Return to Chapter 7: The S.L.A.V.E. Journey
For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Romans 8:22-25 (1)
Paul in Romans 8:25 closely identifies hope with faith. Did you miss it? Read it again. Sound familiar? Hebrews 11:1 says, “now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
And just what are we waiting for? We wait eagerly for our redemptive bodies that will be forever freed from the enticements and consequences of sin. We wait for an eternity joined with our Father in heaven, sharing a loving, familial type of relationship, as sons and daughters! The Christian life in its essence is a life of patient waiting in hope.
For this verse makes clear that we have been given a down payment of sorts. Jesus, as promised (John 16:7), sent the Helper as the first fruits of our adoption into God’s family. But we wait eagerly, with hope, faith, and conviction, for the day of consummation, when all things will be made new, and we will be declared sons of God as over comers of the world (Rev 21:7)
Randy Alcorn has well said, “Hope is the light at the end of life’s tunnel. It not only makes the tunnel endurable, it fills the heart with anticipation of the world into which we will one day emerge. Not just a better world, but a new and perfect world. A world alive, fresh, beautiful, devoid of pain and suffering and war, a world without disease, without accident, without tragedy. A world without dictators and madmen. A world ruled by the only one worthy of ruling.” (2)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Romans 8: 14-18 (3)
After having peeked ahead we can come back now and look earlier in Romans 8 for the qualifier that enables us to look forward in hope towards our adoption as sons. Wait a minute you say, there is no qualifier, salvation is a gift from God, it cannot be earned lest anyone should boast! (Eph 2:9) I would agree, if justification by faith alone were the end of the story there would be no need for us to continue.
Once we received our “fire insurance” we could go ahead and file the bible on the bookshelf, let it get absolutely covered up in dust, and live like hell for the rest of our time on earth with no consequence whatsoever. Then, when we had killed ourselves with abuse and overdose of food, alcohol, drugs, partying, sexual immorality, and material abundance we could show up at the pearly gates, flash our pearly whites, and Peter would turn the pearly lock and let us in. Sad isn’t it, that is just what many, if not most Christians are really expecting.
I have said many times that I believe the church is doing a good job with grace today. You can even turn on the televangelist and hear about grace. Justification is the order of the day, after all it’s free, it doesn’t cost you anything. Unfortunately what’s getting left in the pulpit cabinet is the preaching on sanctification. Sanctification is the process in which we are being made like Christ. Sanctification my dear friend will cost you everything.
Romans 8:17 makes clear that we can look forward to being sons of God, joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him!” As all the children in a human family are heirs of the father along with the oldest brother, so believers are God’s heirs in and with Christ. But receiving the inheritance that comes to us in Christ involves sharing in His suffering, the pathway to sharing in His glory. (4)
The idea that the things of this world are passing away and the apostle’s re-direction to the “eternal things” is replete in scripture.
This partial list doesn’t even list the verse we have already mentioned before in this book and the one which most know by heart- Matthew 6:19-20 and 1 John 2:17. While it is clear that we are not to be mindful of the things of this world I would also beg that implicit in these verses is the idea that we are to be ever mindful of the things of heaven. It has been wisely said that if more Christians spent more time focusing on the things of heaven it would drastically change the way they live on earth!
While we cannot know exactly what heaven will be like, or what form our resurrected bodies will take, we are assured that heaven will be drastically better than what we have now in this fallen world. If you can imagine we will be like Jesus Christ who preceded us into the heaven.
This world is not our home. It’s a motel room we occupy on the way to our true home, which the Carpenter from Nazareth promised He would prepare for our arrival (John 14:1-3). On the day we die true Christians don’t leave home, we finally arrive home!
While we’re here, Scripture calls us “aliens” and “strangers” and “ambassadors” and says our citizenship is not in this world but in heaven. (12)
You will find no greater words of comfort in the whole Bible. Jesus Christ uttered these words the night of His betrayal by Judas, just hours before His brutal torture and death. As a matter of fact His speech was so plain that the disciples marveled at how clear this teaching was, even commenting that He was not using “figures of speech!” (John 16:29) At which point Jesus triumphantly answers, “You believe at last!”
Heaven is not, for the Christian, some far away fairy tale of never, never land. We won’t sprout wings and fly like angels. Our bodies will be resurrected anew, not annihilated and thrown on the trash heap of creation. The world will be restructured without sea and heaven will literally be right here on earth! The bride (you, I, and all who are part of the church) will be perfectly prepared for our Husband.
Heaven is a beautiful place, a place we can scarcely imagine, but a place we should dream of often. A place that should always be on the tip of our tongue. A place that should always yield hope! A place that should bring out the best in all of us.
There is no amount of effort, work, money, or time that you could put in that would even come close to that which is being prepared by our King at this very moment. Let us stop our empire building and join Christ where He is working today. A world waits for the hope that lies within you and I. We have been commissioned to take it forth, let us not be found lacking in our reasonable duty. There are many words I wish to hear upon entering heaven, and many wonders I wish to investigate further, however the first words I long to hear with all of my heart are, “Well done, my good and faithful slave!”
Let’s go forth as Magellan, sailing on a charted course, eyes on the horizon...in our case, headed toward Heaven...(15)
One of Fanny Crosby’s dearest friends was Phoebe Knapp. While Fanny lived in the Manhattan slums and worked in rescue missions, Phoebe lived in the Knapp mansion, a palatial residence in Brooklyn, where she entertained lavishly.
One day in 1873, while Fanny was staying at the Knapp mansion, Phoebe said she had a tune she wanted to play. Going to the music room, she sat at the piano and played a new composition of her own while the blind hymnist listened. Fanny immediately clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Why, that says, Blessed Assurance!” She quickly composed the words, and a great hymn was born.
Many years later, D.L. Moody was preaching in New York at the 23rd Street Dutch Reformed Church. The Moody/Sankey meetings had popular- ized Fanny Crosby’s hymns around the world and had made the blind poetess a household name. But whenever she attended she refused to be recognized, disavowing acclaim.
This day the church was so crowded she could find nowhere to sit. Moody’s son, Will, seeing her, offered to find her a seat. To her bewilderment, he led her onto the platform just as the crowd was singing “Blessed Assurance!” Fanny took her seat amid thunderous ovation, humbly thanking God for making her a blessing to so many.
Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine!
I have said many times that I believe the church is doing a good job with grace today. You can even turn on the televangelist and hear about grace. Justification is the order of the day, after all it’s free, it doesn’t cost you anything. Unfortunately what’s getting left in the pulpit cabinet is the preaching on sanctification. Sanctification is the process in which we are being made like Christ. Sanctification my dear friend will cost you everything.
Romans 8:17 makes clear that we can look forward to being sons of God, joint heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with Him!” As all the children in a human family are heirs of the father along with the oldest brother, so believers are God’s heirs in and with Christ. But receiving the inheritance that comes to us in Christ involves sharing in His suffering, the pathway to sharing in His glory. (4)
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 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.
2 Cor 4: 17-18 (5)
The idea that the things of this world are passing away and the apostle’s re-direction to the “eternal things” is replete in scripture.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:18 (6)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials...
1 Peter 1:3-6 (7)
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:12 (8)
Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
Luke 6:22-23 (9)
This partial list doesn’t even list the verse we have already mentioned before in this book and the one which most know by heart- Matthew 6:19-20 and 1 John 2:17. While it is clear that we are not to be mindful of the things of this world I would also beg that implicit in these verses is the idea that we are to be ever mindful of the things of heaven. It has been wisely said that if more Christians spent more time focusing on the things of heaven it would drastically change the way they live on earth!
While we cannot know exactly what heaven will be like, or what form our resurrected bodies will take, we are assured that heaven will be drastically better than what we have now in this fallen world. If you can imagine we will be like Jesus Christ who preceded us into the heaven.
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
1 John 3:2 (10)
“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9 (11)
This world is not our home. It’s a motel room we occupy on the way to our true home, which the Carpenter from Nazareth promised He would prepare for our arrival (John 14:1-3). On the day we die true Christians don’t leave home, we finally arrive home!
While we’re here, Scripture calls us “aliens” and “strangers” and “ambassadors” and says our citizenship is not in this world but in heaven. (12)
You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy...Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy...I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:20,22,33 (13)
You will find no greater words of comfort in the whole Bible. Jesus Christ uttered these words the night of His betrayal by Judas, just hours before His brutal torture and death. As a matter of fact His speech was so plain that the disciples marveled at how clear this teaching was, even commenting that He was not using “figures of speech!” (John 16:29) At which point Jesus triumphantly answers, “You believe at last!”
Heaven is not, for the Christian, some far away fairy tale of never, never land. We won’t sprout wings and fly like angels. Our bodies will be resurrected anew, not annihilated and thrown on the trash heap of creation. The world will be restructured without sea and heaven will literally be right here on earth! The bride (you, I, and all who are part of the church) will be perfectly prepared for our Husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Revelation 21:3-5 (14)
Heaven is a beautiful place, a place we can scarcely imagine, but a place we should dream of often. A place that should always be on the tip of our tongue. A place that should always yield hope! A place that should bring out the best in all of us.
There is no amount of effort, work, money, or time that you could put in that would even come close to that which is being prepared by our King at this very moment. Let us stop our empire building and join Christ where He is working today. A world waits for the hope that lies within you and I. We have been commissioned to take it forth, let us not be found lacking in our reasonable duty. There are many words I wish to hear upon entering heaven, and many wonders I wish to investigate further, however the first words I long to hear with all of my heart are, “Well done, my good and faithful slave!”
Let’s go forth as Magellan, sailing on a charted course, eyes on the horizon...in our case, headed toward Heaven...(15)
_____________________________________________________________
One of Fanny Crosby’s dearest friends was Phoebe Knapp. While Fanny lived in the Manhattan slums and worked in rescue missions, Phoebe lived in the Knapp mansion, a palatial residence in Brooklyn, where she entertained lavishly.
One day in 1873, while Fanny was staying at the Knapp mansion, Phoebe said she had a tune she wanted to play. Going to the music room, she sat at the piano and played a new composition of her own while the blind hymnist listened. Fanny immediately clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Why, that says, Blessed Assurance!” She quickly composed the words, and a great hymn was born.
Many years later, D.L. Moody was preaching in New York at the 23rd Street Dutch Reformed Church. The Moody/Sankey meetings had popular- ized Fanny Crosby’s hymns around the world and had made the blind poetess a household name. But whenever she attended she refused to be recognized, disavowing acclaim.
This day the church was so crowded she could find nowhere to sit. Moody’s son, Will, seeing her, offered to find her a seat. To her bewilderment, he led her onto the platform just as the crowd was singing “Blessed Assurance!” Fanny took her seat amid thunderous ovation, humbly thanking God for making her a blessing to so many.
Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine!
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood!
Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood!
Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst at my sight!
Angels descending bring from above,
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect Submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Perfect Submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long,
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long. (16)
doulos ek Christos
Praising my Savior all the day long. (16)
doulos ek Christos
"The opposite of faith is not heresy, but indifference."
Elie Wiesel
Elie Wiesel
THE END
Notes
1. (Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission)
2. (www.epm.org)
3. (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copy- right 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL, 60187, USA. All Rights Reserved)
4. (The Reformation Study Bible; Copyright 2005 by Ligonier Ministries; All Rights Reserved)
5. (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copy- right 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL, 60187, USA. All Rights Reserved)
6. (Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved)
7. (Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission)
8. (Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved)
9. (Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved)
10. (Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permis- sion of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide)
11. (Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copy- right 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved)
12. (Randy Alcorn www.epm.org)
13. (Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved)
14. (Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission)
15. (Randy Alcorn www.epm.org)
16. (Then Sings My Soul; Copyright © 2003 by Robert J. Morgan)
Notes
1. (Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission)
2. (www.epm.org)
3. (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copy- right 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL, 60187, USA. All Rights Reserved)
4. (The Reformation Study Bible; Copyright 2005 by Ligonier Ministries; All Rights Reserved)
5. (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copy- right 2000, 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL, 60187, USA. All Rights Reserved)
6. (Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved)
7. (Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission)
8. (Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved)
9. (Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved)
10. (Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 2001, 2005 by International Bible Society®. Used by permis- sion of International Bible Society®. All rights reserved worldwide)
11. (Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copy- right 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved)
12. (Randy Alcorn www.epm.org)
13. (Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved)
14. (Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission)
15. (Randy Alcorn www.epm.org)
16. (Then Sings My Soul; Copyright © 2003 by Robert J. Morgan)
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