ALL THE GLORY GOES TO GOD
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
1 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. 2 For 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.
Mom went to be with the
Lord on Saturday morning. It was not a shock, for we had known since January
that she was ill. When we found out, we did know how long she would have left
on earth, but we knew it would be brief.
Very few lives have
practically lived the truth of these verses more clearly than Mom and Dad. They
each started serving God over 60 years ago, and together more or less 58 years
ago. I have watched them walk by faith and with desire to please God.
There are five truths in
this passage that teach very important facts to us, as we go through life.
I - OUR LIFE IS TEMPORARY, v.1
Our body is just a tent. It’s
decaying, it’s temporary and unstable, but God will give us a new body in
heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:51-55
51 Behold! I tell you a
mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in
a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet
will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be
changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable,
and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the
perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then
shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in
victory.”
55 “O death, where is
your victory?
O death, where is your
sting?”
John 14:2-4
2“Let not your hearts be
troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my
Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I
go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am
you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
Because of my job, I go into
many homes which people have built as monuments for their pleasure, while
spending even more thousands of dollars to change or “improve” their bodies. As
believers we should know better, but often, we, too, get entangled into putting
our attention and efforts on what is temporary. I must say that Mom, in
contrast, aged gracefully; her grace was an inner grace that did not affect people’s
eyes, but people’s hearts. She knew that one day she would be perfect, and she
lived in light of that day.
II - OUR NEW LIFE WILL BE PERFECT – TODAY WE ARE
CORRUPTED, v. 2-4
Romans 8:22-25
22 For we know that the
whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until
now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the
first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for
adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in
this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes
for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait
for it with patience.
Revelation 21:1-4
1 Then I saw a new
heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had
passed away, and the sea was no more.2 And I saw the holy city, new
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the
throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He
will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself
will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from
their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be
mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
One day things will be
made perfect, but for today, suffering and decay are normal. Many peoples’
lives are driven by slowing down the decay and making ourselves more
comfortable. Many times we become obsessed with our bitterness and complain
about the difficulty of life, when God has never intended for us to love life
and its pleasures more than we love Him.
The reality of sin around us and the difficulty of life should drive us into
the arms of God. I have watched my mom, realizing that her body was quickly
being taken over by Leukemia, and yet faithfully continuing on with her usual
passions in life, for she knew that God was in control.
III - OUR LIFE IS IN GOD’S PERFECT CONTROL, IT’S
PROTECTED FOR ETERNITY, v.5
Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this,
that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the
day of Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:11
If the Spirit of him
who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ
Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through
his Spirit who dwells in you.
It has been very
comforting to watch both Mom and Dad navigate these months with a peace and
drive that can only come from their total confidence that the God of the Bible
is in sovereign control over their lives. His character is holy and perfect;
all is driven by His perfection. He is wise; He knows exactly what He is doing.
He is powerful, no sickness or man can overpower Him. He is loving; God always
has our good in mind. At times we do struggle, and when we do, we know we have
lost sight of what is eternal.
IV - OUR ETERNAL LIFE IS OUR AIM – WE SHOULD BE
COURAGEOUS, v. 6-8
Our walk is by faith; our
view is not earthly, based merely on what we see or feel. Our goal is to be
with the Lord.
Philippians 2:12-17
12 Therefore, my beloved, as
you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more
in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it
is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do
all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may
be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in
the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as
lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so
that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in
vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a
drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and
rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice
with me.
Paul had made a decision
to serve God with integrity: all the time, without complaining and at any cost.
What an encouragement it was, to watch my mom’s determination, in the last few
months, to write a book about serving God faithfully. She had learned that life
is not to be spent on ourselves, but for God’s service. She spoke to me with
difficulty this week from the hospital, with some recommendations for me about
my ministry. She knew we are planning to go to Italy
V – OUR EARTHLY LIFE WILL BE JUDGED, SO WE SHOULD
BE CAREFUL, v. 9-10
God is watching the way we
spend our lives, what motivates us, what drives us. It is interesting that when
we have heavenly goals, nothing can thwart them. It is our earthly goals that
get easily disturbed.
As I reflect on this time
of rejoicing because Mom is with the Lord, and of mourning because we will miss
her, these 5 truths are very important for all of us.
We are TEMPORARY –
CORRUPTED – PROTECTED – COURAGEOUS – CAREFUL.
It would seem that this is
a tribute to my mom and dad, but in reality it’s a tribute to God. No one knows
better than mom today, that all we are and do is by the grace of God. We have
no excuse if we are not faithful, and we deserve no glory, because all the
glory goes to God.
The words that ring in my
ears, repeated so often by my mom are these: Whatever you do, work
heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the
Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving
the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24.
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