FACING DEATH WITH COURAGE BECAUSE OF THE HOPE OF HEAVEN- {Read 2 Cor 5:1-6}.
Paul Faced death with “Courage,” v 6, 8. It means to display courage, boldness, confidence of purpose in the midst of trials,dangers. The Greek Word,”tharreo,” means, to be of ” cheerful It means To have happiness, to be confident, to be content, joy. ” This was not occasional, sporadic as it is a verb… it was his continuous attitude. This is how he faced death…continually confident, continually contented, continually cheerful, continually happy because of Who He knew, what He knew,…what faced him through the gateway of death and shares with us… that…
1.-YOUR NEXT BODY WILL BE YOUR BEST BODY; –
“For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.”-{2 Cor 5:1 NLT}. He uses a “tent” as an illustration. A tent is not permanent it speaks of someone who is wandering, but not permanent. This world is not our home, like a tent dweller we are considered as “aliens, strangers, pilgrims…”-{Read 2 Peter 1:13-14; 2 Peter 2:11}. Just like a tent deteriorates, and wears down, so too do our bodies! ” Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. “-{2 Cor 4:16-17}. Your next body will be your best body as you will be Receiving from Him a New body that is…
Incorruptible, {v42};
Glorious, {v43};
Powerful,{v43};
and Spiritual {v44};- { Read 1 Cor 15:42-42}.
2.- YOUR NEXT LIFE WILL BE YOUR BEST LIFE; –
For the child of God, the follower of Christ this here and now is NOT their “best life,” but the life ahead which will be Flawless, Perfect. – {2 Cor 5:2-4}. Not this life but the life ahead…with Him!
“ We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. “-{2 Cor 5:2-4 NLT}
3.- YOUR NEXT LIFE FULFILLS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOU;- You Were Made For This!
“Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God , who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge {Down payment}”– {2 Cor 5:5}. God Determined Your Future In The Past – {2 Cor 5:5} He Prepared a Resurrection for You and all believers! -{Read Rom 8;29-30}. God’s Purpose Began in Eternity Past And Is Fulfilled In Eternity Future -{2 Cor 5:5; Rom 8:29-30}. God’s promise for him and all believers that they will spend eternity with Him and the Gift of the Holy Spirit indwelling as a pledge and empowering Him to continue to fight the good fight of faith!
4.- YOUR NEXT LIFE WILL BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER;-
You’re not on probation, or for a set period but for eternity,
” The statement is trustworthy: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him“-{2 Timothy 2:11} His DESIRE that you be WITH Him. “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”-{John 17:24}. And His DELIGHT you are with Him! -“Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy,”– {Jude 24}
Paul Faced Death With Courage, continually so, as the word is a verb. “Courage” {tharrhep from tharsos =boldness}.
It means to display courage, it is an attitude of confidence, being firm amidst danger or testing. It is in the present tense which shows Paul’s continuous attitude because of God’s pledge of the Holy Spirit and God’s purpose being completed and carried out.{v 5} His attitude was not one of passing, fleeting moments, but a settled conviction, attitude, through having reason to be so, and face death not with uncertainty or fear but cheerful, confident, and contentment!
He faces it with happiness, and contentment because of Who He knew and what he knew. And we too can, as we know as it is revealed for us where? In His Word! Be encouraged. We all die. Different ways to be sure, some quick, some slow and painful, but it is what is ahead of us, it is WHO is ahead of us… that we can face it with Courage, happiness, contentment…with HOPE…confidence…
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”-{1 Cor 15:55-57}.
We Live By Faith… In What His Word Says!– {2 Cor 5:1-8}. We Have A Future Hope Based On The Resurrected LORD through His Word! We live by faith…in Him and therefore we have A Future Hope. – {2 Cor 5:8}…
Hope- “good courage” is not based on chance but on certainty. Look at how he displays this with the certainty of the words he chooses to use.
” We know” -{2 Cor 5:1}…What certainty. In 1 Cor 15, Paul uses 58 verses to speak of our Future
“We have…”-{2 Cor 5:1}…
“We are always confident”-{2 Cor 5:6}…
“We are confident…”-{2 Cor 5:8}. His is not a hope of wishful thinking, or like a gambler’s chance, but one of certainty, and confidence in Him and what He has promised! His Hope, and confident expectation of a future good…fills him rooted in God and His unchanging Word!
For The Follower Of Christ, DEATH IS THE ENTRANCE INTO GOD’S FULFILLMENT FOR YOUR LIFE… AS REVEALED IN FOUR BENEFITS…
- A New Body.-{2 Cor 5:1}
- A Perfect Life- {Flawless Life}-{2 Cor 5:2-4}
- The Fulfillment Of God’s Purpose For You.-{2 Cor 5:5}.
- With The LORD Forever.-{2 Cor 5:6}
Praise Him…and thank Him for each of these four truths! Talk to yourself, and strengthen yourself with these 4 truths. Strengthen your faith with courage as you Meditate upon these four truths…and Him Who Promises! Look To Share These Four Truths To Fan others’ faith with courage. Be prepared to answer if someone asks you what happens when a believer dies. Hide these 4 truths in your mind, to be ready to share and impart hope from God’s Word with them.
We have a future that is glorious, as we know these FOUR TRUTHS. The Believers’ death means…
Your Future Is Bright, Your Future Is Christ!