March 02, 2025

RIGHT WAY LIVING: AIM HIGH: IT’S WORTH IT!

March 02, 2025

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

This past week our church family experienced several deaths: two, in particular, were difficult because one involved a young child who had not had time to live his life, while another was a beloved man in his prime. Not that it takes away from the pain of losing the older people, but a person in their elderly years realizes death can result at almost any moment, while losing a child is traumatic. We find comfort in knowing that to be ‘absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.’ In today’s passage, Paul speaks of the glory that will be ours when we make the transition from this life to eternity. So often it’s not the fear of dying that is the issue—it’s the uncertainty of what we will go through to make that short trip that concerns us. Join us as we read Paul’s anticipation of the life we will live when we finish our ministry here on earth.

Focal Passages: 2 Corinthians 5:1-21, Col. 3:2-4.

“What is” cannot be compared to what will be:                                                                                                                 

  • Read Col. 3:2-4. Why does Paul tell us to keep in mind the life we will have in heaven? Read Rom. 8:11, Eph. 2:5, Col. 2:12, 1 Jn. 3:14. Why should death not cause us anxiety? Why will it be exciting when Christ is revealed to the world?
  • Read 2 Cor. 5:1-5. Paul begins by saying ‘we know’; how do we know? What is the earthly house he is referring to? Why does he say we have in heaven an eternal ‘building’? Who makes our eternal body?
  • In vs. 4, why do we groan and complain while we are in this body? Why is it so easy to allow our present problems to keep us from trusting God? Do you truly anticipate heaven or are you so caught up with your life on earth that you desire to wait?
  • What statement is made in both verse 1 and verse 5? Why, since it is God who has made our eternal body, should we have peace about it? What guarantee does He give us for our future? If God gives us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee, will He take Him back if we sin again?
  • How often do you consciously think of the Holy Spirit indwelling you? Do you ever ask for His help? Why should the knowledge that He is within you keep you from getting discouraged over problems you encounter?

“What is” can be made better by what will be:

  • Read verses 6-10. What does Paul mean that we are always confident about? Explain how being ‘at home’ in the body would mean we are absent from the Lord. Where are the two places believers are found today? Is this what Paul meant?
  • Have you been in a situation where you thought you might die? How did you react? So, if we walk by faith, not by sight, will we be ready if God calls us home? Is your faith in God so strong you are willing to die the moment He calls your name? How did Paul know how he would react in a death situation?
  • What is he referring to when he says we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ? How will that effect how we live here?

“What will be” is not just for us:

  • Read vv. 11-13. Read in NLT if possible. What does Paul mean by the terror of the Lord? Because we have a healthy fear of the Lord, what will we do in vs. 11? Why should we have a clear conscience? Do you fixate on what others think of you?
  • In verse 13, what is Paul saying about what people think of him? Read Acts 16:24. Is this what he meant that some might think we are crazy?
  • Read verses 14-16. In a very human perspective, think of husbands or wives who do so much for the spouse to make him/her happy. What is the parallel Paul is saying that if we love Christ so much it will be a joy to serve Him and try to reach as many people as possible, no matter what the world says about us?
  • Do you love Him so much that you want others to be brought into the kingdom? What are some specific things you do to make this happen?

“What will be” will be worth the effort:

  • Read vv. 18-21. As you heard these verses read, what word did you notice? What does reconcile mean? What was the first use of reconcile? Who initiated it? Who needed to be reconciled—man or God?
  • What is the second use? What did Paul mean that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself? What is the third use? Where did God give man the responsibility to reconcile sinners to Himself? What greater love could there be than verse 21?

Take Aways:
Don’t allow the pain of this present day to cloud the view of your eternal day.                                                                                             See the importance of sharing the hope of eternity.                                                                                                                        Let the hope of eternity be the catalyst for joy today.

Close: One of the hardest things we have to do daily is overcome the trials and crises of our lives, for we end up losing our joy, and it takes our thoughts off of eternity. Not only do we often lose our joy, but we also are diverted from thinking intentionally about the role of the Holy Spirit in our life. How will the loss of these two important factors in our day affect us? One, it can be very discouraging to focus on our inability to control most of our lives. If you think about it, as soon as one other person enters your day, you lose control. The only thing you can ultimately control is your attitude toward things that are happening. Second, the more aware you are of the Holy Spirit—God, by the way,—indwelling you, the more you realize you have power from Him to react in godly ways. Do you need to let go of being the one who is ‘right’? Ask Him for help. Need patience with the children? Ask Him to help you. Use the Take Aways above to reset your thinking this next week and see how much better it goes.

By Sandy Day
March 02, 2025

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