Text:\u00a0 2Corinthians 5: 1,2a<\/p>\n
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 <\/sup>Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, <\/i><\/p>\n Many of you know that Karen and I made a trip down to Austin, Texas last month.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t go there to visit.\u00a0 We went there to look for a house to purchase.\u00a0 And not for now, but for some years from now when we retire, Lord willing.<\/p>\n Our trip was blessed.\u00a0 We did find a house and we did purchase it.\u00a0 And we both are very pleased with how it all went.\u00a0 Though at times we\u2019re not quite sure what we bought.\u00a0 Where was that laundry room again?<\/p>\n Well these last few weeks something has occurred to me.\u00a0 Some amazing parallels between our house in Texas and another one that is ours by the grace of God in Jesus Christ. A house that is pictured in our text.\u00a0 And here we all can say:<\/p>\n WE LOOK FORWARD TO OUR NEW HOME<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Paul uses a word here that well describes this life.\u00a0 He speaks of a tent.\u00a0 Some people live their lives in tents.\u00a0 You put it up for a time, then take it down and put it up somewhere else.\u00a0 That\u2019s a good picture of our lives. I think about my life to this point.\u00a0 Every place we have lived, it was only for a time.\u00a0 In the Coast Guard, we knew how many years we would stay before being transferred somewhere else.\u00a0 In college and Seminary, we knew it was only for a time until we graduated.\u00a0 Then serving churches in New Mexico and Minnesota and now here, we might get busy with our lives, our children, our ministry.\u00a0 But then there would come the reminders.\u00a0 Like one just recently.\u00a0 A pastor friend announced early his year, I\u2019m retiring the summer of 2014.\u00a0\u00a0 Wait a second.\u00a0 You\u2019re not that old.\u00a0 We\u2019re not that old.\u00a0 We were in college together<\/i>.\u00a0 Another reminder.\u00a0 Our life here and now is only for a time.\u00a0 It\u2019s like a tent we put up and take down and put up somewhere else.<\/p>\n Yet this life is like a tent in a much more profound way.\u00a0 The way that Paul describes here:\u00a0 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed\u2026<\/span> It\u2019s a terrible fact of life.\u00a0 One day the tent of this body and this life will come down and stay down.\u00a0 We will die.\u00a0 And it\u2019s sad.\u00a0 It\u2019s tragic in more ways than one.\u00a0 For we know that death is result of sin.\u00a0 Sin that entered our world through the lives of our first parents.\u00a0 And sin that shows itself in so many ways in our own lives. \u00a0Just take a trip through the 10 Commandments and every one points an accusing finger at our guilt.\u00a0 The lust of our eyes, the pride that can see everyone else\u2019s fault but my own, the lack of love for God and those around us.\u00a0 Sin.\u00a0 So this tent will come down.<\/p>\n And if that\u2019s all God\u2019s Word had to say to us, it would be so sad.\u00a0 We would have no hope beyond the grave. But we do.\u00a0 We have great hope in Christ.\u00a0 So now Karen and I and each of us can look forward to our new home.<\/b><\/p>\n Let me tell you something about our house in Texas.\u00a0 It\u2019s paid for<\/b>.\u00a0 Did you hear those sweet words.\u00a0 It\u2019s paid for.\u00a0 No mortgage.\u00a0 Nothing owed except this:\u00a0 a debt of gratitude to my mom and dad who were determined to leave something for my sister and me.\u00a0 Every last dollar spent on that house came from them, not us.\u00a0 Karen and I could never have paid for it ourselves.\u00a0 Only because of my mom and dad, do we get to look forward to our new home.<\/b><\/p>\n Well think about it.\u00a0 You too have a new home paid for by another. <\/b>\u00a0\u00a0\u2026we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands<\/span>. \u00a0Of course, some people foolishly think they could do something to earn that or deserve it.\u00a0 But the truth is, there is no way we could ever deserve it.\u00a0 It\u2019s a gift of God\u2019s grace. \u00a0But it didn’t come with out cost just like that house in Texas.\u00a0 My parents had to work over many years to earn what they gave us.\u00a0 Well think of what your God was willing to do for you so you could have this hope for when your tent comes down.\u00a0 Look at the cross and see the price he was willing to pay for you.\u00a0 Not a price of dollars and cents but a price that required the life of God\u2019s own Son, to set you free.\u00a0 He paid that price to give you this hope.\u00a0 This house, this home paid for by another<\/b>. This home, we get to look forward when this tent comes down.\u00a0 And it\u2019s quite a place!<\/b>\u00a0 Quite a place indeed.<\/p>\n There\u2019s much we could say about our little place in Texas.\u00a0 Actually it\u2019s not in Austin but just north of Austin in a town called Round Rock. There\u2019s much we could say about our little place.\u00a0 There\u2019s lots of room for family and company to stay and visit. There\u2019s room for someone to stay like a refugee fleeing persecution.\u00a0 There\u2019s room for someone to stay like a pregnant girl kicked out of her house. It\u2019s quite the place.<\/b><\/p>\n There\u2019s a nice updated kitchen for Karen to make those cakes and pies.\u00a0 There\u2019s even a bike path behind the house for your pastor to take another spill.\u00a0 And maybe there\u2019s even enough room for some bees.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure yet. But it\u2019s quite the place.<\/b><\/p>\n Yet like everything else made by human hands, things will break.\u00a0 Things will wear out and need to be fixed.\u00a0 And of course our life there will be only for a time until this tent comes down.<\/p>\n But that\u2019s ok.\u00a0 And here\u2019s why.\u00a0 Our Lord Jesus Christ has ascended back to heaven.\u00a0 Here he had come as our brother.\u00a0 And as our brother, he paid for our sins with his precious blood.\u00a0 He won our forgiveness and then rose from his grave to show us it\u2019s true.\u00a0 Then he ascended back to heaven, mission accomplished. Well before he did, he made this promise.\u00a0 I am going there to prepare a place for you.<\/span><\/p>\n I haven\u2019t been there.\u00a0 But I’ve heard it\u2019s quite a place<\/b>.\u00a0 I’ve heard it in the inspired words of St Paul who said I desire to depart and be with Christ which is better by far.<\/span> \u00a0I’ve heard it\u2019s quite a place in the words of a dear sister in Christ on her death bed.\u00a0 She said to me.\u00a0 Pastor, it\u2019s beautiful.<\/i>\u00a0 I think there God in his mercy was giving her a foretaste of what was to come.\u00a0 For it\u2019s quite a place our Lord has prepared for us.\u00a0 Not a tent, but an eternal house.\u00a0 And not a house that will ever know the kinds of things our homes might see today.\u00a0 No sadness, no suffering, no strife, no depression, no tears, but joy.\u00a0 Yes, Joy that this world often steals.\u00a0 But no more.\u00a0 Not in that house. Not in that home.\u00a0 For it\u2019s quite the place.<\/b>\u00a0 And we wait now to enjoy it.<\/b><\/p>\n It\u2019s kind of a strange feeling.\u00a0 What do you normally do when you buy or rent a place? You move in.\u00a0 But not us.\u00a0 We now wait.\u00a0 We wait to live there.\u00a0 How long?\u00a0 We can\u2019t really say.\u00a0 We have an idea.\u00a0 But for now, we wait to enjoy that home<\/b>.<\/p>\n But who\u2019s to say, what we will be find when the wait is over?\u00a0 Who\u2019s to say what we will find when we move there?\u00a0 Will the neighbors be friendly?\u00a0 Will we say to ourselves, it sure is hot here in Texas.\u00a0 And for that matter, what will this life bring when we get there?\u00a0 It\u2019s still life in a tent, this body which doesn’t get younger.<\/p>\n But always we have this, wherever we are.\u00a0 We look forward to our new home.<\/b>\u00a0 Not in Texas.\u00a0 Not here in California.\u00a0 But with the Lord.\u00a0 And when we move there, there\u2019s no possibility that we will be disappointed.\u00a0 For finally, at long last, we will be home.\u00a0 What home was meant to be.<\/p>\n So Paul says, we groan.\u00a0 In our hearts, underneath it all, we groan. We groan like this world does as it yearns to be free from its bondage to death and decay.\u00a0 We groan for that time when we will be truly free.\u00a0 For that home that Jesus gives us the right to look forward to.\u00a0 We wait now to enjoy it.<\/b><\/p>\n But don\u2019t misunderstand.\u00a0 We don\u2019t sit and wait.<\/b>\u00a0 As God\u2019s people, he has a purpose for every one of us.\u00a0 You see, this world can be such a dark place.\u00a0 So many people are lost in that darkness.\u00a0 So many people lie broken in that darkness.\u00a0 And many don\u2019t even know it.\u00a0 And once we were darkness, but now we are light in the Lord.\u00a0 In fact Jesus says, You are the light of the world<\/span>.<\/p>\n So what does Jesus want us to do with this light?\u00a0 Remember what we sang as kids. This little gospel light of mine, I\u2019m gonna let it shine.\u00a0 This little gospel light of mine, I\u2019m gonna let it shine.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 Let it shine in your kindness to others.\u00a0 Let it shine as you go about your work.\u00a0 Let it shine and then be ready to tell them.\u00a0 Be ready to tell them about your Savior and your new home. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Text:\u00a0 2Corinthians 5: 1,2a Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, Many of you know that Karen and I made a trip down to Austin, Texas […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-477","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\/477","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\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=477"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":478,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/477\/revisions\/478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}