‘Home’ For the Believer
Thank you so much for joining us today! I trust that the Lord will encourage you in your walk with Him as we search the truth of His Word. Eric
Earth is not our final home. We were created in the image of God as an eternal being. Even though the pilgrimage of life in our physical bodies will one day come to an end and the fleshly body we live in will decay, our ‘life’ does not end.
Every creation of God, who was created ‘in His image’ will live for eternity. The vital answer to the question of ‘where’ believers will spend that eternity is our main focus in today’s post. It will be your forever home!
Laying the groundwork: In the account of the creation in Genesis 1 and 2, God created man in His image. When God placed Adam in the garden of Eden, He commanded and warned Adam to not eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Ever did eat the fruit of that tree. The consequences of their disobedience brought both physical and spiritual death to mankind. That sin not only caused a spiritual separation from God, but also the need for redemption . The Father, in His goodness and love for man, set a plan in motion for the redemption of fallen mankind. The sacrifice necessary for man’s forgiveness of sin was the shedding of blood from a perfect sacrifice or a sacrifice free from sin.
In our our journey, we will consider the truth present in the Word of God, concerning God’s plan for the redemption of man-kind, the action needed to be taken by every creation of God who was created ‘in His image’ and the magnificent benefit of an eternal home He provides for mankind.
John 3:16 reveals, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.“ The Greek word pisteuo, translated ‘believes’ is the verb from of pistis (faith) and means: “to trust in, have faith in, be fully convinced of, acknowledge, and rely on. To ‘believe’ is to have reliance on and a personal trust that produces obedience. It includes submission and a positive confession of the Lordship of Jesus.” (Word Wealth, NSFLB). The verse continues by revealing that the one who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life!
Apollumi, translated ‘perish’ means: to lay waste, destroy utterly and disintegrate. In the New Testament, apollumi is used to describe spiritual destitution. Ultimately, to perish or experience spiritual destitution means to have an eternal separation from God. Something we need to see and understand here is that unbelievers and sinners will experience this spiritual destitution and destruction. Those who rebel and refuse to accept the provision for restoration of relationship with God through Jesus’ sacrifice are eternal beings also. “Destruction for the sinner does not result in annihilation or extinction, not the loss of being; but of well-being.” (Word Wealth, NSFLB). The sinner’s eternal life will be lived forever separated from God, which means: in the absence of everything that God is. There will be no light, no love, no peace, no joy, no gentleness and no goodness. The definition of ‘eternal’ (aionios) is : perpetual, eternity, forever and lasting. ‘Life’ (zoe) means: life or existence and refers to both physical (present) and spiritual (particularly future existence)” (Strong’s Greek Lexicon).
What a wonderful gift of love He gives to everyone who chooses to ‘believe’ and confesses that Jesus is Lord! We will not face that spiritual destitution.
In John 3:17,18 and 36 we read, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. ... 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them.“ In verse 17, ‘condemn (krino) means to judge, decide, or determine. “It is used specifically of the act of condemning and decreeing (or inflicting) penalty on one.” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). I believe it will be beneficial for us to read verse 17 again, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn (to decree or inflict a penalty on) the world. He came to save (rescue, deliver, heal and preserve) the world.” You and I are part of the world He came to save, rescue, deliver, heal and preserve!
We read in verse 18, “Whoever believes is not condemned.” As a believer in Christ, you are not condemned. In the second half of verse 18, the phrase, “whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” reveals that those who choose to remain as unbelievers or sinners and do not accept Christ as Lord will perish or experience the spiritual destitution of eternal separation from God which we read about in verse 16.
Any time a truth is repeated in Scripture, it is important . In verse 36, we once again read the phrase, ‘whoever believes - has eternal life.’ “the phrase ‘has eternal life’ in this verse means: not just an unending existence but a quality of life in communion with God.” (Bible Hub, Study Bible).
Your acceptance or rejection of Jesus determines the location of your eternal destiny or home. A believer’s eternal home is in the presence of God in heaven. Horribly, by choice, the unbeliever’s eternal home is in a place of torment, where he is eternally separated from God. That place in Scripture is referred to as hell. (Luke 16:23). (A reminder of why it is important that we share the good news with others.)
God cannot lie. His nature is the absence of falsehood. He promised and devised the giving of the gift of eternal life to believers before time began! (Titus 1:1,2).
The promise of eternal life is “not just a future hope but a present reality for believers.” (Bible Hub, Study Bible). Our ‘eternal life’ began when we accepted Jesus as Savior. At that very time, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to reside in us! “God’s promises are guaranteed by His own eternal Being.” (1 John 2:25, Bible Hub Study Bible).
The patriarchs and matriarchs of the Old Testament were given a spiritual perception and acceptance of God’s promises, even without ‘physical’ sight. With this spiritual perception (revelation) and acceptance of God’s promises - they realized they were only, “temporary residents in this physical world and longed for a heavenly country.” (Hebrews 11:13-16). Verse 16b reveals that “God has prepared a city for them.”
A Christian’s identity as a pilgrim on earth and having citizenship in heaven is seen in Philippians 3:20, where we read, “Our citizenship is in heaven…”
The inheritance or possession we receive as believers is (with Greek meanings included): “imperishable, indestructible, undecaying, undefiled, untainted, free from contamination, is pure, unfading, enduring and reserved for us! (1 Peter 1:3 and 4). What a wonderful and comforting truth this is for us to grasp! This verse describes what heaven will be like for us. Wow!
Living in this physical world, it is very easy for us to be so earthly minded (i.e. taking care of family, our physical needs, and material needs) that our focus and priorities are zeroed in on our ‘earthly future’ rather than our ‘spiritual future’. Colossians 3:1 and 2 reveals where our focus needs to be, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Where we are ‘raised with Christ’ we have a new life and identity in Him. When we ‘strive for the things above’, our priorities need to focus on heavenly realities and not on earthly concerns. To ‘set’ our mind on things above, indicates we choose to direct our thoughts toward heavenly things. Matthew 6:33 teaches us to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. “
Our first step to experience the promise and provision of God, in regard to where our ‘final home’ will be (in His presence eternally or separated from His presence eternally) is to choose to become a child of God. We do that by accepting the blood sacrifice Jesus made for us so that our sins can be forgiven and we will be reconciled to a right relationship with God. John 14:6 reveals, “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Then, whether we enter our final step into eternity through the death of our physical body or when Jesus returns, we must be prepared and ready because, Jesus will come suddenly at an hour we do not expect. (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
People who are totally caught up in their earthly life tend to fear death. However, for the believer, there is no death. A believer will pass from one life into a better life! We read in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (NLT), “For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.”
We do not have a detailed description of heaven (our future home) however, we do get a glimpse of it in Revelation 21:1-7 and 21-26 (NLT), “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new!" And then he said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true." 6 And he also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. ... 21 The twelve gates were made of pearls--each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city.”
The new heaven and earth will be free from corruption and decay. The current world order, sin and suffering will be gone. The ‘sea’ in biblical literature was associated with danger, opposition, chaos and separation - ”the sea will be no more.” All disorder will be gone. The Lord establishes His perfect order in the new creation.
What have we learned through studying the teachings of Jesus and the apostolic writings we have read today?
Believers have the assurance of a future life in heaven, beyond this temporary existence we have on this planet.
Through Jesus’ sacrifice and our acceptance of Him, we have already begun our eternal life. That life will go on throughout eternity in God’s very presence.
In our eternal home in heaven, we will be free from all suffering, pain, sorrow and death!
The believer’s inheritance and reward in heaven which we will receive because of our becoming a child of God through Jesus, is imperishable and unfading!
How should this knowledge and new understanding affect our daily life? Profoundly! Let’s look at Romans 8:16-18, “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 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. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
The knowledge we’ve gained encourages us to persevere in the face of trials.
The promise we have of eternal life should inspire us to live a life of holiness and to focus on the eternal rather that the temporal.
The believer need not fear physical death, for it is simply a transition or step from our physical life, (our temporary home) into our spiritual life, or (our permanent home).
For believers, our physical death is not a loss, but a gain because it means being with Christ eternally. (Philippians 1:21).
We were created for our eternal home in God’s presence.
We need to live our lives preparing for it.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scriptures were taken from the New International Version.
NSFLB New Spirit Filled Life Bible
NLT New Living Translation