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Destiny

 the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Romans 8: 21
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1 Corinthians 15:58
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          Revelation 21:4
Have you ever wondered why God made so much of everything?
There seems to be so much more of everything than is needed. Carl Sagan would speak of the billions of stars in the billions of galaxies in the universe.
Just think of all the species of bugs there are, to say nothing of the flowers.
On earth, everything has a definite purpose, but the universe seems to be filled with a whole lot. I wonder why.
What if there is more mystery to the universe than can ever even be guessed at let alone answered.
Apparently we are going to have eternity to find out.

Have you ever thought that our destiny is somehow intertwined in the mystery of all that gaudy diversity of the vastness of our universe?
Forget harp playing.
Mind you, I know a couple of harpists who would take exception to that statement. Right?

Our destiny is cosmic in scope

Paul writes in Romans 8:21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage, that creation itself groans in its eagerness to escape the bonds into which it is placed.
Even the creation, the cosmos has its role in redemption.
Its as if creation is coiled up like a taut spring waiting the moment of its release.
Isaiah speaks of the final effect of its liberation. He says swords will be beaten to plowshares and the lion will lay down with the lamb.
Somehow even the natural world will return to a state of peace.
Where is history going?
It is headed toward a time when everything just works right, when everything in nature and in the cosmos itself is in harmony with God and man.

And what about those billions and billions of stars and galaxies?
I haven't the foggiest idea, but I think that is part of unfolding mystery... we may get to find out.
Maybe there are others out there for us to meet and connect with.
But I think the creator of all is waiting for earth's great decontamination before turning us loose among the stars.

Remember when the first astronauts came back from the moon?
Remember how everyone had to go through decontamination for fear they would bring back a moon bug?
I think the opposite is true--and by the way C.S. Lewis wrote about this before World War II in his space trilogy:
Out of the Silent Planet, Voyage to Venus, and That Hideous Strength.
I think it is earth that is contaminated with sin and God will not allow us to take that beyond life here.
But following the final act of redemption and nature being released from captivity?
Well stay tuned. And by the way, don't do anything to miss out on that.

What we do here and now makes a difference in the outcome.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Translation: what you do here and now will make a difference then and there.
So what does the future hold?
It holds a day in which we will all stand before God and see the final results of our efforts here and now.
If you have given your life to Jesus, this is not the judgment. You have passed that already in Christ, if your name is written in his book.
But Revelation speaks of more than one book.
Books will be opened and each person's work will be examined and graded.
Paul writes that it is like a building inspection. Jesus will test it to see if it stands. Not all efforts will stand.
Only those things done in obedience to Christ will stand.

What he is saying is that when we live our life in faith by God's strength and his principles, then all the little deeds we didn't think amounted to much will be found to in fact amount to a great deal.
Not just the big stuff.
Every deed whose foundation is built on love, joy, peace, patience, courage to do the right thing, generosity to those in need, kindness when no one is looking, being helpful when you get no thanks--all those things and more.
Jesus says they are like little seeds you plant day by day.
You do them and forget them.
But God does not forget. They grow like a mustard seed.
Then one day God will show you what the fruit of those little acts and attitudes has produced.
I think you will be amazed at how much difference your life has made.
And its not too late.
Start doing life God's way, in every little thing day by day.
You will be amazed at what it will produce in the end.

That is part of our destiny and what you do here and now makes a huge difference.
Don't give up or get weary of doing good. It is never lost.

It's going to awesome when it all comes down!

Whatever the final event is like, its going to be awesome.
In Revelation, God describes in picturesque language that life here and now is a battle.
As if you needed to be told that.
Often we feel we are losing, but we are not.
Read the back of the book. We win!
Actually comes a day when God calls a halt to the battle and its all over.
Our spiritual enemy is defeated once and for all.

Was speaking to someone outside this church fellowship about a persistent struggle he is having.
I said to him that on the way over to meet with him, I thought if he asked me the answer to end his struggle, I would have to tell him I could not tell him how.
Just rely on God's strength and keep on fighting.
And that I believe it is important to keep on resisting even if we lose a few battles.
It is essential to keep pushing back day by day.
Never give up!
God wins out one day and it will be over.
There is an end one day.

Remember the excitement and celebration when Team Canada beat the Russian hockey team the first time. When Paul Henderson scored that winning goal.
Remember the excitement!
That's nothing compared to when God sounds the final victory and binds Satan for eternity.
No more sorrow, no more temptation. No more sickness. No more death.
Man, what a day that will be.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away.
Folks, this is where we are headed.
It is cosmic in scope. The entire universe will be affected and liberated, and we to it.
What you do here and now makes a difference.
The battle will end one day and God will renew everything in a way we can never imagine.

Destiny.
Be a part of it.

Preached  June 21, 2009
Dr. Harold McNabb
West Shore Presbyterian Church
Victoria, British Columbia
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