LIVING WITH HEAVEN IN VIEW

By Roger Williams and David Riggs

Intro.
   A. The early Christians suffered persecution because they were
      followers of Christ.
      1. There was no hostility at first.  Acts 2:44-47
      2. This soon changed.  Acts 4:21; 5:17-20, 40-42
      3. Stephen was killed.  Acts 6 and 7
      4. Saul made havoc of the church.  Acts 8:1-3
         a. The shoe was about to be placed on the other foot for
            Paul; the persecutor would become the persecuted. 
            Acts 9:16
         b. Paul felt that boasting was foolishness, but he was
            compelled to do it to defend his apostleship, and to
            destroy the Corinthian's loyalty to false-apostles.  2   
            Cor. 11:22-28
   B. We stop to raise some questions here: "Why did Paul (and others
      like him) go through all these things?"  "How was he able to
      endure them?"  "What inspired him to have such dedication and
      zeal for the Lord?"
      1. We give some suggestions gleaned from the writings of Paul.

I. PAUL RECOGNIZED THAT THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME.  2 Cor. 5:1-10
   A. Paul said, "We walk by faith and not by sight."  2 Cor. 5:8
      1. In this context, Paul is showing that "our faith in someday
         being with the Lord" becomes our motivator.
      2. This is what it means to "live by faith" or "walk by faith."
      3. Our faith in being with the Lord moves and motivates us in
         this life.  It is responsible for the way we live.
   B. We, too, must fully realize that this world is not our home.
      1. Anything we might enjoy in this life is only temporary.     
         They are not ours for eternity.
      2. One day we will leave all things of this life behind.
   C. We are like Abraham who lived his life as a stranger in a      
      foreign land.  Heb. 11:8-10
      1. Peter beseeched us as pilgrims and strangers to abstain from
         fleshly lusts.  1 Pet. 2:11
         a. The word "pilgrims" in the Greek is "parepidemos"
            which is a combination of the words: "parepi" -
            (alongside of, by the side of), and "demos" - (people of
            a foreign country or city).
         b. Thayer defines it: "One who comes from a foreign
            country into a city or land to reside there by the side  
            of the natives...in the NT, a metaphor in reference to
            heaven as the native country, as one who sojourns on
            earth..."
   D. Our citizenship is in heaven.  Phil. 3:20-21
      1. God has already given us citizenship before we arrive there.
      2. Thus, so far as this earthly life is concerned, we are but
         strangers and pilgrims, passing through, and we will not let
         fleshly lusts take control or win the battle for our souls.

II. PAUL RECOGNIZED THERE IS A BETTER PLACE, A PLACE OF REST, AN     
    ETERNAL HOME.
   A. Paul said that to depart and be with Christ was far better.    
      Phil. 1:21-23
      1. As we live in this life, there are many discomforts and     
         pains that we must endure.
      2. Paul's understanding of this is clearly seen as he wrote to 
         the Corinthians.  2 Cor. 4:16-18
         a. Paul speaks of the discomforts of this life as "light
            afflictions."
         b. He also added that they were "but for a moment."
         c. Paul describes them as being weighed in a balance
            (scales), and the afflictions in this life are very
            insignificant when compared to exceeding weight of
            glory.
         d. He stated in Romans that there is no comparison to the
            sufferings of this present time to the glory which is to
            come.  Rom. 8:18
            (1) Paul is not suggesting that pain and suffering are
                easy to endure, but as one lives a life with a view
                of heaven, they were overshadowed by the great
                reward that is to come.
   B. We must adopt the attitude of Paul.
      1. We can endure the hardships of this life, knowing they will
         be brief, and anticipating a far better place.

III. PAUL HAD CONFIDENCE IN THE PROMISES OF GOD.
   A. The life of Paul was indeed a life of faith and confidence in  
      the promises of God.
      1. Remember, Paul said, "We have a building from God," not
         "we might have a building from God."
         a. That's the faith and confidence Paul lived with.  2 Tim.
            1:12
      2. He lived knowing that if his life were taken from him at any
         moment, there was a wonderful abode reserved for him.  2
         Tim. 4:7-8
         a. Why?  Because the Lord promised there is such a place. 
            John 14:1-3
   B. Paul knew the promises made to Abraham and the fulfillment of
      them.
      1. We know that the promise of heaven is just as certain.  Heb.
         6:11-19
   C. It is a tragedy that those who claim to be Christians are      
      filled with doubt, fear, despair, and uncertainty.  2 Tim. 1:7;
      Rom. 8:15
      1. Let us have confidence in the promises of God.

Concl.
   A. We have answered our questions: "How was Paul able to endure
      all that he suffered?  What was the secret of his success?  How
      did he manage to have such zeal?"
      1. The answer is: "He lived with heaven in view."
         a. His all-consuming goal was to reach his eternal home. 
            Phil. 3:13-14
   B. Let us live the kind of life Paul lived, realizing that this   
      world is not our home, that there is a better place, the       
      heavenly home, and that God will fulfill His promises He had   
      made to us.
   C. If you haven't been living that kind of life (with heaven as   
      your all-consuming goal), you can change all that today.
      1. Why not start living "with heaven in view" today?