HEADING FOR HOME

The old saying goes, “There’s no place like home!”  There is a restlessness—a longing—in every child of God for home. When I have been away on mission trips or revival services, those have been a blessing, but it is always good to get home. This world is not our home. Our home is heaven, and we long for it. We want to see our Father’s face. That is the thrust of 2 Corinthians 5. The Apostle speaks of “a building,” “a house,” “our habitation.”  Paul reminds us that wherever we are and whatever stage of our pilgrimage, we are heading for home.  

This SUSTAINS A GOOD CONFIDENCE, (v.1-10). Twice, the Apostle mentions we are, “confident,” (v.6, 8 ).  

This is our guarantee, (v.1-5).  “He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee,” (v.5). The hope of heaven is not just a possibility—it is a certainty!  God’s eternal Spirit indwelling us gives us the assurance, as the downpayment on our new home in heaven. 

How we long for home!  In this body we “groan,” as Paul twice underscores (v.2, 4). Yet, we know someday the groans will yield to glory!  This old house I live in now is in a state of decay. The fabric of this tent is wearing out. It will soon be unfit for habitation. So, God is preparing a new home for my soul. There we will be forever freed of life’s burdens!

This is our goal, (v.6-10), “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well-pleasing to Him,” (v.9). Each day on earth—no matter the temptations and trials—we can face the future with courage for we know that God is at work behind the scenes, guiding us through this world and preparing a place for us in the next. With this knowledge, we have the goal of pleasing Him, knowing that we are answerable to Him. The judgment seat of Christ awaits, where we will  gain reward or lose it, as our works are tested by fire as to the enduring quality of “gold, silver, precious stones,” or “wood, hay, straw,” (cf. 1 Cor.3:10-15). It is not a matter of whether we will get in to  heaven, but the degree of reward awaiting. Preacher, we do have a measure of responsibility to people, but ultimately our accountability is to God. Our goal is not to please a board, but the Lord!

Knowing that we are heading for home not only sustains a good confidence, but SUPPLIES A GREAT COMMISSION, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (v.18-20). 

This speaks of our motivation, (v.11-15). “Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,” (v.11a). This is our sacred why.  Because hell is hot and heaven is sweet, we recognize our accountability to share the Gospel. Love for our Lord and those who are lost compel us. We are not our own. We belong to Jesus. He has given us a mission. 

This points to our ministry, (v.16-20). “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,” (v.18). This is our sacred what. Though Jesus was fully God, He became fully man—now raised and ascended as forever glorified humanity. This means that in Him, we are not what we once were, and are forever changed. God has made us a new creation in Christ. As the Risen Lord was the same Jesus, yet different in His resurrection body, we are still the same person, but made new in regeneration—and more changes to come!  Because of what Christ has done, we who were sinners are now sons, reconciled to Holy God. He has appointed us His ambassadors. We are in a foreign land, representing our King. He wants peace with the citizens of this world. It is our task to extend the offer. While it is certainly true that each child of God is to share the Gospel, preachers must set the pattern. 

This presents us our message, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (v.21). This is our sacred word.  It may well be that this verse encapsulates the Gospel as well as any single text of Scripture. We have Christ’s incarnation, “He made him;” His qualification, “who knew no sin,” Christ’s substitution, “to be sin for us;” His justification, “that we might become the righteousness of God;” and His imputation, “in Him.” This is “the word of reconciliation,” (v.19b).  Man of God, wherever you begin your sermon make sure you end it at the cross!