Our God wants us to understand that there is a life to come. It is not uncommon to hear the question about why God allows things to happen!

Our God wants us to understand that there is a life to come.


•It is not uncommon to hear the question about why God allows things to happen!



•It is not uncommon to hear the question about why God allows things to happen!•If we could only see in light of the “here and now” then indeed life would be “vanity” and a “grasping after the wind.” (Ecc 1:14)



•It is not uncommon to hear the question about why God allows things to happen!•If we could only see in light of the “here and now” then indeed life would be “vanity” and a “grasping after the wind.” (Ecc 1:14)•We need to see things from God’s viewpoint. This life is not all there is!



•It is not uncommon to hear the question about why God allows things to happen!•If we could only see in light of the “here and now” then indeed life would be “vanity” and a “grasping after the wind.” (Ecc 1:14)•We need to see things from God’s viewpoint. This life is not all there is! •The Christian life would make no sense without a life to come.



•Paul plainly pointed out the reasonable alternative if we have no promise of an afterlife! (1 Cor 15:30-32)



•1 Corinthians 15:30-32 (NKJV) - And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

Jesus taught a resurrection that will lead to the life to come


•Jesus was willing to openly debate the question of the resurrection with the Sadducees. (Lk 20:27)



•Luke 20:27 (NKJV) - Then some of the Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,



•The Sadducees did not like Jesus’ preaching. Why?



•The Sadducees did not like Jesus’ preaching. Why?•Jesus reasoned from the Law of Moses to establish a present, conscious existence of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. (Lk 20:37-38)



•Luke 20:37-38 (NKJV) - But even Moses showed in the burning bush passage that the dead are raised, when he called the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 For He is not the God of the dead but of the living, for all live to Him.”



•He also gave some additional information about the nature of this afterlife. (Lk 20:34-36)



•Luke 20:34-36 (NKJV) - Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.



•Jesus taught about the resurrection to the afterlife.



•Jesus taught about the resurrection to the afterlife.•Jesus had intentionally delayed and Lazarus had died.



•Jesus begins to talk about His connection to the future resurrection. (Jn 11:23-26)



•John 11:23-26 (NKJV) - Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”



•He had taught about a general resurrection in His ministry. (Jn 5:28-29)



•John 5:28-29 (NKJV) - Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.



•Jesus wanted everyone to understand that he was “the resurrection and the life.” He demonstrated that in a stunning way. (Jn 11:40-46)



•John 11:40-46 (NKJV) - Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”



•43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” 45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.



•The resurrection of Christ is the very foundation of all that we are as Christians.



•The resurrection of Christ is the very foundation of all that we are as Christians.•It established Jesus as the Son of God.

(Acts 2:32, 36)



•Acts 2:32 (NKJV) - This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.



•Acts 2:36 (NKJV) - “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”



•We now have a living hope! (1 Pt 1:3-5)



•1 Peter 1:3-5 (NKJV) - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.



•It is in this heavenly hope that great power is found in our lives.

The life to come helps me with worry and

anxiety


anxiety•How many things do we worry about?


anxiety


anxiety•How many things do we worry about?•What if … I lose my job, the “wrong” leader is elected, people gossip about me…?


anxiety


anxiety•How many things do we worry about?•What if … I lose my job, the “wrong” leader is elected, people gossip about me…?•Jesus is in control in this lie and the one to come. (Eph 1:19-21)


anxiety


anxiety•Ephesians 1:19-21 (NKJV) - and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.


anxiety


anxiety•Do you think you know of something that Jesus does not?


anxiety


anxiety•Do you think you know of something that Jesus does not?•We have a taste of heaven now.


anxiety


anxiety•Jesus allows things to be removed from us to build our faith. He also provides in this life richly. (Mk 10:29-30)


anxiety


anxiety•Mark 10:29-30 (NKJV) - So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.


anxiety


anxiety•Do you realize that God wants us to be a living example of the fullness of His grace? (1 Cor 3:21-23; Eph 2:7)


anxiety


anxiety•1 Corinthians 3:21-23 - let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. 23 And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.


anxiety


anxiety•Ephesians 2:7 (NKJV) - that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.


anxiety


anxiety•When we understand the power of God, the promises of God and the character of God then we will be a rejoicing people!

The life to come helps me with hurts and forgiveness


•Satan is a master deceiver and a master at setting snares.



•Satan is a master deceiver and a master at setting snares.•When people act in a sinful way towards others, it is because of Satan.



•Satan is a master deceiver and a master at setting snares.•When people act in a sinful way towards others, it is because of Satan.•When innocent people allow uncontrolled anger to drive their response, Satan wins! (Eph 4:26-27)



•Ephesians 4:26-27 (NKJV) - “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.



•Politicians have said “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” Often they create the crisis and then offer “solutions” that make things worse.



•I have seen older men compromise younger preachers with false doctrine and then use the adverse reaction of some to push them further away. Bitterness is a very useful fruit of Satan. (Gal 4:16-17)



•Galatians 4:16-17 (NKJV) - Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? 17 They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.



•Another Elder described those that set “a fire” in the church which the Elders deal with only to have them blame the Elders for setting the fire.



•When others hurt you look to Jesus and the life to come.



•When others hurt you look to Jesus and the life to come.•We cannot be forgiven if we do not forgive. (Mt 6:14-15)



•Matthew 6:14-15 (NKJV) - “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.



•What hurt has others put on you? Does it compare to Jesus? (1 Pt 2:21-23)



•1 Peter 2:21-23 (NKJV) - For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;



•What will these hurts be in eternity? What has God forgiven you in comparison to what you have been forgiven?

The life to come helps me long for a great reunion


•The older you get, the more Christians you know cross the finish line.



•The older you get, the more Christians you know cross the finish line.•We will keep our identity in the life to come. Moses and Elijah continued to be who they were at the transfiguration. (Mt 17:3)



•Matthew 17:3 (NKJV) - And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.



•We know that the multitude of the saved will be together forever. (1 Thess 4:17-18)



•1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (NKJV) - Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.



•The memory of the righteous serves as witnesses to our current race of faith! (Heb 12:1)



•Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV) - Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,



•I pray that my memory in my loved ones will beacon them on to our ultimate home. I do not know who will go first.



•I pray that my memory in my loved ones will beacon them on to our ultimate home. I do not know who will go first.•The greatest reunion will be with God.



•I pray that my memory in my loved ones will beacon them on to our ultimate home. I do not know who will go first.•The greatest reunion will be with God.•This is the city that I long for. (Heb 12:12-15)



•Hebrews 13:12-15 (NKJV) - Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.



•This will be the ultimate fulfillment of what I was created for.



•What tears will He wipe away? He will do it well. (Rev 21:4-5)



•Revelation 21:4-5 (NKJV) - And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”



•One day we will worship with the 24 elders and all of the saved.



•The heart of our song will be praise to our God who has used His power to rule well. (Rev 11:16-17)



•Revelation 11:16-17 (NKJV) - And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.



•Looking backwards from eternity it will all make sense!



•Will your life have an endless hope or be another hopeless end?

Our God wants us to understand that there is a life to come. It is not uncommon to hear the question about why God allows things to happen!

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