Eternal Perspectives
- please open your Bibles to Hebrews 11 this morning
- when I attended school, I lived with three different families
- there was one family in particular with whom I was tempted to make permanent residence
- during the year and a half that I lived there, some of the best meals were fashioned and cooked for me
- during my stay, I think I cooked about two meals for myself
- and went near the dishwasher about once
- cleaning was certainly not a problem
- this automatically became clean with no effort on my part
- I remember one time I got out a milk jug, turned around to get a cup out, and by the time I placed the cup on the counter the milk had been packed away already
- friends, it was amazing how fast this house cleaned itself
- with a little help, but not from me
- I had the biggest bedroom in this house
- I had the biggest bathroom all to myself
- even though there were three children, they would go into their parent's room and use the ensuite bathroom instead of mine
- the family I lived with even offered to do my laundry
- now I thought I was paying them a small fortune
- until I had to start paying my own expenses
- and then I found out that this family was not investing in the mutual fund market with any of the money I was paying them
- about the same time, someone leant me their car for four months
- now, I knew that cars ran on gas
- and I knew someone had to pay for that gas
- but until then, I had never really assumed that there was any cost to running an automobile
- I thought you could just get in the car, turn the key, drive, park it in the driveway, and that was the end of it
- but life was still good
- every once in a while I would take it to the friend who loaned me the car, tell him the oil needed changing, and ask him if he could have it back to me by dinner
- life was pretty good
- well, you have to understand that I'm exaggerating just a little bit
- but my wedding to Charlene was coming up
- and one day I mentioned what a great married life Charlene and I were going to have living with them
- I said, most couples have to cook meals and pay a mortgage and do dishes
- what a great life we're going to have living here with you
- to my surprise, the situation in that house was temporary
- I found out that family entertained no illusions about catering to my needs after the children had grown up and left, or even once I got married
- my sojourn in that house was always a temporary one, and as much as I enjoyed it, I was simply on the way to a better place
- and by the way, if anyone hears of a better place, please let me know
- read a few verses from Hebrews 11 with me
- 8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
- 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
- 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
- did you notice in verse 9? He lived in tents, for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God
- 1 Peter 2:11 says that we are aliens and strangers in the world
- I know some people who have become pretty comfortable in this world
- they make the same mistake that I did
- they mistake a temporary residence for their permanent one
- this morning friends, you and I are just passing through on the way to a better place
- we're living in tents
- at any time we could move on and leave this temporary residence on the way to something better
- one day we will enter the glory of our permanent residence, the saint's everlasting rest
- (Hebrews 4:9) There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God;
- (Hebrews 4:10) for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.
- this past week a member of our church has entered into this rest
- we don't know who is going to be next
- which is why the writer to the Hebrews continues
- (Hebrews 4:11) Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
- one of the problems with our view of heaven is that we picture it to be a place with clouds and harps and angels
- somebody could say, "I'd rather spend a weekend in a bear trap rather than in heaven"
- Jesus made heaven sound like a real place
- the Bible teaches that those who have trusted Christ will live eternally with God in a new heavens and new earth
- Jesus said in Matthew 6:20
- But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
- let me ask you some questions
- what are you doing with your one and only life?
- it's soon coming to an end
- what are you doing with it?
- when it ends, what regrets will you have?
- how are you investing in other people?
- when life draws to a close, you realize it's people who are important
- Jesus tried to help his disciples try to understand the nature of time
- sometimes he would be walking along and find a field flower that just came into bloom
- he'd say, "How long does this field flower stay in bloom?"
- "2 weeks!" "18 days" "10 days"
- a short time!
- actuarially, you will live 70 years
- 2 weeks is a short time compared to 70 years
- now compare your 70 years to eternity - very short!
- but the decisions you make in that short period of time have important effects on that eternity
- so Jesus would say, make choices in light of eternity, no matter how hard!
- you'll enjoy the payoff forever
- see this principle?
- so against this backdrop of time, Jesus urges us not just to come to him in faith and repentance, he also tells us to build up for ourselves treasures in heaven as opposed to orienting our lives around earthly treasures, which depreciate and deteriorate
- how do we do it?
- how do we make sure we're only strangers and sojourners in this land
- how do we store up for ourselves treasures in heaven?
- how do we make a deposit on our heavenly account?
- 5 ways
- ONE: EVERY ACT OF PRIVATE AND CORPORATE WORSHIP IS A DEPOSIT IN THE HEAVENLY BANK ACCOUNT
- a good example of heavenly treasure building is found in Luke 7
- a man so eager to spar with Jesus that he was rude, didn't wash his feet or show any of the courtesies that you pay to a guest
- a sinful woman came in worship, took her hair and some costly ointment to wash Jesus feet
- the Pharisees were complaining that
- a. she is a woman
- b. she's a sinner
- c. she's wasting her time
- well, I've forgiven her sin, and worship isn't a wasteful opportunity
- and he told a parable to say if you knew the extent of your sin, you would probably worship a little more
- in the Lord's prayer, Jesus taught us to pray, "Hallowed be your name"
- and Jesus said, Mat 6:6 Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
- one of the rewards is a deposit to your heavenly bank account
- one of the most bullish investments you can make is to pause a bit more to acknowledge and worship God
- it is recorded in the ledger sheets of heaven
- and it moves and delights the heart of God
- some of us get a little achievement oriented
- but there's a poem
I wasted an hour one morning before a mountain stream
I seized a cloud from the sky above and fashioned myself a dream
In the hush of early twilight far from the haunts of man
I wasted a summer evening and fashioned my dream again
Wasted? Perhaps, folks say so who have never walked with God
When lanes are purple with lilacs or yellow with goldenrod
But I have found strength for my labors in that short evening hour
I have found joy and contentment, I have found peace and I have found power
My dreaming has left me a treasure, a hope that is strong and true
In these wasted hours I have built my life
And I've found my faith anew
- worship is not a wasteful activity
- it pleases God and reminds us what treasure really is
- TWO: EVERY ATTEMPT TO STRENGTHEN YOUR CHARACTER IS A DEPOSIT IN YOUR HEAVENLY BANK ACCOUNT
- every attempt to be Christlike
- 1 Pet 3:8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
- 1 Pet 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
- it's a hard thing to live out Christlike character
- you ever get ripped off by somebody?
- I can be a real jerk
- but losing $10 is not enough to justify losing my character
- we pass up beautiful opportunities to show Christlike character
- they're face to face with Christ followers and we have opportunities to make deposits to our heavenly bank account
- the big question: how would Christ act in this situation if He were in my shoes?
- every time we choose love over hate, forgiveness over grudge bearing, wisdom over foolishness, faith over fear, generosity over stinginess, we delight the heart of God and make deposits to our bank account
- THREE: EVERY EXPRESSION OF COMPASSION TO THE NEEDY IS A DEPOSIT IN YOUR HEAVENLY BANK ACCOUNT
- Mat 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
- here's someone who's thirsty
- Jesus didn't say, the person who solves the world water problem or brings about earthly peace
- he doesn't set the bar that high
- he wants us to go around with a little canteen of compassion and an awareness that Jesus might have us cross paths with those who need a swig of grace
- it would change life on the planet if believers like this
- but if you're like me, we see needy situations and we feel helpless
- but we don't have to solve a nation's problems, we have to just help one person at a time
- a storm in Florida brought in tens of thousands of starfish
- a little boy went along throwing them back in the water, one by one
- an old man came by and said, "Kid, even if you stayed here all day, you wouldn't even make a difference, there are so many"
- the boy threw another one in and said, "I think I just made a difference for that one"
- you don't have to change the world, just have that canteen available
- we can buy chocolate bars from little kids raising money for their school
- we can give to the benevolent fund to help somebody whose mother is dying half a world away
- when Christ followers let the love of Christ fill their canteens, and we hand it out or pour it into a bottle at church, it accrues into our bank account in heaven
- FOUR: EVERY SACRIFICE WE MAKE FOR THE CAUSE OF KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT IS A DEPOSIT IN YOUR HEAVENLY BANK ACCOUNT
- 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- every time you get involved in a ministry or church that's fulfilling Christ's command, in time or money, there are dividends accruing in your heavenly account
- a pastor flying to another city to speak at a church
- the person sitting beside him seemed to want to talk
- the pastor made a deal with God that he would talk to this person if God helped him with the message later
- so he talked to this person who, it turned out, has leukemia
- his wife has cancer
- his daughter has diabetes
- but through the church this man pastors, they had come to know God
- FIVE: IF YOU STAY TRUE TO CHRIST TO THE GRAVE, THAT WILL RESULT IN A GREAT DEPOSIT IN YOUR HEAVENLY BANK ACCOUNT
- 2 Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- 2 Tim 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
- the odds are stacked against us, in many ways
- there are distractions of pleasure seeking, there are valleys of discouragement
- it's going to take two things: the power of the Holy Spirit, and a resounding commitment of your will and mine
- "I am a disciple of Christ. I won't look back, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, by present makes sense, my future is secure. I am finished with low living, sight walking, small thinking, colorless dreams, tame visions, mundane talk, chincy giving and dwarfed goals. I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position, promotions, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. My face is set, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough. But my Guide is reliable and my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of adversity, associate at the table of the enemy, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, let up, or shut up till I've preached up, paid up, stored up and staid up for the cause of Christ. I'm a disciple of Christ. I must go until He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till he stops. And when He comes to claim His own, He will have no problem recognizing me, because my colors are clear."
- how clear are your colors?
- when last did you make a resounding commitment that from here to the grave, you're going to be true to Christ, and build up treasures of heaven