Why We Need To Live With Our Future Home In Mind

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Why We Need To Live With Our Future Home In Mind

Series: Why Did God Create Us?

What Does The Bible Say?

3 May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. (Galatians 1:3–4 NLT)

The Bible is honest about the situation we find ourselves in.

God promises a new Kingdom, however, that Kingdom is not completely realized.

The powers of darkness (Satan and other sons of God) have been dethroned, but they have not surrendered.

11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. (Colossians 1:11–14 NLT)

We followers of Christ have been given citizenship into the new Kingdom of God.

What does this new Kingdom of God look like?

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. (Romans 8:18–21 NLT)

We return to a global Eden.

God is there. (Revelation 21:3)

Jesus is there. (Revelation 22:3)

There is no more pain, death, or sadness. (Revelation 21:4)

People who did not follow Christ will not be there. (Revelation 21:4)

There will be no church (temple) to attend. (Revelation 21:22)

The tree of life is there. (Revelation 22:2)

There will be no night. (Revelation 22:5)

Why did God create us?

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. (Revelation 21:1–3 NLT)

So we can belong in God’s family forever.

What will we do in heaven?

26 To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations. (Revelation 2:26 NLT)

21 Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. (Revelation 3:21 NLT)

3 Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? (1 Corinthians 6:3 NLT)

When the process of God’s Kingdom is fully realized, believers will “judge angels”—we will pass judgment on the fallen sons of God by replacing them.

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. (Ephesians 6:10–13 NLT)

Even though we know the outcome, the war continues.

How Can You Obey?

17 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. (Philippians 3:17–21 NLT)

Live with our future home in mind so we do not live like unbelievers.

Additional Notes:

If you would like to use your home to disciple others, check out our training at www.crosswaveschurch.com/host. Cross Waves has produced short videos to train you how to use your home to reach others for Christ. So please check it out.

Explore:

This series comes from the book, What Does God Want? Michael S. Heiser and Blind Spot Press, 2018.

Explore:

Today’s Deep Dive Into The Bible segment comes from the book: Heiser, M. S. (2014). I Dare You Not to Bore Me with the Bible. (J. D. Barry & R. Van Noord, Eds.) (p. 17). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press; Bible Study Magazine.

Explore:

These are all understandable questions from people who live in an imperfect, fallen world. Our perspective is tainted by the flawed, damaged world we experience. But the Bible doesn’t portray our final destiny as a boss-employee relationship. It’s a father-child relationship. We, God’s children, work with him alongside our siblings, whether human or divine. We image God together now the way we were intended to do. And the brother we all look up to most is Jesus. All of God’s children have been made like him, the ultimate imager of our Father.

The point is that our rule in the new Eden isn’t about hierarchy; it’s about family partnership. When all the family members are glorified, the need for supervisory hierarchy disappears.

To be honest, we just can’t conceive anything like this. We live in a corrupted world. God wants us—he wants you—to experience life with him the way he intended it to be. And someday we will. As the Bible says:

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

for those who love him.” (1 Cor 2:9, NLT)

Heiser, M. S. (2018). What Does God Want? (pp. 48–49). Blind Spot Press.

Question 1 of 5

What did circumcision remind believers of God in the Old Testament?

Question 2 of 5

Today, what is considered circumcision for the new believer? Why has that replaced circumcision?

Question 3 of 5

What do we mean when we say that the Kingdom of God has come, but is not yet fully realized?

Question 4 of 5

Explain what heaven will be like. What do you look forward to the most in heaven?

Question 5 of 5

Explain which angels we will judge in heaven. Why are we given that authority?