WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.900 The reading this morning comes from Revelations chapters 21 and 22, various verses. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:11.000 You can follow along in your bulletin or in the screen behind me. 00:00:12.099 --> 00:00:14.660 In chapter 21, verse 1, we read, 00:00:15.280 --> 00:00:19.240 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. 00:00:19.980 --> 00:00:26.179 For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 00:00:26.179 --> 00:00:38.219 And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 00:00:39.340 --> 00:00:42.500 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:47.899 Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:53.000 He will dwell with them, and they will be his people. 00:00:53.000 --> 00:00:57.560 And God himself will be with them as their God. 00:00:58.700 --> 00:01:05.540 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. 00:01:06.219 --> 00:01:10.819 Neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore. 00:01:11.340 --> 00:01:14.439 For the former things have passed away. 00:01:14.439 --> 00:01:18.859 And he who was seated on the throne said, 00:01:19.079 --> 00:01:23.200 Behold, I am making all things new. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:29.859 Also, he said, write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true. 00:01:30.500 --> 00:01:32.500 And he said to me, it is done. 00:01:33.159 --> 00:01:39.560 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:46.719 To the thirsty, I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:55.180 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. 00:01:55.180 --> 00:02:05.600 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, 00:02:06.020 --> 00:02:12.319 their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:21.539 Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:22.900 and spoke to me, saying, 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:27.840 Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb. 00:02:28.759 --> 00:02:32.680 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great high mountain, 00:02:32.680 --> 00:02:36.139 and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, 00:02:36.699 --> 00:02:38.959 coming down out of heaven from God, 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:41.099 having the glory of God. 00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:44.439 Its radiance like a most rare jewel, 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:47.759 like a jasper, clear as crystal. 00:02:48.879 --> 00:02:52.979 It had a great high wall with twelve gates, 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:56.079 and at the gates, twelve angels. 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:02.079 And on the gates, the names of the twelve tribes of the Son of Israel were inscribed. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:04.620 On the east, three gates. 00:03:04.699 --> 00:03:06.180 On the north, three gates. 00:03:06.599 --> 00:03:08.240 On the south, three gates. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:09.979 And on the west, three gates. 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:14.060 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations. 00:03:14.900 --> 00:03:19.180 And on them were the twelve names of the apostles of the Lamb. 00:03:19.180 --> 00:03:28.760 And the one who spoke with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city and its gates and walls. 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:34.760 The city lies foursquare, its length the same as its width. 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:39.219 And he measured the city with his rod twelve thousand stadia. 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:42.639 Its length and width and height are equal. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:47.379 And I saw no temple in the city. 00:03:47.379 --> 00:03:52.859 For its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. 00:03:52.860 --> 00:03:59.300 And the city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it. 00:03:59.800 --> 00:04:03.140 For the glory of God gives it light. 00:04:03.540 --> 00:04:05.820 And its lamp is the Lamb. 00:04:07.140 --> 00:04:09.240 By its light will the nations walk. 00:04:09.320 --> 00:04:12.760 And the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:16.600 And its gates will never be shut by day. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:19.680 And there will be no night there. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:25.020 They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. 00:04:26.280 --> 00:04:29.379 But nothing unclean will ever enter it. 00:04:29.720 --> 00:04:33.120 Nor anyone who does what is detestable or false. 00:04:33.460 --> 00:04:37.560 But only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:40.240 And in chapter 22, 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:47.120 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:53.360 flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. 00:04:54.720 --> 00:05:01.399 Also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, 00:05:02.139 --> 00:05:04.620 yielding its fruit each month. 00:05:04.620 --> 00:05:08.939 The leaves of the tree were for healing of the nations. 00:05:10.600 --> 00:05:13.240 No longer will there be anything accursed. 00:05:14.439 --> 00:05:19.160 But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:21.699 And his servants will worship him. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:25.180 They will see his face. 00:05:25.540 --> 00:05:28.439 And his name will be on their foreheads. 00:05:28.860 --> 00:05:31.220 And night will be no more. 00:05:31.220 --> 00:05:35.200 They will need no light of lamp or sun. 00:05:35.380 --> 00:05:37.460 For the Lord God will be their light. 00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:40.900 And they will reign forever and ever. 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:43.420 And he said to me, 00:05:43.960 --> 00:05:46.620 These words are trustworthy and true. 00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:50.600 And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, 00:05:50.740 --> 00:05:57.480 has sent his angels to show his servants what must soon take place. 00:05:57.480 --> 00:06:01.780 And behold, I am coming soon. 00:06:02.600 --> 00:06:07.080 Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. 00:06:09.980 --> 00:06:10.540 Yeah. 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:12.460 Thank you. 00:06:12.520 --> 00:06:13.360 This is the word of God. 00:06:13.360 --> 00:06:14.360 Thank you. 00:06:14.360 --> 00:06:15.360 Thank you. 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:15.580 Thank you. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:19.000 Okay. 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:20.020 Okay. 00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:31.180 I'm sure we will get this right. 00:06:31.980 --> 00:06:33.379 Sorry, Ange, I cut you short. 00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:38.220 I think there was a miscommunication on my side that it was longer than we were meant to read. 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:40.140 So we can call it there. 00:06:40.700 --> 00:06:41.000 Okay. 00:06:41.480 --> 00:06:42.620 Let me pray for us. 00:06:42.700 --> 00:06:44.040 And then we're going to look at this passage. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:47.720 Heavenly Father, this morning, we live in a broken world. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:53.100 All of us come here, 100% of us, with something on our heart, Lord. 00:06:53.100 --> 00:06:57.500 Whether it's something that's happened in the past or something that we anticipate in the future, 00:06:58.100 --> 00:06:59.060 something that's heavy. 00:06:59.900 --> 00:07:01.120 God, we need to meet with you. 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:03.460 We want your word to speak to us, to encourage us. 00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:06.900 Lord Jesus Christ, come and be with us today. 00:07:06.900 --> 00:07:09.400 And let your word come alive to our hearts. 00:07:09.780 --> 00:07:11.920 I pray this in your wonderful and gracious name. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:12.860 Amen. 00:07:13.360 --> 00:07:13.640 Amen. 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:14.640 Okay. 00:07:14.720 --> 00:07:15.980 Let me ask you a question. 00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:17.500 And the question is this. 00:07:17.500 --> 00:07:24.959 If you could describe your perfect life, how would your perfect life look like? 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:27.060 I know the youth are with us today. 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:27.759 High schoolers. 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:28.339 High schoolers. 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:28.639 Youth. 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:35.220 If you could describe your dream life, paradise, what would that life look like? 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:37.660 You can think about that for a minute. 00:07:37.879 --> 00:07:45.839 If you are new to Watermark, we are, for the last four months, we've been doing this preaching series called The Wonderful Work of God. 00:07:45.839 --> 00:07:49.019 And we've been working through the storyline of the Bible. 00:07:49.359 --> 00:07:58.359 If you're new to Watermark, we often think that the Bible is just a collection of wise sayings or a collection of random things that tell us about God. 00:07:58.479 --> 00:08:00.639 But actually, the Bible is a story. 00:08:00.779 --> 00:08:01.799 It has a storyline. 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:05.959 In order to make sense of the Bible, you need to make sense of the storyline. 00:08:06.179 --> 00:08:08.599 And so we've been doing that for about four months. 00:08:08.859 --> 00:08:12.159 And today is the final sermon in the series. 00:08:12.599 --> 00:08:15.479 You may be saying, okay, finally, we're getting to the end. 00:08:16.759 --> 00:08:19.639 And so if you're new with us today, I hope it makes sense. 00:08:20.019 --> 00:08:22.199 Let me recap the story for us. 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:24.859 I'll try to do it briefly, and then we're going to dive in. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:31.279 The story starts in Genesis 1 and 2, the very first pages of your Bible. 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:34.240 And it starts off where God makes humanity. 00:08:34.679 --> 00:08:39.620 He makes humanity distinctive, unique, different from all the other creatures. 00:08:39.959 --> 00:08:42.079 What is distinctive about humanity? 00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:47.920 It's the fact that we're made in God's image, and we are made to have relationship with God. 00:08:48.300 --> 00:08:50.560 We're meant to live with God. 00:08:51.060 --> 00:08:54.860 Not next to God, not above God, not beside Him. 00:08:55.000 --> 00:08:55.740 With Him. 00:08:56.540 --> 00:09:00.639 And God makes us to be in deep intimacy and oneness. 00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:02.200 To know Him and enjoy Him. 00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:04.300 To experience life with Him. 00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:08.099 However, it isn't long in the storyline that things go horribly wrong. 00:09:08.479 --> 00:09:12.120 Page number three, everything falls apart. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:15.219 And humanity rejects God's rule. 00:09:15.699 --> 00:09:17.019 We rebel against Him. 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:21.299 And in a sense, in that time, sin enters the world. 00:09:21.299 --> 00:09:24.819 And when sin enters the world, death enters the world. 00:09:25.599 --> 00:09:27.159 Physical death, people die. 00:09:27.719 --> 00:09:34.459 But even more so, a spiritual death, an existential death, enters all of the world and all of our hearts. 00:09:35.099 --> 00:09:42.959 I don't know if you've ever spoken to somebody or interacted with somebody that's gone through a deeply traumatic, a horrific experience. 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:45.719 Maybe they've come back from the front lines of a war zone. 00:09:46.159 --> 00:09:49.019 And you might say, it's like talking to a ghost. 00:09:49.019 --> 00:09:52.259 The person has become a shell of what they once were. 00:09:52.360 --> 00:09:53.919 Something inside of them has died. 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:56.939 It's still the same person, but they're not the same person. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:09:59.240 That's what happened to humanity. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:01.079 It's what happened to our world. 00:10:01.220 --> 00:10:02.939 Something inside of us died. 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:05.100 Our relationship with God died. 00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:06.960 That's what sin does. 00:10:07.860 --> 00:10:13.579 But, from that very moment, from page number three, God makes a promise. 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:21.379 And he makes a promise that he is going to put right all that is broken and wrong and painful and destructive with this world. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:25.139 God is going to reverse the curse of sin. 00:10:25.420 --> 00:10:27.540 He's going to reverse death. 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:29.340 God is going to put things right. 00:10:29.340 --> 00:10:32.399 And he's going to reconcile us, God and man, together. 00:10:32.519 --> 00:10:36.440 Where we meant to live together, but now there's friction and fighting and conflict. 00:10:36.780 --> 00:10:38.680 God is going to reunite us. 00:10:39.420 --> 00:10:40.820 And so God makes these promises. 00:10:41.139 --> 00:10:45.920 First to Abraham, then to Adam, then Abraham, then Moses. 00:10:46.460 --> 00:10:48.800 And all throughout the Bible, he makes these promises. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:49.980 We call them covenants. 00:10:50.340 --> 00:10:53.019 To David and Solomon and Isaiah and Jeremiah. 00:10:53.540 --> 00:10:57.160 And makes these promises that he is going to put the world right again. 00:10:57.719 --> 00:11:00.100 And this is the wonderful work of God. 00:11:00.219 --> 00:11:02.059 This is what the whole story is all about. 00:11:02.439 --> 00:11:03.779 How God is going to put it right. 00:11:04.500 --> 00:11:07.759 And so, he starts off with this little group of people, Israel. 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:09.299 And he blesses them. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:14.959 And then he gives them a king so that they will know what does it look like to live under a king and experience his blessing. 00:11:15.139 --> 00:11:20.000 And then he gives them a temple so that they'll know what is it like to live with God's presence in their midst. 00:11:20.740 --> 00:11:24.199 And God goes on making these promises. 00:11:24.200 --> 00:11:29.720 And of course, Jesus comes and is, in one sense, the fulfillment of all these promises. 00:11:30.520 --> 00:11:31.660 Jesus is the true king. 00:11:31.900 --> 00:11:32.980 Jesus is the true temple. 00:11:33.540 --> 00:11:36.900 Jesus is the one who starts to put things right again. 00:11:38.020 --> 00:11:41.220 And he does it because he deals with sin on the cross. 00:11:41.900 --> 00:11:42.920 That's the cause. 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:47.700 And he starts to deal with the consequences of sin by making life better. 00:11:47.700 --> 00:11:55.500 But when Jesus dies and rises again, his disciples say, okay, let heaven come. 00:11:56.180 --> 00:11:56.960 You've done it. 00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:58.660 Now let the good times roll. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:01.020 And Jesus says, not yet, just wait. 00:12:01.140 --> 00:12:02.360 There's work to be done. 00:12:03.180 --> 00:12:04.540 Heaven is not going to come just yet. 00:12:04.620 --> 00:12:05.280 There's work to be done. 00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:06.360 What is the work to be done? 00:12:07.020 --> 00:12:09.900 He says, there are many, many people throughout the world that don't know me. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:11.340 Don't know the gospel. 00:12:11.540 --> 00:12:12.220 Don't know Jesus. 00:12:12.220 --> 00:12:18.120 I want you to go and tell them and let them know they too can be reconciled with God. 00:12:18.779 --> 00:12:22.800 And so Jesus sends out his disciples, sends us out to live on mission. 00:12:22.920 --> 00:12:25.220 And so that's where we're at in the storyline of the Bible. 00:12:25.340 --> 00:12:27.980 And we're about to come to the end, but we're not quite there. 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:30.700 So that's where we're at in the storyline of the Bible. 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:33.940 But it's also where we're at in the history of the world. 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:35.700 Because that's where we're at. 00:12:36.040 --> 00:12:36.740 Jesus has come. 00:12:36.840 --> 00:12:37.259 He's died. 00:12:37.340 --> 00:12:37.759 He's risen. 00:12:38.180 --> 00:12:39.139 He sent us out. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.560 Two questions for us. 00:12:42.399 --> 00:12:44.959 One, how does the story end? 00:12:45.819 --> 00:12:50.979 Two, how should we live life now in light of how the story ends? 00:12:51.419 --> 00:12:52.779 Okay, so that's what we're going to look at today. 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:54.379 Let's look at the first one. 00:12:54.599 --> 00:12:56.759 How does the story end? 00:12:57.919 --> 00:13:01.599 The last book of the Bible that Antony read to us is called Revelation. 00:13:01.859 --> 00:13:03.219 It's a wonderful book of the Bible. 00:13:03.779 --> 00:13:04.839 Many people are scared. 00:13:05.179 --> 00:13:05.919 Don't be scared. 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:07.159 I encourage you to read it. 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:12.159 It's full of lots of strange imagery and pictures and illustrations. 00:13:12.980 --> 00:13:15.319 Most of these are not meant to be taken literally. 00:13:16.199 --> 00:13:19.759 And the book of Revelation, the whole book doesn't tell us how the story ends. 00:13:19.759 --> 00:13:27.539 It's written to encourage Christians who are going through a hard time to keep on going, to persevere. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:29.360 It's the story of the world. 00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:34.580 But right at the end of Revelation, God tells us how the story ends. 00:13:35.220 --> 00:13:37.159 And let's look at what he says, verse 21. 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:39.600 Maybe as we look there, just a question. 00:13:40.200 --> 00:13:42.559 What do you think heaven is going to be like? 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:45.699 I know Neil spoke about this a few weeks ago. 00:13:45.839 --> 00:13:51.619 We often think that heaven is going to be clouds and angels and harps and stairways made of heaven. 00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:54.019 Sorry, stairways made of clouds. 00:13:54.639 --> 00:13:56.439 But Revelation tells us something different. 00:13:56.819 --> 00:14:04.019 And John here uses a couple of pictures, imagery, to describe, to try and describe what it's going to be like. 00:14:05.179 --> 00:14:06.259 And his main point is this. 00:14:06.319 --> 00:14:09.559 One of his main points is heaven is going to be a new creation. 00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:10.039 A new creation. 00:14:10.959 --> 00:14:11.699 A new creation. 00:14:11.819 --> 00:14:14.599 A brand new created world. 00:14:15.119 --> 00:14:16.179 A physical world. 00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:17.519 Look at what he says here. 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.879 Look at verse 1 with me. 00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:19.539 He says, 00:14:19.619 --> 00:14:22.519 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. 00:14:22.899 --> 00:14:25.759 For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. 00:14:26.319 --> 00:14:28.359 And the sea was no more. 00:14:28.479 --> 00:14:28.979 Verse 4. 00:14:29.219 --> 00:14:29.879 At the end he says, 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:32.979 And for the former things have passed away. 00:14:33.959 --> 00:14:36.979 Now, the apostle John, who wrote the book of Revelation, 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:44.300 He is telling us that the storyline of the Bible and the storyline of the world ends with a new creation. 00:14:45.220 --> 00:14:47.759 In a sense, the story doesn't end. 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:51.100 It gets reborn and starts again. 00:14:51.960 --> 00:14:55.019 It's what he calls a new heaven and a new earth. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:15:00.259 So this created world is not going to burn up when it collides with the sun. 00:15:00.259 --> 00:15:05.299 It's not going to end when an asteroid hits the earth and we decimate. 00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:10.700 Christ is going to come and he's going to recreate a new creation. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.960 He's going to take this world and renew it, reform it, transform it. 00:15:15.939 --> 00:15:16.779 Think about this. 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:23.319 I don't know if you've ever seen those TV shows where somebody takes an old house and they renew it. 00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:23.480 Right? 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:24.379 They renovate it. 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:27.100 And then they show you the pictures at the end. 00:15:27.159 --> 00:15:28.939 The before photo and the after photo. 00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:31.680 And it looks like a completely different house. 00:15:31.840 --> 00:15:33.180 In some senses it is. 00:15:33.560 --> 00:15:36.300 But it's also the old house that's been made new. 00:15:37.220 --> 00:15:38.880 In some sense, that's what God is going to do. 00:15:38.900 --> 00:15:40.620 He's going to take his creation. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.880 He's going to so renew it. 00:15:43.160 --> 00:15:45.920 It's going to look and feel completely different. 00:15:46.520 --> 00:15:48.820 And yet it's going to be, in some ways, the same. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:15:54.520 Heaven is not some distant place up in the sky made of clouds and harps. 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:58.799 It's going to be a physical world, much like our own, yet altogether new. 00:15:58.919 --> 00:16:00.500 Look at verse 5 with me. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:01.620 It says, 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:04.519 He who is seated on the throne, that's God, said, 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:07.579 Behold, I am making all things new. 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:12.039 In some senses it's going to feel and look a lot like the Garden of Eden. 00:16:12.539 --> 00:16:14.199 And yet it's going to be much better. 00:16:14.200 --> 00:16:18.740 I don't know if you saw this in chapter 22, Angelina read to us. 00:16:18.800 --> 00:16:19.620 We won't look at it now. 00:16:19.700 --> 00:16:24.520 But in verses 1 to 5, it describes this new creation a lot like Eden. 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:28.520 It's a city, but there's rivers, and there's the tree of life, 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.520 and there's trees and vegetation and plants. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.720 It looks a lot like Eden. 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:35.360 Except these trees that bear fruit, 00:16:35.680 --> 00:16:37.759 these fruits are not going to curse the world. 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.320 They're going to heal the world. 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:43.379 They're going to bring restoration, wholeness. 00:16:45.260 --> 00:16:48.200 It's going to be a new creation, a perfect world. 00:16:48.780 --> 00:16:50.100 Now, you may ask the question, 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:53.800 Okay, but in Genesis 1 and 2, there's this perfect creation. 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.780 And then there was temptation. 00:16:56.440 --> 00:16:58.520 And sin came in and messed it all up. 00:16:59.040 --> 00:17:01.760 So how do we know that in the new creation, 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:03.220 we're not going to do it again? 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:05.460 If Adam and Eve had free will, 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:07.559 and they could choose to rebel against God, 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:09.799 how do we not know that in the new creation, 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:11.419 we're just going to rebel against God 00:17:11.419 --> 00:17:14.039 and bring about the curse and the fall all over again? 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:17.039 Well, that's a great question. 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:20.659 In chapter 20, just before this, 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:22.179 God does something. 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:24.819 He deals with Satan, 00:17:25.679 --> 00:17:27.240 and He judges him, 00:17:27.799 --> 00:17:28.919 He defeats him, 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:31.599 and then He casts him away forever. 00:17:32.500 --> 00:17:35.480 Look at the end of the first verse of verse 1. 00:17:35.480 --> 00:17:36.299 It says, 00:17:36.980 --> 00:17:38.579 I saw a new heaven, new earth, 00:17:38.640 --> 00:17:40.339 the first heaven and earth had passed away, 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:42.660 and the sea was no more. 00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:44.860 In biblical imagery, 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:49.220 the sea is a deep, dark, unknown place 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.599 from which evil arises. 00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:52.860 So in Revelation 13, 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.519 there's a sea, 00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:55.200 and the beast rises out of the sea. 00:17:55.819 --> 00:17:56.700 In Job, remember, 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.720 we spoke about it last year, 00:17:57.799 --> 00:17:58.660 Neil spoke about it, 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:01.039 Leviathan rises out of the sea. 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.559 But here, 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.440 the sea is no more. 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:06.440 That doesn't mean there won't be any beaches or water. 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.940 The point is, 00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:10.139 Satan will be gone. 00:18:10.779 --> 00:18:11.899 There'll be no more temptation, 00:18:12.700 --> 00:18:13.559 no more evil, 00:18:14.179 --> 00:18:15.779 no more wickedness. 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:17.200 And that's actually what it says. 00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:18.359 Look at verse 4. 00:18:19.159 --> 00:18:20.059 Verse 4 says, 00:18:21.220 --> 00:18:22.220 He, that's God, 00:18:22.279 --> 00:18:24.159 will wipe away every tear from their eyes, 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:25.679 death will be no more, 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.839 nor shall there be mourning, 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.579 nor crying, 00:18:28.679 --> 00:18:29.240 nor pain, 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:31.759 the former things will pass away. 00:18:32.819 --> 00:18:33.299 Friends, 00:18:33.380 --> 00:18:34.519 in that new creation, 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.900 the new world to come, 00:18:36.460 --> 00:18:37.680 there will be no more sadness, 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.460 no more tears, 00:18:40.259 --> 00:18:41.279 no more cancer, 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.940 no more relational conflict, 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:45.559 no more bitterness, 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:47.000 no more unforgiveness, 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.740 no more earthquakes, 00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:50.539 no more depression, 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.180 no more anxiety, 00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:54.299 no more panic attacks, 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.720 no more war, 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:56.720 no more injustice, 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:57.960 no more abuse, 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:00.019 no more sin, 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:01.640 will ever exist. 00:19:02.860 --> 00:19:05.259 There's this beautiful paragraph, 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:07.039 at the end of the Lord of the Rings, 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.860 where, 00:19:09.360 --> 00:19:11.519 Samwise Gangry, 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:13.140 wakes up, 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.900 and he says this, 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:15.319 it says, 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:17.220 at last Sam gasped, 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:17.980 Gandalf, 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:18.640 he said, 00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:20.240 I thought you were dead, 00:19:20.840 --> 00:19:21.299 but then, 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.360 I guess I thought I myself was dead. 00:19:24.039 --> 00:19:26.259 Is everything sad going to come untrue? 00:19:26.940 --> 00:19:28.440 What's happened to the world? 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.000 And Gandalf replies, 00:19:30.119 --> 00:19:32.359 a great shadow has departed, 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:33.779 said Gandalf, 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.779 and then he laughed, 00:19:34.839 --> 00:19:36.299 and the sound was like music, 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:38.759 or like water in a parched land. 00:19:39.259 --> 00:19:40.220 And as he listened, 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.379 the thought came to Sam, 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:43.240 that he had not heard such laughter, 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:45.420 the sound of pure joy, 00:19:45.799 --> 00:19:48.099 for days upon days upon days, 00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:48.900 without count. 00:19:49.839 --> 00:19:50.119 Friends, 00:19:50.119 --> 00:19:52.019 that's what heaven is going to be like. 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:52.979 In this new creation, 00:19:53.439 --> 00:19:54.539 everything sad, 00:19:54.979 --> 00:19:55.839 everything broken, 00:19:56.399 --> 00:19:57.439 is going to come untrue. 00:19:57.539 --> 00:19:59.419 It's going to become non-existent. 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:01.319 For the former things have passed away, 00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:02.139 behold, 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:03.979 I am making all things new. 00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.519 And the point is this, 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:07.119 that throughout the Bible, 00:20:07.239 --> 00:20:08.239 from Genesis 3, 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:10.459 all the way through thousands of pages, 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:11.099 and stories, 00:20:11.239 --> 00:20:11.979 and ups and downs, 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:12.539 and kings, 00:20:12.679 --> 00:20:13.279 and exile, 00:20:13.479 --> 00:20:14.219 and sin, 00:20:14.439 --> 00:20:16.479 and all sorts of rubbish, 00:20:16.599 --> 00:20:17.119 and pain, 00:20:17.219 --> 00:20:18.019 and heartache, 00:20:18.019 --> 00:20:19.720 God has been making promises. 00:20:20.339 --> 00:20:21.980 This is not how the story ends. 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.160 This is not how it ends. 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:25.299 I will make all things new. 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:26.559 Friends, 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:28.740 the end of the story tells us, 00:20:28.900 --> 00:20:30.559 God will be true, 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:31.759 and faithful, 00:20:32.379 --> 00:20:33.480 to his promises. 00:20:35.200 --> 00:20:36.299 This began through Jesus, 00:20:36.420 --> 00:20:37.579 dying and rising again. 00:20:38.240 --> 00:20:39.779 And he will complete it fully, 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:40.460 and finally, 00:20:41.079 --> 00:20:42.119 in the new creation. 00:20:43.039 --> 00:20:43.319 So, 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.000 a new creation. 00:20:44.139 --> 00:20:44.500 But also, 00:20:44.900 --> 00:20:45.160 secondly, 00:20:45.160 --> 00:20:46.639 heaven is like a new city. 00:20:48.019 --> 00:20:49.680 Heaven's not going to be harps and clouds, 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:51.079 or disembodied souls. 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:51.559 So, 00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:52.819 what's it going to be like? 00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:54.359 What will we do? 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:55.359 Well, 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.139 you might think of, 00:20:56.200 --> 00:20:57.420 it's going to be unspoiled nature, 00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:58.299 the Garden of Eden, 00:20:58.500 --> 00:21:00.079 the best camping site in the world. 00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:01.059 Actually, 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.099 it's going to be a city. 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.740 For those of us from Hong Kong, 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.839 we like cities, 00:21:04.980 --> 00:21:05.220 right? 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:07.019 That's why we live in this great city. 00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:08.379 We are going to win. 00:21:10.839 --> 00:21:12.759 Look at verse 2 with me. 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.000 It says, 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:14.640 So, 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:24.220 in some sense, 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.759 the new creation is going to be 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:26.900 a version of Eden, 00:21:27.059 --> 00:21:28.599 with rivers and trees and vegetation 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:30.680 and glory and wonder. 00:21:31.099 --> 00:21:32.799 But it's also going to resemble a city. 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:33.660 Now, 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:35.380 why does the Bible describe 00:21:35.380 --> 00:21:36.819 the new creation like a city? 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:38.539 What's special about cities? 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:39.519 Well, 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.019 in the Bible, 00:21:40.180 --> 00:21:41.839 cities are primarily places of 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:43.379 safety and refuge. 00:21:43.919 --> 00:21:44.639 In the Old Testament, 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:47.000 God dedicated these cities 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.039 that if you were in danger, 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:49.059 you could flee to them 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:50.099 and you would be safe there. 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:52.299 Cities are places where you're safe 00:21:52.299 --> 00:21:53.959 from bandits and enemies 00:21:53.959 --> 00:21:55.000 and wild animals 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.519 and persecution. 00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:57.740 And so, 00:21:57.879 --> 00:21:58.839 cities in the old days 00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.939 had walls around them 00:21:59.939 --> 00:22:00.559 and they had gates 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:01.079 and at night, 00:22:01.159 --> 00:22:02.199 they would close the city gates 00:22:02.199 --> 00:22:03.759 and you were safe in cities. 00:22:04.299 --> 00:22:05.399 It's a place of safety. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.459 Out there, 00:22:06.539 --> 00:22:07.039 it's dangerous. 00:22:07.139 --> 00:22:07.639 In the city, 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:08.619 you're safe. 00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:11.299 Cities are places of diversity of people. 00:22:11.299 --> 00:22:13.119 All sorts of different cultures 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:13.779 and ethnicities 00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:14.500 come together 00:22:14.500 --> 00:22:15.180 and are unified 00:22:15.180 --> 00:22:17.139 and can accept one another. 00:22:18.099 --> 00:22:18.659 But cities 00:22:18.659 --> 00:22:20.639 are also places of 00:22:20.639 --> 00:22:21.759 culture making, 00:22:21.919 --> 00:22:22.319 innovation, 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:23.019 productivity, 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:23.960 work. 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:26.019 In some senses, 00:22:26.139 --> 00:22:27.740 think of the very best day 00:22:27.740 --> 00:22:29.599 you've ever had at work. 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:33.019 Creation is going to be 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.319 something like that 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:35.379 but infinitely better. 00:22:35.899 --> 00:22:36.539 Productive, 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.159 exciting, 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.339 wonderful, 00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:40.399 exhilarating. 00:22:41.300 --> 00:22:42.380 But think of how 00:22:42.380 --> 00:22:43.320 in the Old Testament 00:22:43.320 --> 00:22:44.360 in Genesis 11, 00:22:45.040 --> 00:22:46.680 the people come together 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.440 to build a city, 00:22:47.560 --> 00:22:48.500 the Tower of Babel. 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:50.440 And they come together 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.320 to build a city 00:22:51.320 --> 00:22:51.860 that they say, 00:22:51.960 --> 00:22:53.240 let us reach up to the heavens 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.120 to meet God. 00:22:54.480 --> 00:22:55.460 And they build a city 00:22:55.460 --> 00:22:57.519 to the fame of their own name, 00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:58.160 to the greatness 00:22:58.160 --> 00:22:59.140 of their own name. 00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:00.420 And what does God do? 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:01.700 He judges them 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:03.120 and He scatters them. 00:23:03.820 --> 00:23:04.780 But here in Revelation, 00:23:05.120 --> 00:23:05.900 it's the inverse. 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:06.840 Here, 00:23:07.220 --> 00:23:08.120 man is not building 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:09.140 the city of man to God. 00:23:09.140 --> 00:23:09.980 God is bringing 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.720 the city of God 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:11.660 down to man. 00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:13.600 And rather than scattering us, 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:15.380 God is uniting all people, 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.240 different languages 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.860 and cultures 00:23:16.860 --> 00:23:17.400 and ethnicity. 00:23:17.560 --> 00:23:19.000 He's uniting them together 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:20.160 around worship 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.980 of the throne. 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.640 But there's something 00:23:22.640 --> 00:23:23.800 unusual about the city 00:23:23.800 --> 00:23:24.620 and that is 00:23:24.620 --> 00:23:25.520 its shape. 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:27.520 This is the most unusual city 00:23:27.520 --> 00:23:28.200 you've ever seen. 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:31.060 It has a very peculiar shape. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.140 Now, 00:23:33.100 --> 00:23:33.980 in the Old Testament, 00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:35.299 what is the center 00:23:35.299 --> 00:23:36.900 of all life? 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:37.660 Civic life, 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:38.480 communal life, 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.420 spiritual life? 00:23:40.039 --> 00:23:41.120 It's the temple, right? 00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:42.779 The temple is at the center 00:23:42.779 --> 00:23:44.240 of all civilization 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.920 in the Old Testament. 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:45.539 All the people 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.400 camped around it. 00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:47.660 And the temple 00:23:47.660 --> 00:23:48.539 is where heaven 00:23:48.539 --> 00:23:49.400 and earth meet. 00:23:49.860 --> 00:23:50.660 Where God comes 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.620 and dwells with His people. 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.019 I don't know if you know this, 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.079 but in the Old Testament, 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.720 the temple 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:56.559 always faced eastwards. 00:23:57.099 --> 00:23:57.900 And the reason is 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:59.019 because Adam and Eve 00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.720 were expelled 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:00.720 out of the garden 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.400 to the east. 00:24:01.860 --> 00:24:02.740 And so when the priests 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:04.080 go back into the temple, 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:04.920 it's like a symbol 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.560 saying we're going 00:24:05.560 --> 00:24:06.460 back into Eden. 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:07.800 We're returning to Eden 00:24:07.800 --> 00:24:08.940 to how we were meant to live. 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:10.440 The temple is a picture 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:11.800 of God coming to earth. 00:24:12.280 --> 00:24:13.120 And in the center 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:13.680 of a temple, 00:24:13.820 --> 00:24:14.300 what is there? 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.700 There's a room. 00:24:15.800 --> 00:24:16.759 It's a cubic room. 00:24:16.860 --> 00:24:18.000 Two meters by two meters 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:18.759 by two meters. 00:24:19.200 --> 00:24:19.600 It's called 00:24:19.600 --> 00:24:21.300 the holiest of holy places. 00:24:21.880 --> 00:24:22.820 No one can go in there 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:23.480 except the priest 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.120 once a year. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.480 In the holiest 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:26.259 of holy places, 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:28.500 God's presence dwells. 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:29.980 In this cubic room, 00:24:30.040 --> 00:24:30.860 this very small room 00:24:30.859 --> 00:24:31.819 in the center of the temple, 00:24:32.199 --> 00:24:33.319 in the center of life, 00:24:33.419 --> 00:24:34.279 in the center of the world. 00:24:35.219 --> 00:24:37.159 Look at how this city 00:24:37.159 --> 00:24:37.799 is described, 00:24:37.939 --> 00:24:38.579 verse 16. 00:24:39.299 --> 00:24:39.839 It's a city, 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:40.659 it's a thousand 00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:41.759 five hundred miles wide. 00:24:42.159 --> 00:24:42.639 Then it says, 00:24:42.719 --> 00:24:43.179 verse 16, 00:24:43.319 --> 00:24:44.039 its height, 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.439 its length, 00:24:45.839 --> 00:24:46.539 its width 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.379 are all equal. 00:24:48.219 --> 00:24:48.719 In other words, 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.899 the city is a cube. 00:24:50.719 --> 00:24:51.539 It's a replication 00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.619 of the most holy 00:24:52.619 --> 00:24:53.500 and sacred place 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:53.939 on earth. 00:24:54.759 --> 00:24:55.179 In other words, 00:24:55.179 --> 00:24:55.979 what God is saying here 00:24:55.979 --> 00:24:57.319 is heaven is going 00:24:57.319 --> 00:24:58.259 to be like the center 00:24:58.259 --> 00:24:58.899 of the temple 00:24:58.900 --> 00:25:00.540 where God's presence 00:25:00.540 --> 00:25:01.700 dwells all over. 00:25:02.340 --> 00:25:03.400 No special places, 00:25:03.500 --> 00:25:04.600 no churches to go to, 00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:06.900 no special people, 00:25:07.019 --> 00:25:07.620 no pastors, 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:08.320 no priests. 00:25:08.780 --> 00:25:10.720 The whole of all creation, 00:25:10.800 --> 00:25:11.519 the new creation, 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.820 is going to be like 00:25:12.820 --> 00:25:13.720 the holiest, 00:25:13.840 --> 00:25:14.360 holiest places. 00:25:14.580 --> 00:25:15.259 God himself 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:16.060 is going to dwell there. 00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:17.400 Look at verse 22. 00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.140 It says, 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:19.300 I saw no temple 00:25:19.300 --> 00:25:19.840 in the city, 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.980 for its temple 00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.240 is the Lord God Almighty 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:22.940 and the Lamb. 00:25:23.660 --> 00:25:24.240 Or verse 3, 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.819 behold, 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.660 the dwelling place 00:25:25.660 --> 00:25:26.079 of God 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.759 is with man. 00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:28.019 He will dwell with him 00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:29.140 and they will be his people. 00:25:29.819 --> 00:25:31.000 God himself 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:31.759 will be with him 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.000 as their God. 00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.500 The point is, 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.319 the most important thing 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:37.700 about the new creation 00:25:37.700 --> 00:25:40.380 is that God is there 00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:42.059 in absolute, 00:25:42.620 --> 00:25:43.660 perfect splendor. 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:45.160 No hiding behind a veil, 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:47.380 no going through a mediator, 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:48.480 no special people, 00:25:48.620 --> 00:25:49.380 special buildings. 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:50.579 God is there 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:51.660 and we will know him 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:52.599 perfectly 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:53.899 and intimately. 00:25:55.219 --> 00:25:55.859 That's why 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:57.379 the city is described 00:25:57.379 --> 00:25:58.819 not only as a city, 00:25:59.139 --> 00:25:59.819 not only as a temple, 00:25:59.919 --> 00:26:01.039 it's described as a bride. 00:26:01.619 --> 00:26:02.279 Verse 2 says, 00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:03.219 the new Jerusalem 00:26:03.219 --> 00:26:04.599 came down as a bride, 00:26:04.699 --> 00:26:05.719 adorned for a husband. 00:26:06.439 --> 00:26:07.500 What do brides 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.579 and bridegrooms do 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.459 on their wedding days? 00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:10.899 They make a vow 00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:11.379 to each other. 00:26:11.439 --> 00:26:12.240 They make a commitment. 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:13.980 With all that I am, 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.919 with all that I have, 00:26:14.980 --> 00:26:15.879 I'm naked before you. 00:26:15.879 --> 00:26:17.159 I give myself to you. 00:26:17.799 --> 00:26:18.819 You belong to me 00:26:18.819 --> 00:26:19.740 and I belong to you. 00:26:20.399 --> 00:26:20.599 Friends, 00:26:20.699 --> 00:26:21.539 on that day, 00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.879 we will see 00:26:22.879 --> 00:26:24.099 the God 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:25.159 of all creation, 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:26.759 the one who created 00:26:26.759 --> 00:26:28.019 galaxies and stars 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:28.940 and the universe, 00:26:29.180 --> 00:26:29.659 that God, 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.579 we will see him 00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:32.299 almost naked in a sense, 00:26:32.420 --> 00:26:33.460 face to face 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.819 and he will say, 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.899 with all that I am, 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:36.599 with all that I have, 00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:38.019 I give myself to you 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:39.259 and you to me. 00:26:40.180 --> 00:26:40.859 We'll be one 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.700 with God. 00:26:42.639 --> 00:26:43.420 It's astounding. 00:26:44.379 --> 00:26:44.700 Friends, 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.240 what do you think 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.220 heaven is going to be like? 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.359 This morning, 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.139 we've only just scratched 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:48.740 the surface, 00:26:48.899 --> 00:26:49.639 but the point is, 00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:50.819 heaven is going to be 00:26:50.819 --> 00:26:51.819 the final fulfillment 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.960 and so much more 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:54.319 of every promise 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.299 God has ever made. 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.059 In the new creation, 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.740 life will be 00:26:57.740 --> 00:26:58.799 as it's meant to be, 00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:00.059 even better than 00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:01.519 your dream life. 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:02.879 Sin, 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:03.460 death, 00:27:03.659 --> 00:27:04.039 corruption, 00:27:04.159 --> 00:27:04.659 no more 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:05.980 and we will be 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:06.819 with God. 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.079 Okay, 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:09.700 second question is this, 00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:11.759 how then should we live 00:27:11.759 --> 00:27:12.759 now in light 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.819 of that age to come? 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.079 I remember hearing 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:16.220 a story a few years ago 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:17.539 of somebody that 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:19.299 was a chartered accountant 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:20.460 and when they were 00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:21.139 studying there 00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:22.339 for the exams, 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:23.680 their accounting exams, 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.359 they were extremely, 00:27:25.519 --> 00:27:26.159 extremely disciplined. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:27.960 He would study 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:28.759 for two hours 00:27:28.759 --> 00:27:29.259 and then he'd 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:29.759 allow himself 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:30.680 out of his bedroom 00:27:30.680 --> 00:27:31.819 for 15 minutes, 00:27:32.159 --> 00:27:32.319 okay, 00:27:32.399 --> 00:27:32.980 15 minutes 00:27:32.980 --> 00:27:34.119 and then after that 00:27:34.119 --> 00:27:35.039 he'd go back to his room 00:27:35.039 --> 00:27:35.740 into his books 00:27:35.740 --> 00:27:37.759 and all his roommates 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.619 and his friends 00:27:38.619 --> 00:27:39.440 and his housemates, 00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.440 they would be outside 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.440 playing games, 00:27:41.579 --> 00:27:41.940 cooking, 00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:42.799 hot pots, 00:27:43.299 --> 00:27:44.799 watching videos, 00:27:45.119 --> 00:27:46.099 playing computer games 00:27:46.099 --> 00:27:47.240 and he would come out 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.139 for 15 minutes 00:27:48.139 --> 00:27:49.299 and on the mark, 00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.019 okay guys, 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:50.559 got to go back 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:51.119 to the books. 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:52.219 Extremely, 00:27:52.379 --> 00:27:53.099 extremely disciplined. 00:27:53.919 --> 00:27:54.919 Why did he do that? 00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.439 He had a vision, 00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:57.879 a vision of what was 00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:58.259 to come. 00:27:59.039 --> 00:27:59.319 He said, 00:27:59.379 --> 00:28:00.359 now I'll be disciplined 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:01.000 because I'm going to 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:01.819 pass these exams, 00:28:01.959 --> 00:28:03.259 I can have fun later. 00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:05.980 How should we live now 00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.259 in light of the world 00:28:07.259 --> 00:28:07.719 to come? 00:28:08.939 --> 00:28:09.679 Let me give us 00:28:09.679 --> 00:28:10.980 four things to think about 00:28:10.980 --> 00:28:11.980 and I'm going to take them 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.699 from 1 Peter, 00:28:12.759 --> 00:28:13.439 we didn't read it 00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:14.119 but it's on the back 00:28:14.119 --> 00:28:14.719 of your bulletin 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:15.759 so grab your bulletin 00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.039 and look at 1 Peter 00:28:17.039 --> 00:28:18.180 with me. 00:28:20.120 --> 00:28:21.740 1 Peter is a letter 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.519 that's written by Peter 00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:23.500 to a bunch of Christians 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.079 who are going through 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:24.799 a hard time. 00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.240 How should we live now? 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:26.819 Four things. 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.200 Firstly, 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:29.140 live as a sojourner. 00:28:29.620 --> 00:28:30.319 A sojourner. 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:30.559 Okay, 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.500 what's a sojourner? 00:28:31.660 --> 00:28:32.740 It's a very strange word. 00:28:33.420 --> 00:28:34.039 A sojourner 00:28:34.039 --> 00:28:35.100 is somebody 00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:36.759 who is a traveler, 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:37.740 a pilgrim. 00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:39.160 Somebody who is 00:28:39.160 --> 00:28:40.059 in transit, 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.860 we might say 00:28:40.860 --> 00:28:42.680 in transit 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.819 between now 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:45.079 and your final destination. 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:45.679 Right? 00:28:46.279 --> 00:28:46.939 So these days 00:28:46.939 --> 00:28:48.500 you want to fly to America, 00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:49.639 you've got to stop off 00:28:49.639 --> 00:28:50.200 in Tokyo 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.980 on the way 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:52.039 and wait in the airport 00:28:52.039 --> 00:28:53.700 until your final destination. 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:54.779 Friends, 00:28:54.899 --> 00:28:56.319 live this life 00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.439 as a pilgrim, 00:28:57.519 --> 00:28:58.099 a traveler, 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:58.819 a sojourner 00:28:58.819 --> 00:29:00.240 knowing this life 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:01.399 is not your final home. 00:29:02.159 --> 00:29:02.799 Look at how 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:03.819 Peter writes it. 00:29:03.859 --> 00:29:04.539 Look at verse 1. 00:29:04.939 --> 00:29:05.259 He says, 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:05.619 Peter, 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:06.279 that's himself, 00:29:06.639 --> 00:29:07.659 as an apostle of Jesus, 00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:08.980 writing to those 00:29:08.980 --> 00:29:10.700 who are elect exiles. 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:11.960 What's an exile? 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:13.539 An exile is somebody 00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:14.400 who doesn't live 00:29:14.400 --> 00:29:15.259 in their home country. 00:29:15.400 --> 00:29:16.319 They've had to leave 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:16.880 their home country 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.360 and they're living 00:29:17.360 --> 00:29:18.539 somewhere else. 00:29:19.019 --> 00:29:20.420 They're waiting to return. 00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:21.640 Friends, 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.340 that's what the Christian life is. 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.539 You're temporarily 00:29:24.539 --> 00:29:25.900 living in this world 00:29:25.900 --> 00:29:27.519 as we await Jesus 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.019 to come 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.340 to take us home 00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:30.259 to our final home. 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.420 In chapter 2, 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:31.779 I'm friends, 00:29:31.840 --> 00:29:32.500 it's not in your bulletin, 00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.640 but Peter writes this. 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:33.920 He says, 00:29:34.000 --> 00:29:34.440 Beloved, 00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:35.559 I urge you, 00:29:35.840 --> 00:29:37.200 live as sojourners 00:29:37.200 --> 00:29:38.420 and exiles in this world. 00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.880 Abstain from the passions 00:29:39.880 --> 00:29:40.600 of the flesh. 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.699 In other words, 00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:42.799 don't give yourself 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:43.439 to everything 00:29:43.439 --> 00:29:45.000 that you might feel like 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.599 in this world 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:47.659 because this isn't your home. 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:48.980 There's a home 00:29:48.980 --> 00:29:49.679 waiting for you 00:29:49.679 --> 00:29:50.459 and live now 00:29:50.459 --> 00:29:51.639 in light of that. 00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:53.399 So here's my encouragement 00:29:53.399 --> 00:29:53.839 to you. 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:55.519 Live this life, 00:29:56.139 --> 00:29:57.000 high schoolers, 00:29:57.059 --> 00:29:57.779 if you're in youth, 00:29:58.399 --> 00:29:58.599 this, 00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:00.159 you've got dreams 00:30:00.159 --> 00:30:00.819 for your life. 00:30:01.419 --> 00:30:02.159 Heaven is going to be 00:30:02.159 --> 00:30:02.980 infinitely better 00:30:02.980 --> 00:30:04.159 than your best dream 00:30:04.159 --> 00:30:05.240 for your life now. 00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.959 As you dream 00:30:06.959 --> 00:30:07.719 for your life, 00:30:07.939 --> 00:30:08.659 live now 00:30:08.659 --> 00:30:09.439 in light of the world 00:30:09.439 --> 00:30:09.859 to come. 00:30:10.599 --> 00:30:10.980 So, 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:11.799 friends, 00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:12.539 live lightly. 00:30:13.319 --> 00:30:14.679 Don't hoard possessions. 00:30:15.619 --> 00:30:16.679 Don't be like Gollum 00:30:16.679 --> 00:30:17.459 in Lord of the Rings. 00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.240 My precious. 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.119 Grab more and more 00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:20.459 and more, 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:20.819 right? 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:21.679 Friends, 00:30:21.799 --> 00:30:23.259 don't believe YOLO. 00:30:23.419 --> 00:30:23.599 You know, 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.099 YOLO, 00:30:24.199 --> 00:30:24.939 you only live once. 00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.199 No, 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:25.480 you don't. 00:30:25.559 --> 00:30:26.579 You're going to live forever 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:28.000 and ever and ever 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:30.019 and it's going to be awesome. 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.579 Friends, 00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:33.339 what would it look like 00:30:33.339 --> 00:30:35.419 to live this life now 00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:36.980 in light of 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:37.939 the new creation? 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.360 See yourself 00:30:39.360 --> 00:30:40.039 as a pilgrim 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.720 and a sojourner. 00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:41.740 Secondly, 00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.840 embrace suffering. 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.000 Embrace suffering. 00:30:45.100 --> 00:30:45.539 Look at how 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:46.519 Peter writes this, 00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.180 verse 6. 00:30:47.759 --> 00:30:48.140 He says, 00:30:48.320 --> 00:30:49.120 in this, 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.820 what is this? 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.700 This is the hope 00:30:50.700 --> 00:30:51.500 of the new creation 00:30:51.500 --> 00:30:52.140 that's to come 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:54.200 if you're in Christ. 00:30:54.320 --> 00:30:54.820 In this, 00:30:54.920 --> 00:30:55.559 you rejoice. 00:30:56.100 --> 00:30:57.039 Even though now 00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.900 for a little while 00:30:57.900 --> 00:30:58.980 you have necessarily 00:30:58.980 --> 00:30:59.840 been grieved 00:30:59.840 --> 00:31:00.980 by various trials 00:31:00.980 --> 00:31:02.460 so that the tested 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.839 genuineness of your faith, 00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:04.960 your faith which is 00:31:04.960 --> 00:31:06.200 more precious than gold 00:31:06.200 --> 00:31:07.360 even though that perishes, 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:09.299 your faith may be found 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.440 to result in praise 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:11.519 and glory and honor 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:13.319 at the revelation of Jesus. 00:31:14.180 --> 00:31:14.579 Friends, 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:17.120 if you are going to follow Jesus, 00:31:18.180 --> 00:31:19.759 suffering and hardship 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:22.059 are probably going to be 00:31:22.059 --> 00:31:23.140 part of your life journey. 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:23.579 In fact, 00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:24.759 if you're a human being 00:31:24.759 --> 00:31:25.279 that's going to be 00:31:25.279 --> 00:31:26.059 part of your life journey. 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:27.480 But particularly 00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.259 if you're a Christian, 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.160 if you're a Christian, 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:31.000 suffering and hardship 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.779 and difficulty 00:31:31.779 --> 00:31:32.700 are going to be 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:34.019 your constant companion 00:31:34.019 --> 00:31:36.019 on this journey of life 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:37.559 until the new creation. 00:31:38.740 --> 00:31:39.720 And one of the reasons 00:31:39.720 --> 00:31:40.319 is God says 00:31:40.319 --> 00:31:42.319 that suffering refines us, 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.079 it grows us, 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.980 it matures us. 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:45.700 Like when you put gold 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.299 in a furnace 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:47.480 and the gold bubbles up 00:31:47.480 --> 00:31:48.220 and all the impurities 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:48.879 come to the top 00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:49.599 and you can remove 00:31:49.599 --> 00:31:50.140 the impurities 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:51.000 so that what's left 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:51.700 is pure. 00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:53.460 So suffering 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.140 and hardship 00:31:54.140 --> 00:31:54.940 and crises 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:56.039 have a way 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.839 of refining 00:31:56.839 --> 00:31:57.619 our character, 00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:58.879 our conduct, 00:31:59.199 --> 00:31:59.879 our heart 00:31:59.879 --> 00:32:01.339 so that we can purify 00:32:01.339 --> 00:32:02.059 us for God. 00:32:02.939 --> 00:32:03.419 But friends, 00:32:03.659 --> 00:32:04.619 there's a temptation 00:32:04.619 --> 00:32:05.679 to want to avoid 00:32:05.679 --> 00:32:06.539 all suffering 00:32:06.539 --> 00:32:07.099 and hardship 00:32:07.099 --> 00:32:08.279 in this life. 00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:09.879 Nobody likes suffering. 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:10.879 You don't need to 00:32:10.879 --> 00:32:12.199 seek it out. 00:32:12.659 --> 00:32:14.000 But when it comes, 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:15.279 don't think 00:32:15.279 --> 00:32:16.359 it's the end of the world. 00:32:17.439 --> 00:32:17.619 Friends, 00:32:17.679 --> 00:32:18.519 don't avoid it. 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.559 Suffering will come 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.079 but suffering 00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:21.159 is preparing you 00:32:21.159 --> 00:32:22.639 for the world to come. 00:32:23.179 --> 00:32:24.099 And so embrace it. 00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:25.539 Embrace the hardship 00:32:25.539 --> 00:32:26.259 of repentance. 00:32:26.259 --> 00:32:28.019 Embrace the hardship 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:29.339 of humbling yourself 00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:30.339 to go and say sorry 00:32:30.339 --> 00:32:31.259 to somebody else. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:32.980 Embrace the hardship 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.359 of sharing the gospel 00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:34.960 with somebody. 00:32:35.740 --> 00:32:36.379 Embrace the hardship 00:32:36.379 --> 00:32:37.079 of giving away 00:32:37.079 --> 00:32:37.900 some of your resources 00:32:37.900 --> 00:32:38.700 to some missionary 00:32:38.700 --> 00:32:39.319 in Myanmar 00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:40.720 or some kingdom adventure. 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.559 Embrace the hardship 00:32:42.559 --> 00:32:42.940 of saying, 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:44.119 this world isn't my own. 00:32:44.200 --> 00:32:44.859 I don't need to build 00:32:44.859 --> 00:32:45.879 my own castle here. 00:32:46.559 --> 00:32:47.460 There's a will to come. 00:32:48.660 --> 00:32:49.099 Friends, 00:32:49.180 --> 00:32:49.579 this week 00:32:49.579 --> 00:32:50.140 you will face 00:32:50.140 --> 00:32:50.920 some difficulty. 00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.559 Let that difficulty 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.279 refine you. 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:54.379 Don't run away from it. 00:32:55.220 --> 00:32:56.060 Here's the third thing. 00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.380 Live on mission 00:32:57.380 --> 00:32:58.000 for Jesus. 00:32:59.700 --> 00:33:00.040 I don't know 00:33:00.040 --> 00:33:00.440 if you know 00:33:00.440 --> 00:33:02.040 when you watch 00:33:02.040 --> 00:33:02.980 YouTube videos, 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:03.420 you know, 00:33:03.580 --> 00:33:04.140 you want to watch 00:33:04.140 --> 00:33:04.740 a YouTube video 00:33:04.740 --> 00:33:05.460 and the first thing 00:33:05.460 --> 00:33:06.220 that always comes up 00:33:06.220 --> 00:33:08.000 is an irritating advert, 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:08.380 right? 00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:09.880 Some skin care product 00:33:09.880 --> 00:33:11.460 that you're not interested in. 00:33:11.820 --> 00:33:12.520 And at the bottom, 00:33:12.580 --> 00:33:12.940 on the bottom 00:33:12.940 --> 00:33:13.900 right hand corner, 00:33:14.500 --> 00:33:14.940 it says, 00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.100 skip this ad 00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:16.860 in five, 00:33:16.960 --> 00:33:17.400 four, 00:33:17.720 --> 00:33:18.040 three, 00:33:18.360 --> 00:33:18.580 two, 00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:18.920 one, 00:33:19.000 --> 00:33:19.240 right? 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:22.200 That five second ad 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:22.859 before the 00:33:22.859 --> 00:33:24.420 10 minute YouTube video 00:33:24.420 --> 00:33:25.859 is like this world. 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:28.039 The 15 billion years 00:33:28.039 --> 00:33:29.099 of creation 00:33:29.099 --> 00:33:30.400 plus however many more 00:33:30.400 --> 00:33:32.079 is like the five seconds 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:33.299 and there's a countdown clock 00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:33.799 that's ticking. 00:33:34.480 --> 00:33:35.779 Christ is coming soon 00:33:35.779 --> 00:33:37.700 in 5,000 years. 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:38.120 Four, 00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:38.720 three, 00:33:38.980 --> 00:33:39.140 two, 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:39.480 one. 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:42.039 Jesus is coming soon. 00:33:42.900 --> 00:33:43.220 But friends, 00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:44.160 when he comes, 00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:45.660 there will be no more chance 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:47.599 for us to repent. 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:49.819 And there'll be no more chance 00:33:49.819 --> 00:33:50.759 for our loved ones 00:33:50.759 --> 00:33:51.639 to come to know him. 00:33:53.159 --> 00:33:53.559 Friends, 00:33:53.659 --> 00:33:55.219 God is creating a new world, 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.719 the real story of the world, 00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.619 but he's not going to force 00:33:57.619 --> 00:33:58.679 anybody to be there. 00:33:59.459 --> 00:34:01.659 Only those who love him now 00:34:01.659 --> 00:34:02.799 will love him there. 00:34:03.379 --> 00:34:04.819 And if you don't want God 00:34:04.819 --> 00:34:05.839 in your life now, 00:34:05.959 --> 00:34:06.439 if you say, 00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:06.679 no, 00:34:06.719 --> 00:34:07.639 I don't want you now, 00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.880 he's not going to force you 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:09.619 to be with him 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.519 for all eternity. 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.039 He will say, 00:34:12.420 --> 00:34:12.659 okay, 00:34:12.759 --> 00:34:13.079 fine, 00:34:13.579 --> 00:34:14.880 you do it your way. 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.119 But friends, 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:16.980 it is going to be 00:34:16.980 --> 00:34:18.340 infinitely terrible. 00:34:19.679 --> 00:34:20.199 And so friends, 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:21.699 live on mission with Jesus. 00:34:21.800 --> 00:34:22.740 And so there's two implications 00:34:22.740 --> 00:34:23.280 for this. 00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:24.360 The first one is this. 00:34:25.099 --> 00:34:26.099 Are you going to be 00:34:26.099 --> 00:34:27.619 in the new creation with him? 00:34:29.079 --> 00:34:29.500 In other words, 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.260 are you a Christian? 00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:32.199 Do you love Jesus? 00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:32.940 Have you centered 00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.740 your life around him? 00:34:34.039 --> 00:34:34.719 In the new creation, 00:34:34.900 --> 00:34:35.460 God is going to be 00:34:35.460 --> 00:34:36.599 the center of everything 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:37.280 that happens. 00:34:37.800 --> 00:34:38.519 Is he the center 00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:39.280 of your life now? 00:34:40.440 --> 00:34:41.599 Have you surrendered to him? 00:34:41.659 --> 00:34:43.599 Have you accepted 00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.519 his offer of forgiveness, 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:45.960 his offer of grace? 00:34:46.619 --> 00:34:47.820 Will you be with him there? 00:34:48.679 --> 00:34:49.179 But secondly, 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:50.099 if you are a Christian, 00:34:50.300 --> 00:34:51.059 are you reaching out 00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.420 to people 00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:52.139 and telling people 00:34:52.139 --> 00:34:52.579 about him? 00:34:53.260 --> 00:34:54.179 Are you helping people 00:34:54.179 --> 00:34:54.880 to come to know 00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:56.099 the wonder of Christ 00:34:56.099 --> 00:34:57.280 and that we will live 00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:57.820 with him forever? 00:34:58.480 --> 00:35:00.000 And then here's the last thing, 00:35:00.740 --> 00:35:01.659 live by faith. 00:35:02.280 --> 00:35:02.940 Live by faith. 00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:03.920 Look at what Peter writes 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:04.840 here in verse eight. 00:35:04.940 --> 00:35:05.220 He says, 00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:07.220 though you have not seen him, 00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:08.840 you love him. 00:35:09.280 --> 00:35:10.900 Though you do not now see him, 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.579 he's talking about Jesus, 00:35:11.720 --> 00:35:12.539 you believe in him 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.920 and rejoice with a joy 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:15.300 that is inexpressible 00:35:15.300 --> 00:35:16.900 and filled with glory. 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:17.759 Friends, 00:35:17.800 --> 00:35:18.279 the point is, 00:35:18.420 --> 00:35:20.000 one day we will see Christ 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:20.880 face to face 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:22.900 and it will be 00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:24.519 infinitely better 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.259 than you can imagine. 00:35:26.119 --> 00:35:26.719 But right now, 00:35:26.759 --> 00:35:27.400 we don't see him. 00:35:28.119 --> 00:35:28.779 You don't hold him, 00:35:28.820 --> 00:35:29.519 you don't touch him. 00:35:30.199 --> 00:35:31.460 And so this week, 00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:32.860 live by faith. 00:35:33.340 --> 00:35:33.800 This week, 00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:34.380 when you're tempted 00:35:34.380 --> 00:35:35.519 to do things your own way, 00:35:35.980 --> 00:35:36.719 live by faith 00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:37.579 that Christ is enough. 00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:37.980 This week, 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:39.119 when you're tempted to sin, 00:35:39.719 --> 00:35:40.480 live by faith 00:35:40.480 --> 00:35:41.420 Jesus is enough. 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:41.820 This week, 00:35:41.860 --> 00:35:42.619 when you're tempted 00:35:42.619 --> 00:35:43.880 to get angry and bitter 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:44.619 and resentful 00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:45.539 towards somebody else, 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:46.240 friends, 00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:47.099 live by faith. 00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:48.460 Reconcile, 00:35:48.579 --> 00:35:49.039 because that's what 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:49.760 it's going to be like 00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:50.240 in heaven. 00:35:51.039 --> 00:35:51.599 At the moment, 00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.740 your relationship with Christ 00:35:52.740 --> 00:35:53.719 is one of faith, 00:35:53.800 --> 00:35:54.360 not sight. 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:55.659 But one day, 00:35:55.719 --> 00:35:56.639 that's going to turn around. 00:35:56.740 --> 00:35:57.460 It's going to be sight, 00:35:57.699 --> 00:35:58.420 not faith. 00:35:58.940 --> 00:36:00.119 And so live this week 00:36:00.119 --> 00:36:00.760 by faith, 00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:01.920 knowing that he will 00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:02.980 bring you home safely. 00:36:03.940 --> 00:36:05.179 Let me close with this. 00:36:06.179 --> 00:36:07.199 When we lived 00:36:07.199 --> 00:36:07.880 in South Africa 00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:09.840 many years ago, 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:11.579 I know this might, 00:36:12.420 --> 00:36:13.220 let's see if you can 00:36:13.220 --> 00:36:14.039 connect to the story. 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.380 Our favorite place 00:36:15.380 --> 00:36:15.800 in the world 00:36:15.800 --> 00:36:16.440 to go on holiday 00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:17.220 was a place called 00:36:17.220 --> 00:36:18.300 Plettenberg Bay. 00:36:18.620 --> 00:36:18.740 Okay? 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:20.500 And it was 00:36:20.500 --> 00:36:21.880 as close as you can get 00:36:21.880 --> 00:36:22.380 to paradise. 00:36:23.120 --> 00:36:25.039 It was on a stretch of road 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.420 that's called 00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:26.400 the Garden Route. 00:36:26.780 --> 00:36:27.760 It's about six hours 00:36:27.760 --> 00:36:28.640 away from Cape Town, 00:36:28.760 --> 00:36:29.820 600 kilometers away. 00:36:30.300 --> 00:36:31.000 The Garden Route 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.940 is called the Garden Route 00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:32.440 because it's like 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.160 the Garden of Eden. 00:36:33.820 --> 00:36:35.980 And each kind of area 00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:37.240 on each side 00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:38.000 of Plettenberg Bay, 00:36:38.000 --> 00:36:39.119 one side is called 00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.860 Nature's Valley, 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:40.519 the other side 00:36:40.519 --> 00:36:40.800 is called 00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:41.420 the Wilderness. 00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:41.880 Right? 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:43.440 So this is like Eden. 00:36:44.440 --> 00:36:45.480 And so once a year 00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:46.579 we'd try and drive there. 00:36:46.719 --> 00:36:47.420 So what we'd do, 00:36:47.500 --> 00:36:48.039 we'd young kids, 00:36:48.139 --> 00:36:48.980 we'd leave at three 00:36:48.980 --> 00:36:49.780 or four in the morning, 00:36:49.860 --> 00:36:50.719 maybe three in the morning. 00:36:51.099 --> 00:36:51.900 The kids could sleep 00:36:51.900 --> 00:36:52.480 in the car 00:36:52.480 --> 00:36:53.579 and we would drive 00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.360 to paradise, 00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:54.679 right? 00:36:55.039 --> 00:36:55.480 To Pletten. 00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:57.659 And invariably, 00:36:57.840 --> 00:36:58.599 we'd stop somewhere 00:36:58.599 --> 00:36:59.000 in the road, 00:36:59.079 --> 00:36:59.760 maybe eight o'clock 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.219 in the morning, 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:01.300 we'd stop for some coffee 00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:02.139 or some breakfast 00:37:02.139 --> 00:37:03.900 and about two hours 00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:04.699 outside of Pletten. 00:37:05.460 --> 00:37:06.219 And we'd stop 00:37:06.219 --> 00:37:07.320 and we'd get some coffee, 00:37:07.320 --> 00:37:07.740 to breakfast 00:37:07.740 --> 00:37:08.460 and then we'd get back 00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:09.080 in the car and go. 00:37:10.039 --> 00:37:10.340 Friends, 00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:11.880 just imagine how ridiculous 00:37:11.880 --> 00:37:12.480 it would be 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:14.200 if we stop at a gas station 00:37:14.200 --> 00:37:15.539 on the side of the road 00:37:15.539 --> 00:37:16.840 and you start pulling out 00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:17.720 your beach chairs 00:37:17.720 --> 00:37:19.240 and your beach umbrella 00:37:19.240 --> 00:37:20.100 and you bring out 00:37:20.100 --> 00:37:20.620 your suitcase 00:37:20.620 --> 00:37:21.680 and you start unpacking 00:37:21.680 --> 00:37:22.160 your clothes 00:37:22.160 --> 00:37:23.160 on the side of the road 00:37:23.160 --> 00:37:23.920 and you bring out 00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:24.539 your food 00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:26.080 and you start living 00:37:26.080 --> 00:37:27.000 as if that's holiday. 00:37:27.700 --> 00:37:28.600 No, that's not holiday. 00:37:29.340 --> 00:37:30.240 We're just a traveler, 00:37:30.360 --> 00:37:31.120 just a pilgrim. 00:37:31.440 --> 00:37:32.900 This is a temporary stop 00:37:32.900 --> 00:37:33.480 on the way 00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.640 to paradise. 00:37:35.539 --> 00:37:35.800 Friends, 00:37:35.800 --> 00:37:37.060 this world is not your home. 00:37:37.780 --> 00:37:38.680 Don't live as if 00:37:38.680 --> 00:37:39.300 this world's your home. 00:37:39.580 --> 00:37:41.180 There is creation coming, 00:37:41.240 --> 00:37:41.940 a new creation. 00:37:42.120 --> 00:37:43.280 It is going to be wonderful. 00:37:44.220 --> 00:37:45.220 Live life now 00:37:45.220 --> 00:37:46.280 as a pit stop, 00:37:46.480 --> 00:37:47.980 a short gas station stop 00:37:47.980 --> 00:37:49.140 on the way 00:37:49.140 --> 00:37:50.140 to glory. 00:37:50.820 --> 00:37:51.500 Live with faith. 00:37:52.380 --> 00:37:53.280 Live trusting Jesus. 00:37:54.140 --> 00:37:55.039 Embrace the hardship 00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:56.980 but live knowing 00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:58.039 that Christ is going to 00:37:58.039 --> 00:37:58.800 make all things new. 00:37:59.180 --> 00:37:59.940 Let's pray together. 00:38:01.180 --> 00:38:02.060 Heavenly Father, 00:38:02.600 --> 00:38:03.539 we come before you this morning. 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:04.440 God, I confess. 00:38:04.539 --> 00:38:05.279 I'll start with myself. 00:38:05.420 --> 00:38:06.279 I confess, God. 00:38:06.920 --> 00:38:07.860 I often live 00:38:07.860 --> 00:38:09.400 with such a small perspective 00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:10.659 that this world 00:38:10.659 --> 00:38:11.259 is everything. 00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:12.239 God, 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:13.759 write on our hearts 00:38:13.759 --> 00:38:14.699 that we are pilgrims 00:38:14.699 --> 00:38:15.259 and travelers, 00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:16.579 sojourners in this world 00:38:16.579 --> 00:38:18.199 as we make our way 00:38:18.199 --> 00:38:19.940 towards our true home. 00:38:20.059 --> 00:38:20.860 Lord, remind us 00:38:20.860 --> 00:38:21.880 that as wonderful 00:38:21.880 --> 00:38:23.480 as this city Hong Kong is 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:24.759 and we want to work hard 00:38:24.759 --> 00:38:25.659 to make it even better. 00:38:26.119 --> 00:38:27.039 We want more joy 00:38:27.039 --> 00:38:27.559 and peace 00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:28.119 and grace 00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:29.099 and hope 00:38:29.099 --> 00:38:30.039 to fill our city. 00:38:30.659 --> 00:38:31.039 But God, 00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:31.659 help us remember 00:38:31.659 --> 00:38:32.420 this world 00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:33.500 will never be our home. 00:38:34.279 --> 00:38:35.519 There is a new homecoming. 00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:36.539 And so help us 00:38:36.539 --> 00:38:37.300 to live with faith. 00:38:38.039 --> 00:38:39.440 Help us to trust you, Jesus. 00:38:40.199 --> 00:38:41.539 Help us to live as pilgrims. 00:38:42.460 --> 00:38:43.039 Help us, God, 00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:44.119 to love you 00:38:44.119 --> 00:38:45.000 and love one another 00:38:45.000 --> 00:38:46.179 as we live 00:38:46.179 --> 00:38:47.239 with hope 00:38:47.239 --> 00:38:48.400 for the world to come. 00:38:48.840 --> 00:38:49.460 We pray this 00:38:49.460 --> 00:38:50.000 in your wonderful 00:38:50.000 --> 00:38:50.840 and gracious name. 00:38:51.500 --> 00:38:51.800 Amen. 00:38:51.800 --> 00:38:51.980 Amen. 00:38:51.980 --> 00:38:52.000 Amen. 00:38:52.619 --> 00:38:52.860 Amen. 00:38:52.860 --> 00:38:52.920 Amen. 00:38:52.920 --> 00:38:53.420 Amen. 00:38:53.420 --> 00:38:53.920 Amen. 00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:53.980 Amen. 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:54.000 Amen. 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:54.059 Amen. 00:38:54.059 --> 00:38:54.079 Amen. 00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:54.099 Amen. 00:38:54.099 --> 00:38:54.119 Amen. 00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:54.139 Amen. 00:38:54.139 --> 00:38:54.159 Amen. 00:38:54.159 --> 00:38:54.179 Amen. 00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:54.219 Amen. 00:38:54.219 --> 00:38:56.099 Amen. 00:38:56.099 --> 00:38:56.159 Amen. 00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:56.179 Amen. 00:38:56.179 --> 00:39:00.019 Amen.