WEBVTT

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 This morning we're going to meditate on home.

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 I don't mean the home campaign.

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 As far as coincidences go, if you believe in such a thing,

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 it's a bit of a coincidence that there might be something about the home campaign later in the service.

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 But I'm talking about what Jesus says in John chapter 14.

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 And we're reading John 14 this morning because that's what the lectionary tells us to read.

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 The lectionary is simply a list of readings that churches use on Sunday mornings.

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 And so in the Anglican Church of North America, all the ACNA churches are reading John 14.

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 It was like this last week.

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 Jen and I were visiting our son in college in Grove City, Pennsylvania.

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 And so on Sunday morning we visited Anglican Church in Butler.

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 And so we got to hear all about Jesus as the great shepherd, just like you did here.

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 And so a great sign of unity that we're all reading and hearing the same things.

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 And it's not just Anglican churches.

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 Our lectionary is similar to lectionaries used in other churches around the country.

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 And so on this day, whether you're at Church of the Advent in Tacoma Park or Church of the Advent Episcopal in Birmingham, Alabama,

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 or St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Los Angeles, or St. Teresa of Avila, Catholic Church in Anacostia,

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 we're all hearing today about Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.

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 It's a beautiful way to think about the unity of the church, that we're all doing this together.

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 So as we talk about John 14, we're going to talk about home.

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 We're going to talk about, is anybody else here a high-end feedback or is it just me?

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 No.

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 I think, there we go.

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 Okay, great.

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 So we're going to talk about home.

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 We're going to talk about the comfort of home.

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 We're going to talk about the way home.

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 And we're going to talk about longing for home.

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 But before we do that, it'd be good to engage our imaginations on what is home.

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 So let me ask you, what does home mean for you?

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 What does home, the word home, mean for you?

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 Now let me ask, when you think about a true home, what images come to mind?

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 If you need to close your eyes to help you think, you can do that here.

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 When you think about a true home, what images come to mind?

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 Or, when you think about a true home, what feelings come?

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 Let's pray.

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 Lord, for some of us, home, images of home, remembrances of home, brought feelings of security, familiarity, and belonging.

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 For others of us, we remember neglect, clutter, chaos, or pain.

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 And so, Lord, all of us come needing to remember and know what is our true home.

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 What rest can be like in our true home.

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 What belonging and familiarity and safety and security can be like in our true home.

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 Jesus, you are the way home.

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 Reveal yourself to us.

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 Show us the way home.

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 In Christ's name, amen.

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 So, our reading from John 14 is a continuation of a conversation between Jesus and his disciples.

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 That started in chapter 13.

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 Jesus and his disciples are in what's called the upper room.

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 It's the night before Jesus is to go to his death.

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 And he tells his disciples two things.

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 The first is that Peter, who is very much a leader among the twelve disciples, is going to deny him three times.

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 Which probably came as a shock.

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 And Jesus tells him that he's going to be going away.

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 So, imagine now how that must have felt.

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 For three years, they've been following Jesus.

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 Constantly traveling, sleeping under the stars, sleeping in other people's homes.

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 They've also had a front row seat to all of Jesus' miracles, to his healings, to his teachings.

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 He attracted thousands and thousands to himself.

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 But these twelve, Jesus called his friends.

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 Jesus knew them better than they knew themselves.

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 He encouraged them, laughed with them, rebuked them in love.

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 They've never known anyone more compassionate, more loving, more gracious.

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 So, imagine the feelings of safety and security and belonging that they had with him.

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 And were you to ask them, after three years of being with Jesus, what is home for you?

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 They probably would have said, what?

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 Jesus.

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 They would have said Jesus.

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 And for this, for them, home was a person.

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 And we can understand that.

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 I, earlier this week, asked a friend of mine this very question.

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 What is home for you?

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 And my friend grew up in a really difficult home situation.

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 So, he gave it some thought.

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 And he said, I love this answer.

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 He said, home is the association of all the things that make me complete.

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 And at the top of that list of things, he names people.

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 He names people.

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 Specific people who cared for him, loved him, gave him a sense of safety and belonging.

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 And that's spot on, isn't it, when you think about it.

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 And it matches up with the disciples.

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 They actually say this themselves.

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 Earlier in John, when many of Jesus' followers abandoned him,

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 Jesus asked them, are you leaving me too?

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 And Simon Peter replied, Lord, to whom shall we go?

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 You have the words of eternal life.

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 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.

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 For them, Jesus was home.

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 And now, he tells them he's going away.

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 So, imagine the feelings of grief and anxiety and confusion.

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 That they must have felt.

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 So, how does Jesus comfort them?

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 He says, do not let your hearts be troubled.

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 And then he tells them about their true home.

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 He says, he's going away.

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 And we'll prepare rooms for them in his father's house.

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 So, what is his father's house?

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 Well, the only other time that Jesus mentions his father's house,

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 when he uses that phrase,

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 is when he's talking about the temple in Jerusalem.

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 That temple was understood as the place where heaven and earth meet.

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 So, Jesus here in John 14 is referring to a new temple,

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 a new city,

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 when heaven and earth will meet again,

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 and the world will be renewed.

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 What makes this place home is the presence of God himself.

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 It's not the quality of the rooms.

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 It's not the size of the mansion.

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 It's God being there.

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 Later in the Bible, this same author, John,

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 in the book of Revelation writes,

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 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,

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 for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,

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 and there was no longer any sea.

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 I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem,

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 coming down out of heaven from God,

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 prepared as a bride, beautifully dressed for her husband.

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 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

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 Look, God's dwelling place is now among the people,

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 and he will dwell with them.

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 They will be his people,

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 and God himself will be with them and be their God.

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 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

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 There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,

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 for the old order of things has passed away.

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 So how is that comforting?

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 How is that comforting?

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 How does a future in heaven help us to endure present sufferings?

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 Well, there's an oft-told story of the man who discovered

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 that he inherited a huge estate.

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 Instantly he became the owner of a mansion,

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 horse-drawn carriages,

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 perhaps a solid gold carriage,

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 land, tons of land, and a large sum of money.

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 And on the journey to receiving his inheritance,

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 he was robbed.

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 The thieves took everything he had,

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 even his shoes,

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 and so he had to walk the rest of the way,

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 which was a very long way,

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 and he had to do it all barefoot.

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 And he had to pick through other people's garbage

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 for food to eat.

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 He had to sleep underneath bridges

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 and in various places,

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 and it was cold.

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 But none of these troubles truly bothered him,

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 and this wasn't because they weren't harsh and uncomfortable.

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 His feet got sliced up.

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 They really were painful.

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 Sleeping under the bridge really was cold.

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 He was hungry all the time.

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 Those things were very real.

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 But he was able to endure those sufferings

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 because he knew what lay ahead.

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 His inheritance enabled him to joyfully endure the trouble.

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 As I was reading John 14 and preparing this sermon,

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 I asked myself,

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 how often when I experience hardship or grief

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 do I reflect and meditate on heaven?

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 And I've realized that to my very great detriment,

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 I really don't very often.

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 And I wonder why.

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 I wondered why.

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 I still wondered why.

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 I mean, I truly believe in heaven.

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 I feel like I've staked my whole life on it.

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 I love how I'm gonna see my dad again in heaven.

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 And yet it's still just not a thing

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 that I think about very often,

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 and I don't know why.

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 I mean, maybe it's because

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 I wouldn't have the right theology,

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 and I think thinking about heaven

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 as just too individualistic.

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 You know, Christianity isn't about

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 getting your ticket punched for the afterlife.

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 We're called to love and care for the world right now.

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 I mean, as if the two were opposed to each other.

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 Or maybe I'm giving myself too much credit.

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 Maybe it's because I've hammered my tent pegs

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 into this earth too deeply

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 because I love the things of this earth.

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 I love my stuff.

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 I love my comfort.

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 And so I just don't really want to think about heaven

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 or need to.

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 I don't know.

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 I don't know.

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 What about you?

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 How often do you think about heaven?

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 How often does it bring you comfort

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 amidst your confusion and grief?

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 Because for you and I,

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 we're supposed to think about heaven

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 and meditate on it.

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 Paul writes to the Colossians,

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 seek the things that are above where Christ is,

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 seated at the right hand of God.

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 Set your minds on things that are above,

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 not on things on earth.

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 He writes to the Philippians

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 that our citizenship is in heaven,

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 and from it we await a Savior,

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 the Lord Jesus Christ.

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 And he writes to the Corinthians.

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 He writes,

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 for in this tent we groan,

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 longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.

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 And Jesus,

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 to his disciples,

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 he comforts them

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 and tells them,

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 I go to prepare a place for you.

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 And I go

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 and prepare a place for you.

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 I will come again,

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 and I will take you to myself,

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 that where I am,

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 you may be also.

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 So how do we get there?

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 How do we get to heaven?

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 How do we get to our home?

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 Thomas said to him,

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 Lord, we do not know where you are going.

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 How can we know the way?

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 And Jesus said to him,

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 I am the way,

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 the truth,

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 and the life.

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 No one comes to the Father

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 except through me.

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 You know,

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 I did a lot of studying

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 on this verse this week,

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 and I thought I would be able

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 to come here

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 and present, like,

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 deep, overlooked meanings

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 to these words,

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 way and truth and life.

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 I thought that would be, like,

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 the structure of my sermon,

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 or I had it all figured out.

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 I'm going to give a sermon

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 that people will never forget.

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 They'll understand

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 this very familiar verse

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 in a whole new way,

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 and nope,

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 it means,

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 it means exactly

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 what we have,

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 as Christians

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 who have grown up in the church,

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 always heard it to mean.

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 It's very simple.

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 There is no other way to heaven.

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 There is no other way

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 into union with the Father

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 except through Jesus.

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 and that's it.

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 Now, if you haven't grown up

00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:13.060
 in the church

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 and you're new to Christianity

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 and you've been weighing

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 whether you believe this stuff

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 or not,

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 there's some things

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 I'd like you to know.

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 The first is,

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 I'd like you to know

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 about the book of John itself.

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 John is writing this book

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 as an eyewitness account

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 for diaspora Jews

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 living all throughout

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 the Greco-Roman world

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 who were not Christians.

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 Why did he write this for them?

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 John tells us.

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 These are written

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 so that you may believe

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 that Jesus is the Christ,

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 the Son of God,

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 and that by believing

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 you may have life in his name.

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 So practically speaking,

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 for us here in this room,

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 this book is written

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 for you

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 who aren't yet

00:15:01.719 --> 00:15:04.379
 believers in Jesus Christ.

00:15:06.519 --> 00:15:07.500
 It's for you.

00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:09.519
 It's written that you might believe

00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:11.500
 that Jesus is the Son of God

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.859
 and that by believing

00:15:12.859 --> 00:15:14.379
 you might have life in his name.

00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:16.279
 When John wrote these words

00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:17.459
 and 2,000 years later,

00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:18.479
 I would read

00:15:18.479 --> 00:15:20.659
 the words from John.

00:15:21.479 --> 00:15:22.779
 They were actually more for you

00:15:22.779 --> 00:15:23.539
 than for the church,

00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:24.439
 I would suggest.

00:15:29.179 --> 00:15:30.899
 And it might have occurred to you

00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.679
 that Jesus is making

00:15:32.679 --> 00:15:35.099
 a very exclusive claim

00:15:35.099 --> 00:15:37.519
 that he is the only way

00:15:37.519 --> 00:15:38.120
 to the Father.

00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:40.639
 There's not a multiplicity

00:15:40.639 --> 00:15:41.740
 of paths to God

00:15:41.740 --> 00:15:43.699
 and Jesus just giving one of them.

00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:45.919
 He's saying that he's the only way.

00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:49.639
 Now I understand the objections

00:15:49.639 --> 00:15:51.179
 to exclusive claims,

00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:52.599
 exclusive claims on truth,

00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:54.580
 that they ignore

00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:57.019
 the various religious experiences

00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.360
 and traditions

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.560
 across cultures and history.

00:15:59.759 --> 00:15:59.899
 I mean,

00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:00.980
 I understand that argument.

00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:02.600
 And I understand

00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:03.259
 that such claims

00:16:03.259 --> 00:16:03.620
 have been used

00:16:03.620 --> 00:16:04.620
 to justify violence

00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:06.659
 and persecution of others.

00:16:07.300 --> 00:16:10.340
 So if that's your objection,

00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:11.940
 I'd like you to separate two things.

00:16:12.019 --> 00:16:12.620
 The first is

00:16:12.620 --> 00:16:13.720
 the misuse

00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:15.500
 of verses like this

00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:18.980
 by many throughout history

00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:21.460
 from the person

00:16:21.460 --> 00:16:22.080
 who is actually

00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:22.940
 making this claim.

00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:23.519
 Okay?

00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:24.720
 There's the misuse

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.180
 of the claim

00:16:25.180 --> 00:16:25.600
 and then there's

00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:26.420
 the claim itself.

00:16:27.940 --> 00:16:28.680
 And I'd like you

00:16:28.680 --> 00:16:29.580
 to look at Jesus,

00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:31.500
 the one who made this claim.

00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:33.320
 Look at his teachings,

00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:35.580
 look at his life,

00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:38.420
 look at his love

00:16:38.420 --> 00:16:39.060
 and compassion,

00:16:39.960 --> 00:16:40.940
 and ultimately

00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:43.259
 look at what vindicates

00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:44.480
 these claims,

00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:46.259
 his death on the cross

00:16:46.259 --> 00:16:47.759
 and his resurrection

00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:48.439
 from the dead.

00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:50.439
 And after weighing such things

00:16:50.439 --> 00:16:51.319
 and you decide,

00:16:51.819 --> 00:16:52.179
 yes,

00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:54.139
 I want to believe,

00:16:54.539 --> 00:16:56.200
 well then,

00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:56.819
 what's next?

00:16:58.200 --> 00:16:59.240
 And belief in Jesus

00:16:59.240 --> 00:17:00.059
 means this.

00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.159
 It means acknowledging

00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.340
 that Jesus

00:17:03.340 --> 00:17:04.579
 is king.

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.859
 It means

00:17:07.859 --> 00:17:09.319
 that in some form

00:17:09.319 --> 00:17:09.819
 or another

00:17:09.819 --> 00:17:11.160
 you've been in rebellion

00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.180
 against this king.

00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:14.879
 It means asking

00:17:14.879 --> 00:17:15.720
 for his forgiveness,

00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:19.059
 and it means telling him

00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:20.579
 that you want

00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:21.460
 to follow him

00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:23.039
 and that you need his help.

00:17:24.140 --> 00:17:24.440
 Now,

00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.339
 if talking to him

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:25.920
 in that way

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:27.599
 feels weird to you,

00:17:27.920 --> 00:17:28.440
 I would love

00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.279
 to help you do it

00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:30.759
 or Rob

00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.680
 or Tommy

00:17:31.680 --> 00:17:32.259
 or Lisa

00:17:32.259 --> 00:17:33.400
 or Jeff.

00:17:33.980 --> 00:17:34.559
 We would love

00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.420
 to help you do this.

00:17:37.480 --> 00:17:38.460
 If you're not ready

00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:38.960
 to do that,

00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:40.039
 I would urge you

00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:41.460
 to continue

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:44.319
 to look at Jesus' claims

00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:44.779
 by reading

00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.899
 the first four books

00:17:45.899 --> 00:17:46.559
 of the New Testament,

00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:47.000
 Matthew,

00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:47.339
 Mark,

00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:47.920
 Luke,

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.299
 and John.

00:17:48.399 --> 00:17:49.420
 They're eyewitness accounts

00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:50.440
 of all the things

00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.160
 Jesus did

00:17:51.160 --> 00:17:52.059
 and said.

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.519
 Go to the source.

00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:57.940
 Okay,

00:17:57.980 --> 00:17:58.500
 we've talked about

00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.359
 the comfort of home,

00:17:59.519 --> 00:18:00.200
 the way home,

00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.440
 now let's talk about

00:18:01.440 --> 00:18:02.980
 cultivating a longing

00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.339
 for home.

00:18:03.399 --> 00:18:04.160
 This is the application.

00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:05.480
 If eternal life

00:18:05.480 --> 00:18:06.440
 with the Father

00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:07.579
 is indeed a comfort,

00:18:08.579 --> 00:18:09.599
 then it would make sense

00:18:09.599 --> 00:18:10.660
 for the Father's children

00:18:10.660 --> 00:18:12.519
 to constantly meditate

00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:13.720
 on the subject.

00:18:14.040 --> 00:18:16.040
 So how does one go

00:18:16.040 --> 00:18:16.779
 about doing that?

00:18:17.560 --> 00:18:18.180
 Well, one way

00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:18.880
 is to constantly

00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:20.740
 to pray for his return.

00:18:21.900 --> 00:18:22.720
 That when faced

00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.019
 with difficult trials

00:18:24.019 --> 00:18:25.420
 or sufferings,

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:26.779
 to pray,

00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:28.580
 come Lord Jesus.

00:18:29.640 --> 00:18:30.820
 So when your job

00:18:30.820 --> 00:18:32.740
 makes you feel

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.580
 futility

00:18:33.580 --> 00:18:35.380
 rather than productivity,

00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.240
 pray,

00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.680
 come Lord Jesus.

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:40.980
 that when you see

00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:42.200
 terrible events

00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:43.200
 in the news

00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:44.779
 like the wars

00:18:44.779 --> 00:18:45.620
 in Ukraine

00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.820
 or Sudan,

00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:48.140
 pray,

00:18:49.140 --> 00:18:50.080
 come Lord Jesus.

00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:53.620
 When you hear news

00:18:53.620 --> 00:18:55.920
 of another mass shooting

00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:57.259
 like we heard yesterday

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.519
 from Texas,

00:18:59.840 --> 00:19:00.180
 pray,

00:19:00.920 --> 00:19:02.279
 come Lord Jesus.

00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:07.220
 Praying for his return

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:09.279
 reminds us

00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:10.779
 the justice

00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.759
 that he will bring

00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.500
 to this earth,

00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.380
 to the end of suffering

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:14.980
 and sorrow

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.519
 that he will bring.

00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:18.539
 And rather than disengaging

00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.380
 from the world,

00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.000
 praying for his return

00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.279
 activates our hope

00:19:22.279 --> 00:19:23.160
 and helps us

00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:24.180
 to engage the world

00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:25.380
 and our vocations

00:19:25.380 --> 00:19:27.160
 and to work for peace

00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:28.440
 and reconciliation

00:19:28.440 --> 00:19:29.980
 and justice.

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:32.640
 Another way

00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.579
 to meditate on heaven

00:19:33.579 --> 00:19:34.960
 is to read

00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.220
 others' meditations

00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:36.819
 on heaven.

00:19:37.400 --> 00:19:38.579
 In the last 2,000 years

00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.440
 there's been a lot of them.

00:19:39.579 --> 00:19:40.100
 My favorite

00:19:40.100 --> 00:19:41.140
 is a book called

00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:43.200
 The Saints' Everlasting Rest

00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:44.980
 by the English pastor

00:19:44.980 --> 00:19:45.980
 Richard Baxter

00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.519
 written in the 17th century.

00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:51.400
 He meditates on heaven

00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:52.000
 and explains

00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:52.799
 how meditating

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:54.920
 on our eternal rest

00:19:54.920 --> 00:19:56.640
 gives us present rest

00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.740
 and encouragement.

00:19:59.480 --> 00:20:00.200
 And lastly,

00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.019
 immerse yourself

00:20:02.019 --> 00:20:03.100
 in scripture.

00:20:03.099 --> 00:20:03.139
 scripture.

00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:04.599
 Because from the beginning

00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:05.939
 to the end,

00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:08.740
 scripture talks about home.

00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.159
 From the very beginning,

00:20:10.959 --> 00:20:12.759
 it speaks of the original design

00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:13.519
 of man

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:15.279
 to live in unity

00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:15.980
 with God

00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:16.959
 in paradise.

00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:19.240
 And though our rebellion

00:20:19.240 --> 00:20:20.439
 has separated us

00:20:20.439 --> 00:20:22.219
 from that paradise,

00:20:22.799 --> 00:20:23.639
 he sent Jesus

00:20:23.639 --> 00:20:24.500
 to make a way

00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:25.139
 back to him

00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:26.159
 and promises

00:20:26.159 --> 00:20:27.219
 that he will come again

00:20:27.219 --> 00:20:27.839
 to renew

00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:29.359
 and restore the world

00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:31.439
 where we will live together

00:20:31.439 --> 00:20:31.899
 with him

00:20:31.899 --> 00:20:33.219
 in perfect rest

00:20:33.219 --> 00:20:33.979
 and joy.

00:20:34.459 --> 00:20:35.639
 So I'm going to close

00:20:35.639 --> 00:20:37.579
 by quoting that book

00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:38.639
 of Richard Baxter's.

00:20:40.779 --> 00:20:41.419
 Christian,

00:20:42.419 --> 00:20:44.179
 believe this

00:20:44.179 --> 00:20:45.919
 and think on it.

00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.519
 Thou shalt be

00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.740
 eternally embraced

00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:51.179
 in the arms

00:20:51.179 --> 00:20:52.039
 of that love

00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:53.559
 which was from everlasting

00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:55.740
 and will extend

00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:56.559
 to everlasting.

00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:00.220
 eternally embraced

00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:01.000
 in the arms

00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:01.679
 of that love

00:21:01.679 --> 00:21:02.119
 which brought

00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:03.679
 the son of God's love

00:21:03.679 --> 00:21:04.679
 from heaven to earth,

00:21:05.379 --> 00:21:06.740
 from earth to the cross,

00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.179
 from the cross

00:21:08.179 --> 00:21:08.879
 to the grave,

00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.480
 and from the grave

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.119
 to glory.

00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:13.379
 Eternally embraced

00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:13.980
 in the arms

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:14.619
 of that love

00:21:14.619 --> 00:21:15.279
 which was weary,

00:21:15.819 --> 00:21:16.159
 hungry,

00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.099
 tempted,

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.279
 scorned,

00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.279
 scourged,

00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:20.200
 buffeted,

00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.720
 spit upon,

00:21:22.339 --> 00:21:22.759
 crucified,

00:21:23.679 --> 00:21:24.259
 pierced.

00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:26.299
 that love

00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:27.420
 which did fast,

00:21:27.859 --> 00:21:28.220
 pray,

00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.160
 teach,

00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.099
 heal,

00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:30.980
 weep,

00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:31.960
 sweat,

00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.099
 bleed,

00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:34.200
 die.

00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.460
 That love

00:21:36.460 --> 00:21:37.640
 will eternally

00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.619
 embrace thee.

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:39.980
 In the name of the Father

00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.799
 and of the Son

00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:42.079
 and of the Holy Spirit.

00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:42.779
 Amen.

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:43.799
 Let's pray.

00:21:43.799 --> 00:21:43.879
 Amen.

00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:52.940
 Lord, give us a vision

00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.539
 of our home.

00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:57.759
 And Lord,

00:21:57.820 --> 00:21:58.720
 would that vision

00:21:58.720 --> 00:21:59.360
 of home

00:21:59.360 --> 00:22:02.320
 fill us with rest.

00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:04.440
 Lord,

00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:05.019
 would it fill us

00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.460
 with hope

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:06.400
 that we can extend

00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:07.539
 that rest and hope

00:22:07.539 --> 00:22:07.980
 and joy

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:09.200
 to others around us.

00:22:09.660 --> 00:22:10.000
 Lord,

00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:10.940
 that we could extend it

00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:11.539
 to our family,

00:22:11.660 --> 00:22:12.299
 our friends,

00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:13.920
 our housemates,

00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:14.840
 our neighbors,

00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.860
 to our city,

00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:17.259
 Lord.

00:22:17.340 --> 00:22:18.440
 Would this hope

00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.059
 of home

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.240
 help us transform

00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:21.559
 this city

00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:23.059
 into a place

00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.599
 of rest

00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:24.799
 and love

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.240
 and joy

00:22:25.240 --> 00:22:25.799
 and peace.

00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:28.799
 Lord,

00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.400
 comfort us

00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:30.240
 in our sorrows

00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.259
 and our struggles.

00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:34.359
 Thank you

00:22:34.359 --> 00:22:35.099
 for this promise,

00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.359
 Lord.

00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:36.019
 Thank you that

00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:38.819
 our place

00:22:38.819 --> 00:22:39.359
 in heaven,

00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:41.759
 our room

00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:42.420
 there

00:22:42.420 --> 00:22:44.099
 is as secured

00:22:44.099 --> 00:22:45.359
 as for those

00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:46.920
 who are already there.

00:22:46.920 --> 00:22:50.259
 thank you

00:22:50.259 --> 00:22:51.140
 for such promises.

00:22:52.600 --> 00:22:53.360
 We pray

00:22:53.360 --> 00:22:54.120
 in Christ's name.

00:22:54.800 --> 00:22:55.080
 Amen.