{"id":1128,"date":"2019-05-19T20:35:15","date_gmt":"2019-05-20T03:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1128"},"modified":"2019-05-19T20:41:49","modified_gmt":"2019-05-20T03:41:49","slug":"this-is-our-permanent-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/19\/this-is-our-permanent-home\/","title":{"rendered":"This is Our Permanent Home!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"color:black;font: 10pt arial;\"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:TrackMoves\/>   <w:TrackFormatting\/>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:DoNotPromoteQF\/>   <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US<\/w:LidThemeOther>   <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE<\/w:LidThemeAsian>   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\tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;color:#212121\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1128-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Easter-5-05-19-19.mp3?_=1\" \/><source type=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/FILELINK?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Easter-5-05-19-19.mp3\">http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Easter-5-05-19-19.mp3<\/a><\/audio>&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">The Fifth Sunday of Easter<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">May 19, 2019<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Revelation 21:1-5<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">This is Our Permanent Home!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align:justify;tab-stops:13.5pt .5in 2.5in 238.5pt 337.5pt\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt\">Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He will wipe every tear from their eyes.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.&#8221;<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He who was seated on the throne said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;I am making everything new!&#8221;<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>Then he said, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">&#8220;Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.&#8221;<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/i>(NIV1984)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Dear fellow worshipers of our living Lord and Savior,<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">He is risen!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is risen indeed!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Are you familiar with the song \u201cTemporary Home\u201d by Carrie Underwood?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Even though I haven\u2019t heard that song on the radio for quite some time, I love that song.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I think the message of that song very touching.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I think the message of that song ties in very well with a comforting truth of Scripture.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The song consists of three stanzas.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The first stanza focuses on a little six-year-old boy as he is being brought to what seems to be yet another foster home.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The second stanza centers on a young mom and her little daughter as they settle in for the night at a shelter.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The third stanza talks about an old man in a hospital bed surrounded by the people he loves.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The refrain that ties each of these scenes together, the refrain that I feel is very touching, the refrain which I believe expresses a central truth of Scripture quite well, contains these words:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>\u201cThis is our temporary home.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It\u2019s not where we belong.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Windows and rooms that we\u2019re passin\u2019 through.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This is just a stop on the way to where we\u2019re going.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I\u2019m not afraid because I know this is our Temporary Home.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">If you have not experienced this truth on a personal level, my friends, you will.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No matter how long you have lived in the house that you call home\u2014 it is only temporary.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No matter how big or how small your home may be\u2014 it is only temporary.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>No matter whether your home is in a nice safe community with all the amenities anyone could want or in a neighborhood where you don\u2019t feel safe walking around by yourself\u2014 it is only temporary.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">My goal this morning, my friends, is two-fold.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, if the good Lord has blessed you with a safe, secure and stable life here on this earth, my goal is to show you how this portion of God\u2019s holy Word reminds you that no matter how many blessings you enjoy now\u2014 the best is yet to come!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the other hand, if for whatever reason the good Lord has allowed difficulties and hardships to come into your life, my goal is to show you how this portion of God\u2019s holy Word assures you that one day this too shall pass and yes, the best is yet to come!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>With those two goals in mind, let\u2019s see how this text paints an absolutely awesome picture for us.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The title of this picture is:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\"><i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">This Is Our Permanent Home.<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/b>As we study this picture we\u2019ll address three questions.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The first question is, \u201cWhere is our permanent home?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The second question is, \u201cWho will live in this permanent home?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The final question is, \u201cWhat will our life be like when we get to our permanent home?\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Where is our permanent home?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Holy Spirit addressed that question when He led John to write these words of our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cThen I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>When I read these passages of Scripture together with other portions of Scripture that we\u2019ll look at in just a minute, it is clear to me that Scripture teaches that after all the events that will take place on Judgment Day are over, our new permanent home will be right here on a new permanent earth.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Let me explain to you why I believe that.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">When John says that he saw <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ca new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away\u201d<\/i> I automatically think of what the Holy Spirit revealed to us through the apostle Peter.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In 2 Peter chapter three we are told that on the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cday of the Lord,\u201d<\/i> which is the day that the risen Christ returns to this earth in all of His power and majesty and glory, this world as we know it will be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdestroyed <\/i>(that is, either annihilated or purified)<i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\"> by fire.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Peter then goes on to tell us, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cBut in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">home of righteousness<\/b>.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Even though time as we know it will no longer exist, here is how I see the events of Judgment Day unfolding:<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The heavens will be opened and the risen Christ returns to this earth as the Judge of the living and the dead (Matthew 25:31); all the dead will be raised from their graves with the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cdead in Christ\u201d<\/i> (that is, those who died believing in Jesus as their Savior) being granted the privilege of rising first (I Thessalonians 4:16); all the believers who are still alive when Jesus returns will be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cchanged\u2014 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye\u201d <\/i>(I Corinthians 15:51-51; Philippians 3:20-21); the entire human race will be separated into two groups, believers and unbelievers, their eternal judgment will be publicly announced and all the unbelievers will be confined to hell along with the devil and all the evil angels (Matthew 25:31-46); all the believers will be <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ccaught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air\u201d <\/i>(I Thessalonians 4:17); the earth as we know it will be purified by fire, which means that the dross of sin will be burned away and all of God\u2019s Creation will be restored to the way God intended it to be all along\u2014 absolutely perfect (Genesis 1:31; Romans 8:18-21, 2 Peter 3:10-13); the children of God will <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cinherit\u201d<\/i> the <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cnew heaven and the new earth\u201d<\/i> as our new permanent home\u2014 <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cthe home of righteousness\u201d<\/i>!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(See Matthew 5:5)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Imagine the entire world completely free from all the effects of sin.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Imagine a world where the devil and temptation no longer exist.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Imagine the perfection of the Garden of Eden on a world-wide scale.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s our new permanent home on our new permanent earth!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">While I personally find this whole subject completely fascinating, since we do have more Scripture before us this morning let\u2019s turn to our second question, \u201cWho will live in this new permanent home?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Holy Spirit addressed this question when He led John to write in our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, \u2018Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.\u2019\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Who will live in our new permanent home?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>To me the Scriptural answer to that question is very simple and very clear.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Since the Bible equates the picture of <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201ca bride, beautifully dressed for her husband\u201d<\/i> with the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints, (See Ephesians 5:25-27; Hosea 2:16-20; Revelation 19:7-8), and since the Bible clearly teaches that when Jesus returns to this earth He will bring with Him all His <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201choly ones,\u201d<\/i> that is, all the saints, all of our loved ones who are now living with Jesus in heaven (I Thessalonians 3:13; 4:14) to me it is clear that the Bible teaches that <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">all<\/b> Christians, that is, <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">everyone<\/b> who believes in Jesus as their only Savior from sin (Pointing to the cross), will live in the new permanent home on the new permanent earth\u2014 forever.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>And then, in a way that goes far beyond our comprehension, John tells us that the Triune God Himself will live with us in this new permanent home!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Every time I try to picture this truth in my mind, I think of Genesis 3:8.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There we are told that in the Garden of Eden the Lord God used to <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cwalk in the garden in the cool of the day.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Imagine what that will be like, my friends!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Lord God Himself will dwell among us, His people.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We will live with the one and holy living God.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We will see Him face-to-face.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We will praise Him each and every day.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>We will talk with Him any time we want!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Now that\u2019s something to look forward to, isn\u2019t it!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Our final question for today is, \u201cWhat will our life be like when we get to this new permanent home?\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The Holy Spirit addressed this question when He led John to write in our text, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cHe <\/i>(God) <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">will wipe every tear from their eyes.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He who was seated on the throne said, \u2018I am making everything new!\u2019<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Then he said, \u201cWrite this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.\u2019\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">For the Christians who first heard these words, Christians who were being persecuted for their faith in Jesus, these words were undoubtedly a tremendous source of comfort!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Likewise, for Christians today who are still being persecuted or ridiculed for their faith, for Christians who are suffering from the difficulties of old age or the effects of illness and disease, for Christians who are <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cmourning\u201d or \u201ccrying\u201d<\/i> for any reason or in <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cpain\u201d <\/i>of any kind\u2014 these words are still a tremendous source of comfort!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Why?<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Because in our new permanent home God Himself will wipe away every single tear from our eyes.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In our new permanent home God Himself will banish forever anything and everything that could possibly cause us to suffer or fill us with sadness.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In our new permanent home the One who suffered and died on the cross to take away our sins (Pointing to the cross), the One who physically rose from the dead to openly proclaim that He is the Victor over sin, death and the devil, the One who now rightfully sits on the throne of God has <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">promised<\/b>\u2014 yes, He has <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">promised<\/b>\u2014 to make everything <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cnew.\u201d<\/i><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span>Think about it, my friends.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>In your new permanent home you will enjoy a <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cnew\u201d<\/i> life, a glorious life, a perfect life, a life that overflows with nothing but joy and happiness\u2014 forever!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This glorious truth enables us to say along with Paul, <i style=\"mso-bidi-font-style:normal\">\u201cI consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us\u201d<\/i> (Romans 8:18).<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>That\u2019s what our new life will be like in our new permanent home!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Let\u2019s go back for a moment to the two goals I mentioned earlier.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>If in His grace the good Lord has indeed blessed you with a safe, secure and stable life here on this earth, I encourage you to do two things.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, I encourage you to daily thank the Lord for His amazing grace to you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>He is the reason you have all the blessings you are enjoying.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(James 1:17)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Secondly, I encourage you to be careful that you don\u2019t get so wrapped up in the blessings of this world that you lose sight of the fact that the best is yet to come.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>(1 John 2:15-17)<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>On the other hand, if for reasons unknown to you the good Lord has allowed difficulties and hardships to enter into your life, I encourage you to do two things.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>First, I encourage you to remember that like everything else in this world your difficulties and your hardships are only temporary.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>They are like a tiny little \u201cdot\u201d on the \u201ctimeline\u201d of eternity!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>The best is yet to come!<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Secondly, I encourage you to trust the God who loves you so very much that He sent His very own Son into this world to live and to die and to rise again for you.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Trust that He is in control of all things.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Trust that He knows what He is doing.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Trust that He will fulfill His promise and make all things work together for your eternal good.<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">My prayer this morning then, my friends, is quite simple.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I pray that every single time you pull into your driveway, every single time you reach for the door handle and enter into the house that you call home that you will remember that no matter how long you have lived in that home, no matter how big or how small your home may be, no matter whether your home is in a nice safe community with all the amenities anyone could want or in a neighborhood where you don\u2019t feel safe walking around by yourself\u2014 remember how the words of this refrain apply to you, \u201cThis is my temporary home.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>It\u2019s not where I belong.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Windows and rooms that I\u2019m passin\u2019 through.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>This is just a stop, on the way to where I\u2019m going.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I\u2019m not afraid because I know this is my Temporary Home.\u201d<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>I also pray that every now and then you will go back and rejoice in the picture that the Holy Spirit paints for you in this portion of Revelation chapter twenty-one.<span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp; <\/span>Keep your eyes focused on what your Savior God has promised to you so that you will always be able to lift up your eyes beyond the horizon of this world, peer into eternity and confidently say, \u201cThis is <b style=\"mso-bidi-font-weight:normal\">my<\/b> permanent home!\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">To God be the glory!<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\">Amen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-pagination:none\"><span style=\"font-size:12.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;layout-grid-mode:line\"><span style=\"mso-spacerun:yes\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"postie-attachments\">Download sermon audio ::  <a href=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Easter-5-05-19-19.mp3\">Easter-5-05-19-19.MP3<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The Fifth Sunday of Easter May 19, 2019 Revelation 21:1-5 This is Our Permanent Home! &nbsp; Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.&nbsp; I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1128\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}