Image via WikipediaI'm sure you join me in wanting the "new tent." (2 Corinthians 5:1-10)"For we know that when this tent we live in - our body here on earth - is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever. And now we sigh, so great is our desire that our home which comes from heaven should be put on over us; by being clothed with it we shall not be without a body. While we live in this earthly tent, we groan with a feeling of oppression; it is not that we want to have the heavenly one put on over us, so that what is mortal will be transformed by life. God is the one who has prepared us for this change, and he gave us his Spirit as the guarantee of all that he has in store for us.
"So we are always full of courage. We know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord's home. God our life is a matter of faith, not of sight. We are full of courage and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and be at home with the Lord. More than anything else, however, we want to please him, whether in our home here or there. For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. Each one will receive what he deserves, according to everything he has done, good or bad, in his bodily life."
How can knowing the location of your ultimate "home" encourage you to be more hospitable to others now?
He offers to sinful mortals a free pardon for the sake of the perfect obedience of Christ, who identified himself with them that they, by identifying themselves with him, might grow into the same pattern of obedience (2 Corinthians 5:11-21).
(2 Esdras 8:51-54)"But, Ezra, you should be thinking about the glory that is waiting for you and those like you. For all of you, Paradise has been opened, the tree of life has been planted, the world has been opened, the world to come has been made ready, all your needs have been provided, the heavenly city has been built, full rest from your labors has been offered, goodness and wisdom have been perfected. The source of evil has been sealed off, so that it cannot reach you; all sickness has been removed, death has been taken away, hell is gone, and corruption has disappeared. All suffering has been taken away, and the treasure of immortality is at last revealed."
What am I going to look forward to after "graduation?"
A basic decision for us; do we want a immortal future with God or Not? Now that I have a good understanding of the training plan God has provided me, how can I put it into action?
(Wisdom 3:2-9)"It is a foolish mistake to think that righteous people die and their death is a terrible evil. They leave us, but it is not a disaster. In fact, the righteous are at peace. It might appear that they have suffered punishment, but they have confident hope of immortality. Their sufferings were minor compared with the blessings they will receive. God has tested them, like gold in a furnace, and found them worthy to be with him. he has accepted them, just as he accepts the sacrifices which his worshipers burn on the altar.
"When God comes to reward the righteous, they will blaze out against the wicked like fire in dry straw. They will rule over nations and peoples, and the Lord will be their king forever. Those who have put their trust in God will come to understand the truth of his ways. Those who have been faithful will live with him in his love, for he is kind and merciful to the ones whom he has chosen."
What is my plan to prepare for graduation?
We have learned about our relationship to God our Father. At this point I would like to address our relationship to Jesus Christ. We are expected to die to ourselves before we taste physical death. At this point, we will address this area in more detail.
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