Made For Another World

"I Will Come Back For You!" ~Jesus

SYNOPSIS: Jesus’s revelation of his Second Coming and the planned retrieval of his followers to a newly constructed eternal dwelling in John 14:3 – “When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me” – is the most comforting and motivating promise that he ever made. Allow his promise to both soothe and strengthen you today because it is yet another reminder that you were “made for another world.” This world is not your home; a better one is coming – and soon! And until that great day comes, your longing for the next world is to energize you for tireless kingdom work in this present world.

Project 52—Memorize:
John 14:2-3

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Jesus knew that what he was about to say would upset his disciples; perhaps even cause them to panic. They had left everything to follow him, and now that public opinion had turned against his messianic ministry, their very lives were in danger along with his. Yet this small band of men had still thrown in with Jesus. And now he was telling them that he was about to leave them for another world.

But Jesus made two incredible promises to his disciples in John 14 as he revealed his exit plan that would shore up their courage and give them the confidence to carry on with his plans to transform the world through their witness. First, he revealed that the Holy Spirit would take his place and come alongside them, and unlike him, actually take up residence within them. (John 14:16-17) It would be the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit who would comfort, guide, and empower the disciples to accomplish even greater results than Jesus himself had achieved.

The second promise was that just as surely as he was going away, and just as surely as he had come a first time, he would come back a second time and get them. The next time, he would not come to live with them, he would come to take them to a place that he was now leaving to prepare especially for them.  He would be constructing a new home in a new place in another world just for them—that was his promise. And he asked them, as tough as the news of his departure was on them, to trust him on this and to not be troubled by his absence. (John 14:1).

It was this revelation of his Second Coming and the planned retrieval of his followers to a newly constructed eternal dwelling that was and still is to be the most comforting and motivating promise that Jesus made. It is to comfort because, as C.S. Lewis said, it is a powerful and ongoing reminder that we “made for another world”. This world is not your home; a better one is coming!

But Jesus’ promise was more than just wishful hoping for an escape hatch from this world to the next, it was also to be a powerful motivator that much was needed to be done before his return. Just as he would be working on our new dwellings while he is away, we are to be working to spread his fame in this world before he returns. It was precisely our longing for the next world that is to energize us for tireless kingdom work in this present world.

Jesus’ promise to return and retrieve us is still in effect. Just as it was to comfort his disciples then, it is to comfort us today. Just as it was to energize them for kingdom work back then, the fact that he could return at any moment, perhaps even the next moment, is to motivate us to tirelessly represent his cause today.

If you belong to Christ, you were made for another world. Don’t ever forget that. It will keep your heart strong and your hands active—which is exactly how I want him to find me when he comes to get me.

“If we really believe that home is elsewhere and that this life is a ‘wandering to find home,’ why should we not look forward to the arrival?” ~C.S. Lewis

Reflect and Apply: Spend some time today thinking about your eternal home. That is not a waste of time, by the way, it is what you were meant to do. In history, “you will find out that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” (C.S. Lewis)

Checklist For The Journey Home

Reflect:
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 & 5:1-11

“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.” (I Thessalonians 5:2)

Both of the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Thessalonian church devote a great deal of space to Christ’s return. Paul concludes his first letter by reminding his readers that this great event will happen when people least expect it—“like a thief in the night.” So as believers, we must therefore live each and every moment expecting the unexpected. We are to live with our bags packed, so to speak, ready to leave for our true home—heaven—at a moment’s notice.

What does it mean to live in such a way? Paul gives a checklist of sorts in the final verses of this letter. Perhaps you’ve used a checklist to make sure you have the right things packed in your suitcase before going on an extended trip. As you prepare for the journey home—which by the way, will be an extended trip with no return—here is your spiritual checklist:

  • I Thessalonians 5:6—Be alert! Be on the lookout; remain on guard as to Christ’s return and the evil conditions of the time in which it will take place.
  • I Thessalonians 5:6 & 8—Be self-controlled! Keep your life, your passions, your desires and fleshly drives in check.
  • I Thessalonians 5:8—Be armed! Put on the armor of faith (conviction), love (self-sacrifice) and hope (the assurance of your salvation).
  • I Thessalonians 5:11—Be encouraging! Instead of finding flaws in others, build them up and help them to be ready for Christ’s return.
  • I Thessalonians 5:12-13—Be respectful! Treat your spiritual leaders—ministers and lay leaders—with high regard and love. Give them respect not because of their position, educational achievements or popularity, but because of the nature of their work.
  • I Thessalonians 5:13—Be at peace! Seek peace actively, not passively, with fellow believers.
  • I Thessalonians 5:14-15—Be active! Get involved with others by warning the idle, motivating the timid, helping the weak, being patient with everyone, and exhibiting kindness rather than retaliation toward those who’ve hurt you.
  • I Thessalonians 5:16—Be joyful! Maintain an attitude of joy no matter what.
  • I Thessalonians 5:17—Be prayerful! Stay in God’s presence continually.
  • I Thessalonians 5:18—Be thankful! Not only in good times, but even in bad times exhibit an attitude of gratitude.
  • I Thessalonians 5:19-20—Be sensitive! Develop a sensitivity and an appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ; especially as it relates to prophecy.
  • I Thessalonians 5:21—Be discerning! Gain knowledge of the Bible so that everything can be tested against it.
  • I Thessalonians 5:21—Be obedient! Understand what the Word of God says, and be quick to obey it.
  • I Thessalonians 5:22—Be pure! Moral purity should continually characterize your life.
  • I Thessalonians 5:23-24—Be dependent! Fully depend on God and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to bring about sanctification and blamelessness in your life—body, soul and spirit.
  • I Thessalonians 5:25—Be prayerful! Regularly intercede for others before the throne of God.
  • I Thessalonians 5:26—Be friendly! Love and affection must be demonstrable, and an outward expression of your inner affection for fellow believers.
  • I Thessalonians 5:27—Be unselfish! Take responsibility to share with other believers the truth of God’s Word.
  • I Thessalonians 5:28—Be gracious! Live in the light and reality of God’s grace, personally and relationally.

Are you ready to go, or do you need to do some more packing? Jesus may come today, so make sure you’re ready for the journey.

“Our deepest calling is not to grow in our knowledge of God. It is to make disciples. Our knowledge will grow—the Holy Spirit, Jesus promised, will guide us into all truth. But that’s not our calling, it is His. Our calling is to prepare the world for Christ’s return. The world is not ready yet. And so, we go about introducing a dying world to the Savior of Life. Anything we do toward our own growth must be toward that end.” ~Jeffery Bryant

Reflect and Apply: Offer yourself to God: “Lord, I long to see you. Perhaps it will be today! But whether it is today or a hundred years from now, empower me through the Holy Spirit to live in a state of readiness, ready to go home at a moment’s notice.”

Made For Another World

Reflect:
John 14:2-3

“In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Jesus knew that what he was about to say would upset his disciples; perhaps even cause them to panic. They had left everything to follow him, and now that public opinion had turned against his messianic ministry, their very lives were in danger along with his. Yet this small band of men had still thrown in with Jesus. And now he was telling them that he was about to leave them for another world.

But Jesus made two incredible promises to his disciples in John 14 as he revealed his exit plan that would shore up their courage and give them confidence to carry on with his plans to transform the world through their witness. First, he revealed that the Holy Spirit would take his place and come alongside them, and unlike him, actually take up residence within them. (John 14:16-17) It would be the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit who would comfort, guide and empower the disciples to accomplish even greater results than Jesus himself had achieved.

The second promise was that just as surely as he was going away, and just as surely as he had come a first time, he would come back a second time and get them. The next time, he would not come to live with them, he would come to take them to a place that he was now leaving to prepare especially for them. He would be constructing a new home in a new place in another world just for them—that was his promise. And he asked them, as tough as the news of his departure was on them, to trust him on this and to not be troubled by his absence. (John 14:1).

It was this revelation of his second coming and the planned retrieval of his followers to a newly constructed eternal dwelling that was, and still is, to be, the most comforting and motivating promise that Jesus made. It is to comfort because, as C.S. Lewis said, it is a powerful and ongoing reminder that we “made for another world”. This world is not your home; a better one is coming!

But Jesus’ promise was more than just wishful hoping for an escape hatch from this world to the next, it was also to be a powerful motivator that much was needed to be done before his return. Just as he would be working on our new dwellings while he is away, we are to be working to spread his fame in this world before he returns. It was precisely our longing for the next world that is to energize us for tireless kingdom work in this present world.

Jesus’ promise to return and retrieve us is still in effect. Just as it was to comfort his disciples then, it is to comfort us today. Just as it was to energize them for kingdom work back then, the fact that he could return at any moment, perhaps even the next moment, is to motivate us to tirelessly represent his cause today.

If you belong to Christ, you were made for another world. Don’t ever forget that. It will keep your heart strong and your hands active—which is exactly how I want him to find me when he comes to get me.

“If we really believe that home is elsewhere and that this life is a ‘wandering to find home,’ why should we not look forward to the arrival?” ~C.S. Lewis

Reflect and Apply: Spend some time today thinking about your eternal home. That is not a waste of time, by the way, it is what you were meant to do. In history, “you will find out that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next.” (C.S. Lewis)

Checklist For the Journey Home

Essential 100—Read:
I Thessalonians 4:13-18 & 5:1-11

“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.” (I Thessalonians 5:2)

Both of the Apostle Paul’s letters to the Thessalonian church devote a great deal of space to Christ’s return. Paul concludes his first letter by reminding his readers that this great event will happen when people least expect it—“like a thief in the night.” So as believers, we must therefore live each and every moment expecting the unexpected. We are to live with our bags packed, so to speak, ready to leave for our true home—heaven—at a moment’s notice.

What does it mean to live in such a way? Paul gives a checklist of sorts in the final verses of this letter. Perhaps you’ve used a checklist to make sure you have the right things packed in your suitcase before going on an extended trip. As you prepare for the journey home—which by the way, will be an extended trip with no return—here is your spiritual checklist:

  • I Thessalonians 5:6—Be alert! Be on the lookout; remain on guard as to Christ’s return and the evil conditions of the time in which it will take place.
  • I Thessalonians 5:6 & 8—Be self-controlled! Keep your life, your passions, your desires and fleshly drives in check.
  • I Thessalonians 5:8—Be armed! Put on the armor of faith (conviction), love (self-sacrifice) and hope (the assurance of your salvation).
  • I Thessalonians 5:11—Be encouraging! Instead of finding flaws in others, build them up and help them to be ready for Christ’s return.
  • I Thessalonians 5:12-13—Be respectful! Treat your spiritual leaders—ministers and lay leaders—with high regard and love.  Give them respect not because of their position, educational achievements or popularity, but because of the nature of their work.
  • I Thessalonians 5:13—Be at peace! Seek peace actively, not passively, with fellow believers.
  • I Thessalonians 5:14-15—Be active! Get involved with others by warning the idle, motivating the timid, helping the weak, being patient with everyone, and exhibiting kindness rather than retaliation toward those who’ve hurt you.
  • I Thessalonians 5:16—Be joyful! Maintain an attitude of joy no matter what.
  • I Thessalonians 5:17—Be prayerful! Stay in God’s presence continually.
  • I Thessalonians 5:18—Be thankful! Not only in good times, but even in bad times exhibit an attitude of gratitude.
  • I Thessalonians 5:19-20—Be sensitive! Develop a sensitivity and an appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ; especially as it relates to prophecy.
  • I Thessalonians 5:21—Be discerning! Gain knowledge of the Bible so that everything can be tested against it.
  • I Thessalonians 5:21—Be obedient! Understand what the Word of God says, and be quick to obey it.
  • I Thessalonians 5:22—Be pure! Moral purity should continually characterize your life.
  • I Thessalonians 5:23-24—Be dependent! Fully depend on God and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to bring about sanctification and blamelessness in your life—body, soul and spirit.
  • I Thessalonians 5:25—Be prayerful! Regularly intercede for others before the throne of God.
  • I Thessalonians 5:26—Be friendly! Love and affection must be demonstrable, and an outward expression of your inner affection for fellow believers.
  • I Thessalonians 5:27—Be unselfish! Take responsibility to share with other believers the truth of God’s Word.
  • I Thessalonians 5:28—Be gracious! Live in the light and reality of God’s grace, personally and relationally.

Are you ready to go, or do you need to do some more packing? Jesus may come today, so make sure you’re ready for the journey.

“Our deepest calling is not to grow in our knowledge of God. It is to make disciples. Our knowledge will grow—the Holy Spirit, Jesus promised, will guide us into all truth. But that’s not our calling, it is His. Our calling is to prepare the world for Christ’s return. The world is not ready yet. And so, we go about introducing a dying world to the Savior of Life. Anything we do toward our own growth must be toward that end.” ~Jeffery Bryant

Reflect and Apply: Offer yourself to God: “Lord, I long to see you. Perhaps it will be today!  But whether it is today or a hundred years from now, empower me through the Holy Spirit to live in a state of readiness, ready to go home at a moment’s notice.”