OUR ETERNAL HOME

Newsletter 210 September 12, 2010

Our youngest daughter should have become an archaeologist in maturity. On any outing we might make, she always returned with all sorts of collections. If we went to the beach, she collected shells. if to a wilderness destination, she up stones. Like Lucille Ball traveling with a huge trailer across the rocky mountains, she would have gathered large stones at every stop, if we had permitted. As a child, I too was fascinated by the junk farmers often dumped in gullies on some hidden corner of their farms.

From such background, come those who search through the debris of as many generations back as they can find. Our daughter probably still has a collection of very old glass bottles, and other trinkets. I am still fascinated with the book, “Dead Men Tell Tales.” and still cherish a genuine American Indian tomahawk I found near my childhood home.

Biblical archaeologists searched for bits of the broken pottery for they were used to write notes on, much as we in our house grab for an envelope from the waste basket to write phone numbers and addresses on. Every home used lots of pottery. They made tiny pottery lamps, large jars to carry water, pots in which to cook, dishes off which to eat. During World War two, we used to joke about the Japanese vessels that were kept under the bed. Today they are treasured antiques, especially if the whole set with a basin and pitcher are there.

Paul compared our bodies to “earthen vessels“. Like the earthen vessels of old, they are temporary, and end up, in our case, in a cemetery. In his day precious documents, titles and deeds, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Were sealed into large jars and buried, or perhaps hidden in a cave. Even in their land where wars were frequent, and banks non existent, their money and gold and silver items were hidden in the same way.

2 Corinthians 4:7-5:1 (King James Version)

EVEN AT BEST OUR LIFE IS TEMPORARY AND TROUBLED.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (Job 4:19, Job 10:9, Job 33:6, Lamentations 4:2, 2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Timothy 2:20, Judges 7:2, 1 Corinthians 2:5)

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (2 Corinthians 1:8, 2 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 6:12, Galatians 4:20)

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; (John 15:20, Romans 8:35, Psalm 129:2, Hebrews 13:5, Psalms 37:24, Proverbs 24:16, Micah 7:8)

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. (Romans 6:5, Romans 8:36, Galatians 6:17, Romans 6:8)

WARS AND PERSECUTIONS CAN NOT DESTROY US.

11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; (1 Corinthians 12:9, Psalm 116:10)

CHRISTIANS HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT.

This new life is Spiritual, and permanent. It will never grow ill, of die. We will all shed this physical body, but never the Spiritual. As God raised up His Son, he will also raise us up with a perfect body. No more walkers, no motorized chairs, no aches, and no pains. Won‘t that be grand?.

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. (Acts 2:34, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, Luke 21:36, Ephesians 5:27, Colossians 1:22, Jude 24)

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. (Romans 8:28, 2 Corinthians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 9:19, 2 Corinthians 1:11)

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:1, Romans 7:22, Isaiah 40:29, Colossians 3:10)

OUR WORST, PAUL CALLED, A “LIGHT AFFLICTION”, FOR A “MOMENT.”

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; (Romans 8:18)

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (Romans 8:24, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:13)

OUR PERMANENT BODY IS NOT ‘MADE WITH HANDS.’

Our Lord has said, “I go to prepare a place for you” We know too, that He is returning for us. The permanent residence he prepares will make those built every week for a popular TV show, look absolutely gaudy and impractical.. He knows us and what we will need for eternity.. It is made just for us. We want to go there and leave all this behind. Let’s get on with his work now. COME LORD JESUS.

2 Corinthians 5:1

1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (Job 4:19, 1 Corinthians 15:47, 2 Corinthians 4:7, 2 Peter 1:13, Mark 14:58, Acts 7:48, Hebrews 9:11, Hebrews 9:24)

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www.andiesisle.com/creation/magnificent.html


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I RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
SEPTEMBER
12th. Sunday – Isaiah 29, 30, 2 Corinthians 11:16-33, Psalm 107:1-9
13th. Monday – Isaiah 31, 32, 33, 2 Corinthians 12, Proverbs 22:17-29
14th. Tuesday – Isaiah 34, 35, 36, 2 Corinthians 13, Psalm 107:10-22
15th. Wednesday – Isaiah 37, 38, Galatians 1, Psalm 107:23-32
16th. Thursday – Isaiah 39, 40, Galatians 2, Psalm 107:33-43
17th. Friday - Isaiah 41, 42, Galatians 3:1-14, Proverbs 23:1-9
18th. Saturday – Isaiah 43, 44, Galatians 3:15-29. Psalm 108:1-5

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OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS

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Favorite Scripture Quotation
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Short Bible studies
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Portions of Phyllis’ 4 published books & more to come
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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

”The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

2 Timothy 4:3,4

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The Young Children and the Sea...

A number of Primary Schools were doing a project on "The Sea." Kids were asked to draw pictures or write about their experiences. Teachers got together to compare the results and put together some of the comments that were funny and some that were sad. Here are some of them. The kids were all aged between 5 and 8 years:

Whales are animals, not fish. If they don't get air they can drown, like my brother did last summer.
(David age 7 - His brother is okay!)

I think sharks are ugly and mean, and have big teeth, just like Emily Richardson. She's not my friend no more.
(Kylie age 6)

My uncle goes out in his boat with pots, and comes back with crabs.
(Millie age 6)

Some fish are dangerous. Jelly fish can sting. Electric eels can give you a shock. They have to live in caves under the sea where I think they have to plug themselves into chargers.
(Christopher age 7)

My mom has fish nets, but doesn't catch any fish.
(Laura age 5)