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Living Between Two Worlds
Philippians 1:19-26
Skip Heitzig

Philippians 1 (NKJV™)
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved.

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From the Edge of Eternity

After studying about the believer's death, resurrection and heaven for four months now, maybe you can relate to these words by Puritan author, Thomas Watson, "Spiritual things satisfy; the more of heaven is in us, the less earth will content us." Knowing what we know now about the believer's future world, how can life be different in this present world?

What happens when a believer dies? What will heaven be like? What about infants and children who die? When do our bodies get resurrected? What will they be like? These questions and more occupy our thoughts from time to time. In this new series, From the Edge of Eternity, we will follow a believer from death into the different stages of eternity: the Intermediate State, the resurrection of the body, the Kingdom Age and the Eternal State. Since forever is a long time, it only makes sense that we both understand and prepare for this "ultimate journey".

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Detailed Notes

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I. Wrestling with a Predicament (Vss 19-26)


II. Wanting to "Push Off" (Vs 23)

  • It Will Be a Departure


  • It Will Be an Encounter


  • It Will Be Much Better



III. Willing to Persist (Vs 24)



IV. Waiting with a Passion (Vss 20-22)

A. If Life is the Plan

B. If Death is the Plan


Bringing It Home:

  • Using scripture, can you now form a description of heaven? How does it compare to life here? If heaven is our ultimate goal, then why do we spend so long a time on this earth?


  • To what extent is your life motivated by making spiritual progress for yourself & others?


  • Write your own slogan: Sum up your life in one sentence and be brutally honest! Then ask God to conform your view into His.

Transcript

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Our heavenly Father, we've had the opportunity to look carefully, closely, over a period of four months at the journey of the person who trusts in Christ from the moment of death all the way to the eternal city. We've been able to look at that process like a diamond with all the different facets of existence, to twist it and turn it and see it in new light and make application for our lives and to see in the process of those four months many come to make commitments in Christ. For that we're very grateful. And now Lord at this final installment, this final study of this series, as we seek to apply the whole of it to our lives and how we should be living in the light of those truths. I pray that heaven would be for us more than just a destination but a motivation. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.
Well just like I mentioned to the Lord in prayer, we have spent four months considering what happens to a person from the moment of their death, the time they get to heaven, see the throne of God, the resurrection of the body, the millennial reign of Christ after His return to the earth, the eternal state, the new Jerusalem. We've considered what it is to go from grave to glory, from death to life, from earth to heaven. And I guess it almost goes without saying but I'm going to say it, that's one journey you want to make sure you're ready to take because the Bible says "it's appointed unto every man to die once and after this comes the judgment." So it's final, you don't turn back and do it again, there's no do-overs once you die, that's it. No wonder Paul the apostle said, "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men."
If you ever try to travel to a foreign country you're going to need the right documentation to be admitted across their borders. I made the mistake one time of flying all the way from Albuquerque to Los Angeles International Airport and I forgot this. Yeah, this is my passport. And I don't know, I forgot it, I've been doing a lot of domestic traveling up to that point and I just would quickly pack and get on a plane. So I get all the way to LAX, make it there in time for my connecting flight overseas to Singapore. "Can I have your passport please?" My heart sunk because I knew I didn't pack it. And I had to stay overnight in LA and have my passport overnighted to me for flight 24 hours later.
The eternal journey is far more serious than a trip overseas and you've got to make sure that you have the right documentation so to speak, the right entry. Not by your works, not by wanting to go there but only by the finished work (as we so often say) of Jesus Christ on the cross. There's two things then that we want to be sure of, we want to be ready to do. Number one, we want to be ready to die because we're all going to die, unless the Lord comes back, we're all going that route, right? We want to make sure we're ready to die. Number two, we want to make sure we're ready to live until we die, that we're living the right way up until that moment.
I heard a story of a bank in Binghamton, New York that decided to send a bouquet of flowers to a competing bank who had recently moved to a new location. There was a mixup at the flower shop, they sent the wrong card to the flower bouquet at the bank. And the card on that flower bouquet said, "With our deepest sympathy." Imagine getting that, you're a new business and you've relocated and the other bank sends you a card that says "With our deepest sympathy." It's like, what are they trying to say? We're going to eat you for lunch in business. And so the flower shop was awfully embarrassed but more embarrassed when they thought of the other card that was in front of the casket somewhere that said, "Congratulation on your new location." That's quite accurate, isn't it? That person in the casket was in a new location. The question remains, what location was it? Because it may not be a call for congratulations if it wasn't the right place.
This is the final message we're going to do in this series. We have looked at all of these aspects on a technical level, now we're going to get very very practical. And this last message tonight, I want to talk to you about living between two worlds. How do we live now until we get there later? How do we live on earth responsibly while moving toward heaven eventually? How do we strike that balance between being citizens of the earth and citizens of heaven?
Well Paul writes to the Philippians and understands that they are rooted in two different locations. He says as he opens the letter, "To the saints that are at Philippi." He knew they had an earthly location with earthly responsibility but in chapter 3 verse 20 Paul says, "For our citizenship is in heaven." How do you strike the balance between both of those realities, between earth and heaven? Our first study in this four-month series, I quoted something that Randy Alcorn said about earth. He said, "Earth is an in between world." In between world and what he meant is we're in between heaven and hell. And here we are making choices that will determine where we're going to live forever. Well let's say we made the right choice, let's say we've all chosen to come God's way, be forgiven of our sins and go to heaven. What do we do until that time? Once the choice has been made, how do we live responsibly? So I'm going to give you tonight in our text, we're going to read it through in just a moment, four words to describe our responsibility and they're all experiences of Paul.
The first is wrestling, Paul is wrestling with the predicament, he doesn't know if he's going to live or die and he gets very honest about how he feels about that, he's wrestling inwardly, wrestling with a predicament. Second, he's wanting to push off, he would just as soon leave this earth behind and be pushed off into his eternal destination into heaven. The third word is willing. Even though that's what he wants Paul says he's willing to stay right here, persist and bear fruit on earth. And finally, we'll look at the fourth word and that is he's waiting, he's waiting with passion. And he gives a little phrase that sums up his entire life.
So let's go back to verse 19, Philippians chapter 1 and read down to verse 26. "For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ. According to earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed but with all boldness as always. So now also Christ will be magnified in my body whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor. At what I shall choose I cannot tell for I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better, nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again." It's pretty obvious just scanning that paragraph that Paul is an emotional dilemma, he's wrestling with an issue. He's in jail, he's in shackles once again, he's facing trial, he doesn't know if he's going to live, he doesn't know if he's going to die. And he's going through these mental gymnastics, "Gollee I don't know which would be better, to go to heaven or to stay on earth, to go on earth and be with Christ or to stay on earth and to serve. So these mental gymnastics, back and forth. I'm reminded of Fiddler on the Roof, remember the father of that family Tevia? And Tevia was struggling with his three daughters and they all got married and with one of them he was struggling about which is the best choice and he goes on, one hand yet on the other hand. He says, "On one hand, this isn't the man I would choose for my daughter. But on the other hand, she loves him. But on the other hand, this isn't the choice that Mother and I would make but on the other hand she sure loves him." Well here's Paul being very honest about his feelings, say, "on one hand, if the trial goes forth and I die, I'll be with Christ. Oooo it's better. But on the other hand I could be more fruitful here on the earth."
So look at verse 23 he says that he's hard pressed. "I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better, nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." We would say he's between a rock and a hard place. It's the same kind of language. Now picture a traveler on a road and on either side of the road are two canyon walls that narrow and narrow and constrict and constrain. That's the idea behind the language here. "I'm hard pressed between the two." He's feeling the pressure of two different possibilities. One wall was the wall of what he wanted in the light of his situation, "Look I'm in jail, this looks pretty bleak. I could just end all this, Lord willing, if they kill me I'll be in heaven, that's what I want. I'll be in heaven, that's better." The other wall isn't what he wants but what they, the Philippian church needs in light of their situation. So here's this emotional tug of war, he's caught in a canyon of emotion, going to heaven or staying on earth. 
Now let me apply that. Whenever our life becomes confining, when our choices, our options narrow, when we feel constricted by whatever circumstance and there's less options today than we had yesterday. When we feel life closing in on us like that, that's when we wrestle like Paul. That's when we wrestle. And it could be because of an illness that we have, it could be the loss of a loved one, it could be the change of a career, it could be the breakup of a dear relationship to us, it could be the death of a vision. All of those things serve to close life in on us. And we feel constricted. I just want to say this, if any of you are going through that be very very careful because your choices at these moments are very crucial and your motivation at these moments is very crucial. You're also caught between two, and the issue is motivation. Here's the motivation: what you're feeling and what you're wanting, is it for God's glory? Or, is it for your comfort? I'll tell you why that's so critical: because if it's all about your comfort above God's glory, you can fall into two extremes during these moments. Some become fatalistic and they say things like, "Well life is so hard, this is horrible, heaven's so much better, I'd rather just die." And they just sort of live that way, in the doldrums, down, "Life's a drag, I want to die." And they have suicidal tendencies. Very dangerous. Others become materialistic rather than fatalistic, "Well if life is hard, I'm going to take whatever exposable income I have and make sure that I'm happy until I do die." It all becomes about the person, forget about the otivation of heaven and living the right way now, it's all about my comfort. It's sort of like when Mark Twain was told about heaven he said, "Hah, heaven? You can have heaven, I'll take Bermuda." That's all he could think about is his own comfort.
I remember this gal who was getting engaged to a friend of mine. This was many many years ago. And we were all talking about the possibility of the Lord's return. And her life became so narrow with what she wanted, she said, "I don't want Jesus to return," for a long long time. She said, "I want to have a little fun first, I'd like to get married, I'd like to have children, I'd like to buy a few things. And then he can come later on." She completely misunderstood what was up ahead, right? Her focus was narrow.
So here's Paul's struggle, he is suspended between two worlds, this one and the next one. Now let's look at what he wants. He's wrestling with a predicament, go to verse 23, he's wanting to depart. "For I am hard pressed between the two having the desire (and zero in on the word depart) Having a desire, that's what I want, this is what I desire. I have a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better." Now I want to describe to you how Paul describes his possible death. He's thinking his death may be imminent and he calls it a departure. I want to depart. And the Greek word is analuo or analusi, one is the lexical form and one is the proper form in the verse. It's the word depart and analusi or anluo means to break up or to unloose or to undo. It was a word that was used in the ancient world a few different ways. Number one, it was a word used by sailors when they wanted to push off, shove off from the land, depart from the land. They would pull up their moorings at port and they would set sail. And so Paul wrote to Timothy in II Timothy chapter 4 and he said, "I know that the time of my departure is at hand." "Timothy, I'm about to shove off and leave port, I'm leaving this earth." Like a ship that would pull up anchor and loose itself from its moorings, I'm departing. That's why a lot of the hymnwriters used a lot of this language of gathering together on the other shore, they loved to use that language a lot in some of the ancient hymns because the idea of I'm sailing from here to a different port.
A second way it was used in ancient times was for soldiers breaking up a camp. They had pitched their tents in a certain area, they would do their job in the military and then they would pull up the stakes, they would wind up the cords and they would fold up the flaps in the material and they would move on. That's a good description of death. We're pilgrims on the move and look at life this way: We're just camping out for a while, we're moving on, this is not permanent. And that's why Paul loved the language of the tent. You know, it's great to camping, for a while. It's great to be in a tent, for a weekend. It's not great to spend a year or two in that tent, without a shower, without a stove, without proper facilities; it gets old really quick. And the older we get, the more we realize that our body is like a tent, I mentioned that when we covered that a couple months back. I got up this morning and looked at the flaps in the mirror. And I'm noticing that the tent is stretching a bit, and the pegs are wiggling loose just a bit. And it was so descript of what Paul wrote. In Ii Corinthians 5, "We know that when this earthly tent that we live in is taken down, when we die, when we leave these bodies, we have a home in heaven, a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God and not by human hands." And so Paul is describing the shoving off, the pushing off, of a ship setting sail or the breaking up of a camp and moving on to a permanent location."
I've always loved the story of F. B. Myer, one of my favorite old dead guys that I like to read, old pastors. F. B. Myer wrote a friend, when he was close to his own death, F. B. Myer wrote this, "I have just heard," writes F. B. Myer,"to my great surprise that I have but a few days to live. It may be that before this letter reaches you, I shall have entered the palace. Don't trouble to write, we shall meet in the morning." Isn't that a beautiful way to say good-bye? Hey, I'm moving, I'm leaving this tent, I'm going to the palace, see you in the morning. Don't even bother to write, I can't wait to see what lies ahead. So, here's Paul in prison facing the possibility of his own death, wrestling between two emotional options, trusting that God will work out His way. But deep in his heart, he'd love to depart, he'd love to move on, he'd love the ship to leave port and move into heaven. He'd love for the tent to be taken down and him to move into the palace. It's not about his body, it's about the destination. It's funny how preoccupied we have become in our country at least, with our tent. Even though it's called a tent, it's not permanent, it's very very temporary. We become so concerned about, "How does the tent look? Of, "Do you like these clothes on the tent?" "Yeah, they're okay, it's just a tent." In fact, it's so bad, I've been at so many funerals, open casket funerals, people look in and go, "He looks good, doesn't he?" Okay? So what. I don't really think he cares about that at that moment.
Okay, but the departure isn't the best part, the encounter is. Notice he says, "Having a desire to depart (and here it is) be with Christ." This is what makes the death of a believer so sweet. That's why we haven't shied away from it in the last four months, because for a believer it's not the departure, it's the arrival, it's the encounter. It says, "to be with Christ." And we have spent weeks and four months as I mentioned all about the arrival, what it's going to look like in the throne room and what the resurrected body is going to feel like and be able to do and what heaven, the eternal city, is going to be like. That's when the encounter is sublime, perfect, ideal. 
We encounter Jesus now, we have mentioned a few times in this last few months that you might have an episode of worship at a church service, or like last week going to as camp or retreat and feeling close to God. You go, "Ah isn't this great?' But it pales, it must pale in comparison to actually being in his presence and as we mentioned last week, seeing his face. Psalm 17 verse 15 David said, "I will be fully satisfied for I will see you face to face." Now let's just sum something up here. There are two modes of transportation to get you to heaven from earth. Transportation mode number one, death. The moment you die you're in the presence of Christ, to be absent from the body is present with the Lord. Option number two is that the Lord comes back in our lifetime, i.e., the rapture and that we're instantly translated and the resurrection happens instantaneously at that moment, "the dead in Christ will rise first, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord." We'll be with him when he returns to the earth, we'll be with him during the millennial kingdom, we'll be with him in the eternal state. At every stage of eternity there is this encounter that is promised. And to be with the Lord, and that's why he says, "which is far better." Now let's just make sure we understand that it's far better to be in heaven with Jesus than to be on earth with anybody else, it is better. Paul had a lot of great experiences but he said this is better. In fact, you want to hear it in the Greek? IN the Greek it's actually three words, it is much more better. Now that is bad English but you should understand it's good Greek and moreover it's great theology. It is much more better. Keep in mind that though Paul didn't give much of a description, he was caught up at one point into the third heaven and he saw inexpressible things, things that he couldn't talk about. Or as he says "so astonishing they cannot be told." Now for Paul to say that departing this life means to be with Christ and it's far better must mean that Paul did not believe in something that some believe in called soul sleep, that when a believer dies their soul just goes sort of into a suspended animation for a period of whatever until the Lord comes back, there's no consciousness until then. That's s false doctrine. Paul would never say, it's better for me to depart and be with Christ because he wouldn't say that he'd be with Christ. He'd say, "I'll depart and I'll just sort of float in wherever until the resurrection. He knew that he would be very awake aware and very alive at that time. Paul knew that if he were to depart he would never ever again have to smell the dank, dark, Roman cell ever again. He'd never have to hear sneers from people, he'd never have to be shackled to soldiers, never have to have the whip brought across his back ever again. To depart and be with Jesus is so much better. 
Now understand that Paul while he was in prison, he didn't count the whole prison experience as a drag because (and we didn't get to it because of the brevity of tonight's message) but in chapter 1 verse 12, he writes to the Corinthians and he says, "I want you to know something, that what has happened to me (my arrest, my imprisonment) has actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel because there are people that I'm being abloe to witness to in this prison cell, soldiers, who are being won to Jesus Christ." So God was using him in this place of captivity while the walls of his world were narrowing. God was using him, fruit was happening. At the same time he thought of the other option, departing and being with Christ. The departure was sweet.
I mention F. B. Myer. I mentioned Dwight Lymon Moody, when he was ill he told his family these words, "I'm not discouraged, I want to live as long as I'm useful but when my work is done, I want to be up and off." The next day, after a very restless night, his son Will was at his bedside, in very careful measured words D. L. Moody said, "Earth recedes and heaven opens before me." Will thought that his dad was dreaming and his father, D. L. Moody, said, "No Will this is no dream. This is beautiful. This is death and this is sweet. There is no valley here, God is calling me and I must go." That's how he died, it's a great way to die, doesn't get any better than that, "Heaven is opening before me, earth is receding, this is death, bring it on." Beautiful. 
Now the third thing I want you to notice in verse 24 is that Paul though he is seeing these two options and he'd love to depart and be with Christ, he's willing to hang in there, to persist, verse 24, "Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." "Look I'd love to go home and be in heaven but I also realize I have some unfinished work." Now here's a spiritual man who is weighting what he personally wants when he's in pain and suffering which is to end that pain and suffering by just going to heaven, weighing that against the needs of people that he loves. That's the mark of a spiritual person. When even in suffering he can say, "It's really not about me, it's about them." Paul practiced what he preached. Go over to chapter 2 for just a moment in verse 3 and 4, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interest but also for the interest of others." Those aren't just words, that's how Paul lived his life and even in prison he's thinking of them, other people and how they could benefit from his ministry. So go back to verse 22. "But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor, yet what I shall choose I cannot tell." I'll rephrase that, "As long as I'm still ivng, as long as I'm still kicking, I'm going to be serving." I'm going to be serving, I'm going to be laboring. In Paul's mind as he's caught between these two worlds, he's thinking, "If I live any more, I'm going to live my life to serve Jesus Christ and to serve God's people." That's fruitfulness, that's spiritual fruit. Remember Jesus said, "The measure of a person's life is fruit. You can tell if a tree is a good tree or a bad tree by the fruit or the lack of fruit." John Stott said, "The Christian should resemble a fruit tree, not a Christmas tree, for the gaudy decorations of a Christmas tree are only tied on but real fruit grows on a fruit tree." Now fruit or fruitfulness in the Christian life is a result of labor. That's why Paul mentions it here. "Fruit from my labor," hard energetic work. Unless we actually do something as believers, there's not going to be any kind of fruit. Again Paul at one juncture said, "Whatever we sow we shall also reap." Paul is going to be fruitful. 
Now I want to conclude by looking at two verses that we skipped over and I'm saving them for last because here is Paul's motto. This is how really he summed it up even though he placed in the middle of this paragraph. Though he's wrestling with the predicament, though he's wanting to just die and go to heaven, he's willing to persist and stay here and minister to people, he's going to wait with a passion. Now here's Paul's goal, here's the motto of his life, verse 20 and 21, "According to my earnest expectation and hope, in nothing I shall be ashamed but with all boldness as always, so now Christ will be magnified in my body whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain." I'll tell you if you ever wanted a motto for your life, it can't really get any better than this. Talk about a slogan, in fact this would be a great thing on Paul's tombstone, I think it sums up his life, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." What's your motto? What's your slogan? I heard about a dentist, I don't know if it's true or not, I heard that a dentist on his tombstone says, "Here lies Dr. John Smith, filling his last cavity." Oh man! It's got to get better than that. I like this better, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." 
So summing it all up, here's Paul, I know what's up ahead, that's why I'm wrestling. I've been fruitful here, I've led people to Christ in prison and I've helped the Philippian church, I'm working here in Rome. That's great but oh to depart and be with Christ, it would be so much better. Yet they need me here and I'm willing to stick it out if that's God's will I'll do it. But while I wait, here's how I'll live. For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. Now I want you to think about those two options, living, dying. Living is Christ, dying is gain. "If the plan happens to be life," says Paul, "then I'm going to make sure it's all summed up by one word: my life is summed up by the word Christ." You know Paul had a one track mind. In fact, as I was going through Philippians this week I was very convicted at how much he had a one track mind and how much he mentions Jesus and Christ and the gospel and "doing this for Christ," and, "My chains are in Christ," and "I want to spread the gospel of Christ," in so many verses just in chapter 1. 
It's like that little boy who went to Sunday School and the first time he'd ever been to church, ever. And his mother afterwards said, "Well how was Sunday School?" He said, "Oh it was fine. Well who was your teacher?" He said, "I don't know who she was but she must have been Jesus' grandmother because he was the only one she could talk about the whole class." That's the only one Paul talked about, "For me to live is Christ." 
And then he says, "for me to die is gain." If God wants me to die, then it'll be better. And we have seen for four months why it is better, why it is gain. Death just sweetens the pie. That's why when a Christian dies, that's really the wrong terminology. Instead of saying, "He died." How about just say, "He moved." "Well, were did he move?" "Heaven." That ism ore accurate. He is still living on, he didn't die, he just moved.
I've often imagined what a believer's last breath on earth is like. Immediately after that the first breath in heaven. Sometimes I've been at deathbeds and I've watched very labored breathing, very painful breathing, and then that final (exhale) life goes. And I just imagine instantly what it must be like for that person in the throneroom of heaven. I'll guarantee you it's not ugghhh, it's like, "Wow!" It must be (applause). It must be. Or, for some people, it's "Uh-oh." I don't want that reaction, I like "Wow!" a lot better. Death for the believer sweetens the pie as we have seen in the last four months.
Now let me close with this, only the one who says, "For me to live is Christ," can say to die is gain. If Jesus Christ isn't the one you're living for, if Jesus Christ isn't your Savior or your lord, if you're not living for him, if you haven't surrendered your life to Christ, you can't say to die is gain. So try to recast that sentence, whatever your true motto of life happens to be. Let's say you're all about money, let's say that's just true about you. So, for me to live is money, to die is to leave it all behind, right? You don't take it with you, there's no bank there you take it to. Let's say, "For me to live is notoriety, I want people to notice me, I want position and status." Okay, let's follow that, for me to live is notoriety, for me to die is to be quickly forgotten. Let's say, "For me to live is a perfect physique." Oh man, well then death is really a drag because you know what? You get ugly really quick after that. Only a person who can say "For me to live is Christ" can say "to die is gain."
So, you have to be ready to die, you need to be ready to live until you die. If you can say, "For me to live is Jesus Christ," then you can say, "To die is gain."
The Native Americans, I don't know which tribe, had an old saying, it went like this, "When you were born, you cried and the world rejoice. Live your life in such a way so that when you die the world cries and you rejoice." I like that. There's one way to do that, it's to live for Christ, live for Jesus, have a relationship with him, to have the eternal in mind as you move through the temporal. Have the later in view as you move through the now. That's Paul's way of living. You and I live in an in between world. You're all invited to heaven, every one of us. Some of you, most of you if not all of you have said, "Yes. I want to go there. I want to experience it. I'm going to make Christ my life. I want him to save me and I want to live for him and I want the purpose that he gives, I want to be involved with his people, I want to live a true Christian life." Many of you have made that choice. Some of you are still considering that choice, I'm going to say this: make sure that you make the choice sooner rather than later. Only because it's my experience, you don't know when that last day will be, you don't, you might think you do, you don't. Life has some interesting twists and turns. But while it is called today, you have time to make a choice, I pray that you'll make that.
Let's pray together. Our heavenly Father, for the last many many weeks we have considered heaven for the believer. We haven't talked much about hell and eternal punishment and the lake that burns with fire and brimstone though that is a reality but we've decided to follow a track and what you have planned for those who put their trust in you, who in this temporal life make an eternal choice. Father we thank you for the choices that have been made long ago by some here and even very recently by some here, even last week. We thank you for that new birth, that new life. We pray Lord that every one of us, though we know heaven's going to be great, I pray Father that in the meantime we would be able to say, "My life is centered around and focused on the will of Jesus Christ for me," so that the rest will follow, to die is even better, much greater, indeed a gain. Heavenly Father, I pray that if some have not made those choices yet, I pray that tonight would be the night that they make them. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

Additional Messages in this Series

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4/27/2008
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The Ultimate Journey
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
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What happens when a believer dies? What will heaven be like? What about infants and children who die? When do our bodies get resurrected? What will they be like? These questions and more occupy our thoughts from time to time. In this series, From the Edge of Eternity, we will follow a believer from death into the different stages of eternity: the Intermediate State, the resurrection of the body, the Kingdom Age and the Eternal State. Since forever is a long time, it only makes sense that we both understand and prepare for this "ultimate journey."
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5/4/2008
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View From Death's Door - Part 1
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
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Nathaniel Hawthorne once wrote, "A grave, wherever found, reaches a short and pithy sermon to the soul." He's right! Cemeteries remind us of our future on this earth--the only real estate we'll hold onto for awhile! But what happens to a believer after death? What about those who have died already? What are they doing now? Today and next week we will look at the experience of the death of the believer and what takes place afterwards.
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5/11/2008
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View from Death's Door - Part 2
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
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How can mortal man penetrate beyond the grave and find assurance and peace for his own heart? Philosophers won't help--they've been for centuries discussing life and death without any resolve. Scientists don't want to tread into the area of wrestling with such questions. Paul solved the problem when he wrote, "For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord." We don’t need to wonder or speculate. Why substitute human speculation when we have divine revelation?
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5/18/2008
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Groaning for Glory
2 Corinthians 5:1-8
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What sort of existence and experiences are departed believers enjoying right now? Is the heaven we go to when we die our final destination? Paul described it as "far better" (Phil. 1:23) but it's going to get even much better! Paul lightly touches on what happens when a Christian dies and awaits the resurrection, but it's enough to give us confidence. Let's consider today the "intermediate" or temporary transitional heaven before the resurrection of our bodies.
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5/25/2008
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Rise and Shine!
1 Corinthians 15:3-4;15:20-28
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My mom used to saunter into my room to wake me up in the morning with a sweet call to "rise and shine!" One day our Savior will give a call for all His children to do the same! This week and next week we will be considering the resurrection of our bodies. Why is resurrection even necessary? What will our resurrected bodies be like? What capabilities will they possess? Will babies always be babies and the elderly always remain elderly when resurrected? As we begin, know this: the idea of resurrection isn't just a New Testament idea; it began long, long ago!
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6/1/2008
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Getting the Body You've Always Wanted
1 Corinthians 15:35-50
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I know I've gotten your attention with the title! This is one of our culture's driving goals--to look trimmer, healthier, younger and stronger than we are. The solution happens to be in the future with the resurrection of our bodies--it will be the body you've always wanted. Scripture gives some wonderful descriptions of the future strength, beauty and permanence of our resurrected body. Let's consider what the Bible says about how you'll look then.
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6/8/2008
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Jesus, Friend of Children
Matthew 19:13-15
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Today's subject is a tender one. The death of infants and children is the greatest fear of any parent. Does the Bible speak clearly about what happens when they die? It certainly does and it also gives great comfort to many who suffer the horrible loss of a little one. In this series on Eternity we must consider this subject since it affects so many and will also help us understand the fate of those who, like children, have diminished capacities.
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6/22/2008
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A Sneak-Peek Into What's Up There
Revelation 4:1-3
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In the early morning of his last day on earth, Dwight L. Moody, awoke suddenly and said, "Earth recedes; heaven opens before me." Those near him thought he was dreaming. "No, this is no dream, it is beautiful. It is like a trance. If this is death, it is sweet. There is no valley here. God is calling me, and I must go." After that sneak-peek of heaven, Mr. Moody entered his heavenly home. Today lets begin to consider our future home by glimpsing God’s heavenly Throne Room.
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6/29/2008
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What on Earth is Going On in Heaven?
Revelation 4-5
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The above title is more than just a play on words. Although there will be many activities going on in heaven, worship is one of the few things that we can do "down here" on earth that we will also do "up there" in heaven. That means that one of the ways you can get closer to heaven is to engage in biblical worship right now. Let's tag along with John for his extended tour of heaven.
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7/13/2008
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Gold, Silver, or Bronze?
2 Corinthians 5:9-11
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Next month, the eyes of the world will be on the Olympic Games in Beijing. Athletes from all over the world will compete, hoping to win the gold, silver or bronze medals that rank them as being some of the best on earth. This image of receiving an award from a judge on the raised platform of the Olympic Games is what Paul had in mind when he wrote about the future judgment of believers for their works on earth. Let’s see what this means.
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7/20/2008
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Heaven on Earth - Part 1
Revelation 20:1-3
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Mankind long ago gave up on the idea of a future Utopia. The idea of perpetual peace and undisturbed harmony became the stuff of fairy tale books. But that is precisely what God promised He will bring to this earth one day. And even though Satan has exercised a temporary authority over God's creation for several millennia, the story isn't over yet. Jesus Christ, who came two millennia ago as Savior, will return to rule as Sovereign for a thousand years. And no, this won't just be a spiritual kingdom in the hearts of His followers. This will be a literal dominion over a renewed earth. Let's explore this 1000 year phase of your eternal future.
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7/27/2008
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Heaven on Earth - Part 2: The Bad Guy is Bound
Revelation 20:1-3
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This world has been so tainted and marred with sin and Satanic deception that it's impossible for us to even imagine what it would be like with Him out of the way. Thankfully we have a clear description of what that will be like during the 1000 year reign of Christ in the Kingdom Age. Today we see the drama of Satan's arrest and incarceration, as the ultimate "bad guy" gets put away to make way for this future era of peace, prosperity and righteousness.
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8/10/2008
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Heaven on Earth - Part 3: When Politics are Perfect
Revelation 20:4-6
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It's the political season in our country and both sides are ramping up their platform to get as many votes as possible. The country is sharply divided on the two candidates but one thing is certain according to a recent poll: Americans consider both candidates to be risky if elected president. In Christ's Kingdom on earth, Christ will reign and all those who help Him administer will be in a glorified state, thereby minimizing any risk for shady politics. Get ready--you’re going to be part of the future political agenda of the King of Kings.
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8/17/2008
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Six Things That Will Surprise You About Heaven
Revelation 21:1-8
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I began this series talking about all the things I heard people say at funerals about the afterlife, from turning into angels when you die to having to answer Peter's questions at the gates of heaven. I have discovered that most people's (even Christians) ideas about what heaven will be like are vastly different that what Scripture reveals. We turn now to the Eternal State--after our initial experience of the Throne room of heaven, after our bodily resurrection at the Rapture, after the Millennial Reign of Christ. Here's a few things that might surprise you further:
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8/24/2008
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Future-Town - Part 1
Revelation 21:9-21
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Our English word town is related to the German word zaun (tuin in Dutch). The original idea behind the meaning referred to a space that a fence or wall would enclose. The town of the future described in this chapter, also enclosed by a wall, will be so magnificent that even John's depiction leaves us scratching our heads. This is God's revelation of the future Eternal dwelling of all believers. Let's do a walk-through today.
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9/7/2008
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Future-Town - Part 2
Revelation 21:22-22:5
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Today we will conduct a walk-through of your ultimate destination as a believer. We will walk with John as he describes what he saw as he was shown the New Jerusalem. It will be a social environment with such unique features, you'll have to bend and stretch your imagination just a bit. I will sum up this future cityscape by describing five conditions that will exist in God's Town
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There are 16 additional messages in this series.
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