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Series: Heaven CDOBC – beginning on 1/6/08 Title: “Our Eternal To-Do List” Selected text ~ May 25, 2008 Chap. 21 & 22 - Alcorn OBJECTIVE: That we would be encouraged and excited about reigning with Christ in the New Heaven and New Earth. Announcements Welcome / guests – communication cards. VBS kid sign-ups at table in courtyard Weekend to Remember Conference on June 20-22 at the Starr Pass Marriott. Deb Wylie has agreed to be the group coordinator. Couples who register under the group number will receive $80 off the regular conference fee of $258 (final cost per couple will then be $178 Between Time Snack Bar next Sunday – June 1st Children’s Min / Nursery needs – see blue insert – place in offering plate Heaven Q & A – for concluding sermon in June 1 Check bulletin for ministry details Opening prayer What do you want to do when you grow up? This is a question that all of us answered in our elementary school days. The most popular answers are still: Boys: A pro athlete / policeman / fireman / doctor Girls: Teacher / nursing / hairdresser / dancer But what if you’re already ‘grown-up’? Have you ever thought about what you will be doing for eternity? Have you ever realized that the Bible gives us some details about what our career will be in Heaven? Not only does the Bible share this insight with us, but it also gives us some direction on how to prepare for our eternal career! 1 This morning, we will look at the “careers” God has planned for us – and we will then find out how to prepare in this life for what eternity holds in store. Your career: to rule and reign with Christ. The Bible has numerous, clear passages that teach God’s plan for the saints – those who have faith in Christ. “God created Adam and Eve to be king and queen over the earth. Their job was to rule the earth, to the glory of God. They failed. Jesus Christ is the second Adam, and the church is his bride, the second Eve. Christ is king, the church is his queen. Christ will exercise dominion over all nations of the earth: ‘He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth…All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him” (Psalm 72:8, 11). As the new head of the human race, Christ – with his beloved people as his bride and co-rulers – will at last accomplish what was entrusted to Adam and Eve. God’s saints will fulfill on the New Earth the role God first assigned to Adam and Eve on the old Earth. “They will reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 22:5).” Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, p. 207 Daniel 7:13-14 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” 1 Cor. 6:2-3 2 “Do you not know that the saints will judge (3rd person future active indicative plural) the world?...Do you not know that we will judge (3rd person future active indicative plural) angels?” Rev. 2:26 “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations…” Rev. 5:9b-10 “…with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” God is the sovereign King of the universe. Nothing is outside of His rule – He own every square inch of the universe. His Kingdom is all-inclusive of the entire creation. As sovereign King, His first-born son has the right to reign on His behalf with His full authority. Jesus, is the firstborn of all creation (Col. 1:15) and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord (Phil. 2:11). If you have faith in Christ, then you are a co-heir with Him – and you will also rule and reign in God’s Kingdom! What if you don’t want to rule? Some of you may be thinking, “Boy, that sounds like a lot of work. I thought Heaven would be a place of rest and never-ending joy and pleasure.” 3 Let me try and address these concerns. First, acknowledge our sin. Understand that in our fallen state – in our curse-filled world, we are tired and worn out. Like all creation, we long for not only our spiritual redemption, but our physical resurrection. We get up in the morning thinking about the endless list of responsibilities that the day will bring, and we put our head on the pillow at night thinking of the work we never completed that day, and worrying about the next days tasks. Acknowledge the bias we have due to our sin nature – our sinfulness – and that our life experiences twist pervert our views and thoughts of ruling and government. Second, have an attitude of obedience. Realize that our assigned task of ruling is not a human invention – it’s God’s good, perfect, glorious plan. To say “no” to God’s eternal plan for us is to reject Him and His will. It indirectly says to God that you want Heaven, but nothing to do with the King of Heaven and His Kingdom. Some believe that it’s arrogant or prideful to desire a position of ruling, and they believe it is more spiritual to humbly deny this future task – to turn down a part in the future hierarchy of Heaven. However, the true spiritual response to God’s call and plan for the saints to rule and reign is to eagerly anticipate and accept God’s blessing of leadership and responsibility. Third, absolute joy is found in God’s plan. It is a false assumption to assume that ruling and reigning is devoid of joy and pleasure. Because of the realities of our life in this fallen world, you might associate ruling and reigning with speaking in front of large groups, with solving problems all day long, mediating conflicts, etc. It’s vital that you don’t make the mistake of transferring your experiences 4 in a sinful world onto the perfect, sinless world of the New Heaven and the New Earth. Also, remind yourself that in Heaven you will have a sinless, resurrected, glorified body. The things that you don’t like – that you don’t enjoy in this life – may not be a part of your new, eternal life. Just like you may enjoy foods today that you hated as a child – as a child, you believed the other gender had the plague – before becoming a parent you swore you would never drive a minivan! Remember, that God’s plan is always the best, most perfect plan for you. His plan is the place where you will experience the most joy and fulfillment – and where He will be glorified the most. He created humanity to rule and reign over the Earth. What could be more joyful and pleasurable than fulfilling your God-created role and purpose? God has a specific plan for you – He has a tremendous gift / blessing for you – and it involves some level of ruling and reigning in His Kingdom. Another difficulty some people have with the Bible’s teaching on this topic is that they equate government and positions of authority or power with corruption, greed, and selfish ambitions. “Absolute Power Corrupts” is a creed we have heard often. Once again, we must be careful not to transfer our experiences in this sinful world onto the next world. Leadership, ruling, and government are not inherently evil. Before sin entered the world, Adam and Eve were given the command to rule and reign over the earth. 5 God Himself sovereignly rules and reigns over all creation. He has established a hierarchical structure in Heaven among the angels in which there is no sin. Leadership, ruling, and governmental structure are part of God’s original order – they are a part of His economy. These things have been perverted and polluted by sin in our present world, but there will be no sin in Heaven. There will be no imperfection in Heaven. Think of what a joy it will be to rule over a city that has no sin! What if God gave you the Mayorship of Chicago or Detroit? If you were given that job in this life, the corruption, the crime, the greed would be overwhelming and they would be obstacles to your governance. However, on the New Earth, any city or cities God gives you would be populated with perfect, sinless people. There will be no crime, no police, no jails, no parking tickets, no riots, no corruption among the city officials, no selfishness and no greed! Imagine what it will be like to serve the King – to serve God – by governing one of the great cities of Heaven! We’ve seen some of the passages in Scripture that speak to what our “career” will be in Heaven – a career of ruling and reigning with Christ over the Kingdom of God. But how can we prepare for what God is preparing and planning for us? Our current life is preparing us for Heaven. John 14:1-2 – Jesus is preparing our eternal home, but He is also working to prepare us for the home we will occupy for all eternity! Parable of the talents – Matt. 25:14-30 T3 – time, talent, tithe 6 The Bema (Judgment) Seat of Christ - 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:10; Romans 14:10-12 The only way to have your sins forgiven – to be justified in the eyes of God is to have faith. No amount of good works can ever gain God’s forgiveness. However, all who have faith in Christ - all who are in the family of God are called to a life lived in obedience to the King. We are commanded to obey the Word of God – to use what He has given us – time/talent/finances to strengthen or expand His Kingdom and thereby bring glory to Him. These passages speak of the judgment of believers. This is not a judgment of destination – this is not a judgment that determines if you will go to Heaven or Hell – it’s a judgment of your works and whether or not you were faithful in this life with what God entrusted to you. I believe it is on the basis of this judgment that will determine your position of authority in Heaven. I believe this will occur during the Tribulation period and that we will begin to rule with Christ during the Millennial Kingdom – and our Heavenly career will continue on into eternity. Will we be jealous or covetous of those who have a greater position of authority and honor that we do? Application 1. Anticipate your heavenly career. 2. Faithful obedience is preparation for your heavenly career. 7