, and the tapestry is judged.

Things to think about:
• I love that last line about the image of God being the final design of my tapestry.  Is that your prayer today?  Do you wish that God would make you look more like Himself, that you would more accurately reflect who God is, what He is like, and give Him glory with the finished product of your life?
• When you think about a tapestry or rug made of so many little threads it is hard to picture any kind of finished design when you are just staring at a bunch of colored string.  It is not until the weaver begins his work and color is added to color and patterns are established that we can see purpose and design.  The same is true for our lives.  Every moment is but a thread that alone may seem carelessly chosen – but remember the weaver that designs our lives.  He has a purpose for every string.  Do we trust Him with the design of our lives?

Questions worth asking

I was reading a good book today about raising your kids Biblically which is called The Legacy Path by Brian Hynes.  In the book he asks a series of questions to the parents.  His main point in asking is to get parents to think about their own faith before setting out to influence the faith of their kids.  So, for today’s Bible Time let’s start with an extended quote from this book and then we will turn to the Word of God for encouragement.

How is your relationship with Christ?  Is it superficial and religious lacking a compelling reason for anyone else to want what you have, including you?  Or, is it a relationship with Jesus that directs your steps, influences every decision, is central to every relationship, and sends you on grand adventures?  Is yours a relationship with the King that takes every thought captive and seeks to bring glory to His name?  Not one stooped in legalism but instead defined by love.  Do you go to Him first when times get tough?  Is there any sense of risk involved in your life driven by a zealous love for God?  Do you care more about self, success, and stuff or are you motivated by a passion for the Kingdom of God?  Do other people see your life and want it because of Christ in you or because of what you have accomplished or amassed?  Is the extent of your life in Christ what happens on Sunday morning or is church a biblical community, launching you into the rest of the week?  When did you last pray for more than 3 minutes?  What was the last Scripture you memorized?  What did God say to you from His Word today?

Wow!  What a series of questions that I pray will cause all of us to stop and think.  Being reminded of what is truly important in life is always a good thing.  With that being said let’s read what God says about what is important…

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.   For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.   Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Things to think about:

·      Before you can ever start thinking about how your relationship with Christ is going you must first HAVE a relationship with Christ.  Believe in what He has done and be saved. 

·      Once you have a relationship it needs to be motivated by love, respect, honor, and desire; not guilt, shame, fear, and bribery. 

·      Come to God and say, “I am what I am, but because of your grace you can change me into who I never thought I could be!”