The Gathering

II Corinthians 5:6-9 "Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, wilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him."

John 14:2-4 "In my Fathers house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know."

Jesus came into the world to save sinners; that we, through faith, might have eternal life with him. We don't deserve it and we cannot earn it any more than your children could ever "earn" your love. You love them regardless of what kind of a mess they get into and you would do anything to keep them on the right track. It's a tragedy today, that most of the preaching seems to be focused on the present world; on material gain and the accumulation of "stuff." As a result, few seem to have their affections on things above; on the eternal realm of the everlasting. We should have our affections on the Lord Jesus Christ and earnestly desire to be with him. If your heart is contrary to this, some searching is in order. The Apostle Paul wrote about this desire to be with the Lord in his epistle to the Philippians.

Philippians 1:21-24 "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful to you."

Paul had a completly Christ centered and unselfish attitude. He describes his fervent desire to be present with the Lord Jesus Christ; a desire that you should have if you're born again. He also expresses his love for the church and his desire to abide in this physical realm to address their needs. (This was the only reason that he had any desire to abide in this present world; to spread the gospel and minister to the saints who were needful of sound doctrine.) And such it is with us. I for one, would like very much to be present with the Lord Jesus at this very moment. This world is very much "not" my home and it's getting stranger every day. On the other hand, I know a lot of people whom I love dearly, that are not ready for eternity and I desire that they would know the Lord. To know him not as merely a historical figure or as someone far removed from the present, but as the risen Savior who desires a personal relationship with them. When it's all said and done, nothing else matters. I quoted this very recently, but here it is again as it amplifies this very thing.

II Peter 3:12-14 "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless."

Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.

"World without end." The world to come will never ever end. That means that in ten trillion years, it'll still be in existance, although the concept of "time" will pass away with this present world. The human mind cannot even fathom such a concept; astronomers search the skies in search of how everything began and how everything will end up because they cannot grasp the concept of everlasting. They never consider that there's a spiritual realm and all that they see is the result of spiritual events. (God spoke the worlds into existance) The world to come will go on forever and as such if you know Jesus as your Savior you should be excited by just thinking about it. Your should rejoice when you think about the gathering of the saints together with the Lord jesus Christ. I know that I'm rambling a little, but read this next familiar passage.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

"So shall we ever be with the Lord." What an absolutely glorious thought. We'll never again be absent from the Lord Jesus Christ. This corruption will put on incorruption and we shall be changed in an instant. If you know Jesus; if you have the promise of eternal life abiding in you, NOTHING in this world should ever "get to you." I know that we all struggle with this to one degree or another, but everything down here will come to pass. "It's all going to burn: literally!"

This is why I get perplexed by preachers who concentrate on material gains in a world that's soon to be no more instead of telling the saints to "LOOK UP; your redemption draweth nigh." Read what Job said concerning the world that's to come. (even though he was lamenting his then current trial of faith)

Job 3:17-19 "There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master."

Just a side note before continuing. The book of Job and Psalms, along with other portions of scripture, have such a flowing "poetic like" nature to them; you can only find it in the King James version.

We, in our fallen state cannot even begin to comprehend such a world where there's absolutly no sorrow, no wicked devices, no pride, no more parting and nothing that causes heartache. Yet it's real and it will abide forever. Saints of God; please stop naming and claiming a new SUV, a new house overlooking the ocean, or a new whatever it is that has taken your eyes off the world to come. SET YOUR HEART ON THE LORD JESUS AND YOUR AFFECTIONS ON THINGS ABOVE!

One of the biggest tragedies of all can be found in a nursing home such as the one that my dad is in now. These folks worked all of their lives; gained all that they could possibly gain, many had very rewarding careers, and now, as their days on earth approach their natural ending, what did it all mean?

Matthew 16:26 "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

I've bounced around a little this morning but the conclusion is this: Jesus is coming. This world will pass away but the one to come will abide forever and ever. If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, rejoice as the gathering of the saints is soon to take place.

Matthew 24:30-31 "And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Please strive to be ready for that moment. Revisit the last two chapters of Revelation; get them deep into your heart. Let me close this out by referring to the event that the apostle Paul mentions in II Corinthians 12:1-4.

"It is not expediant for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago. (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."