OUR WORLDVIEW

We see the world is how God sees it.

WE VIEW THE WORLD AS A PLACE OF TRANSIT

1.  THE PRESENT WORLD IS TRANSITIONING:

The world is like a traveler who travels a train who starts from a place of beginning heading for a final destination. But along the way he has stopovers where for a time enjoys that transit place. But ultimately will have to leave that place and go ahead for the final destination. But when the traveler looks out the window everything He sees good or bad is just passing by.

The 2nd is “Ge”, pronounced with a long e. What does this mean?

It means Land or earth 

“Heaven and earth (GE) will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away”(Matthew 24:35)

TRANSITIONING ALSO MEANS PASSING AWAY WHERE YOU LEAVE A PLACE BEHIND AND REACH ANOTHER PLACE PRESENT TILL YOU REACH YOUR DESTINATION. 

2.  TRANSITIONING ALSO MEANS THE OLD PLACE ENDS AND A NEW PLACE BEGINS.

EX: WHEN MT. PINATUBO ERUPTED THE PROVINCES IN AND AROUND IT BECAME UNINHABITABLE NOW PEOPLE FROM WITHIN WOULD HAVE TO RELOCATE, MOVE OR TRANSITION INTO A NEW PLACE.

IF OUR PRESENT WORLD IS TRANSITIONING, WHERE IS ITS FINAL DESTINATION? Its final destination is the New Earth and Heaven that God will create in the future for Himself and His Bride! 

REV. 21:1-2 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 

Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

WHAT DOES THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH LOOK LIKE? It is better than the garden of Eden. It is more glorious and grandeur than the first heaven and earth! If The first heaven and earth is likened to a single fruit of a tree, then the new heaven and earth is likened to the Tree of Life, radiant with the light and life of God!  It is the best of the best. It is God’s honeymoon palace. It is the dream of God for Himself and His bride come to pass!

HISTORICAL AND FUTURE  LINEAR ILLUSTRATION OF GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN IN CREATION IN THE BEGINNING AND NEW CREATION IN THE END

Beginning man’s fall             Christ Rise of His Bride              End

CREATION                                 CROSS                                              NEW EARTH  AND

OF EARTH                                                                                            NEW HEAVEN

AND HEAVEN                           HIS BRIDE

                                                   HIS BODY

                                                   HIS PARTNER

                                                   HIS PEOPLE  

AND IN FRONT OF THE THRONE THERE SEEMED TO BE A SEA OF GLASS, RESEMBLING CRYSTAL. (REV. 4:6)

 

1.  HOW DO WE RESPOND PRESENTLY TO THIS TRUTH? 1.We are to ACCEPT that everything material and physical is temporary.

We will leave this world one day. The world will change it’s landscape one day. We may move in another place someday one time or more in our lifetime. What is permanent and eternal? Our final destination. The New Earth and Heaven at the second coming of Christ. What do we do now that is worthwhile, permanent, has long-lasting effect and has future and eternal rewards?

2.  LET US THEREFORE AS CHRIST’S BRIDE BE PRAYERFUL, THANKFUL AND JOYFUL!

KNOWING THAT WE SHALL BE MARRIED TO OUR BRIDEGROOM JESUS AND ENJOY OUR HONEYMOON

WITH HIM IN THE PLACE HE HAS PREPARED FOR US CALLED NEW HEAVEN’S AND EARTH!

3.  HIGHLY VALUE HEAVENLY VIRTUES MORE THAN EARTHLY GLORIES AND PLEASURES! 

LIKE RIGHTEOUSNESS, TRUTH, PURITY, LOVE, HUMILITY, CONTENTMENT, COVENANT, HONEST WORK AND REST INSTEAD OF SINFUL VANITIES AND INDULGENCES LIKE UNRESTRAINED, EXCESSIVE, INSATIABLE PURSUIT OF SELF-GLORY, SELF-GRATIFICATION, AND SELFISH PURSUIT OF POSSESSIONS.  1 JOHN 2:15-17

EXAMPLE OF A MAN WHO KNEW THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY. When Morgan, the Top finance and investment man  died in 1913 the newspapers estimated the value of his estate at about $80 million (or about $1.7 billion in 2011), a fraction of the wealth of the businessmen he financed. (“And to think,” marveled John D. Rockefeller upon learning the news, “he wasn’t even a rich man!”) For Morgan, finance and philanthropy were different, but never opposite, forms of service.

UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF THE WORD WORLD IN THE BIBLE

THERE ARE TWO MEANINGS OF THE WORD  WORLD IN THE NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE

The 1st is based on the original  Greek word used for it and is translated in English as World in the Bible and it is called “COSMOS” . What does this mean?

It means the beauty of  Earth’s arrangements in creation, and in science, geophysical earth. It also means the  sinful cravings and practices of man on earth.

1. “Do not love the world (Cosmos) nor the things in the world(Cosmos). If any one loves the world, there is no love in his heart for the Father. (1 John 2:15-16)

The third is “Aion” This word is translated World or Age in English by some bible translations which means an era or a span of time where man’s culture ( value systems) has a beginning and an ending period like the stone age compared to the iron age, or medieval dark ages, or in nations like the roman age, Babylonian age etc.

“Tell us, when will these things take place, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? (world) (eon)” (Matthew 24:1-2)

Note: ASV, GWB translate age as world.

For the things in the world(Cosmos)—the cravings of the earthly nature, the cravings of the eyes, the show and pride of life—they all come, not from the Father, but from the world(Cosmos). 

And the world(Cosmos), with its cravings, is passing away, but he who does God’s will continues for ever.”

For the things in the world (Cosmos)—the cravings of the earthly nature, the cravings of the eyes, the show and pride of life—they all come, not from the Father, but from the world(Cosmos). 

And the world (Cosmos), with its cravings, is passing away, but he who does God’s will continues for ever.”

Based on these definitions of world it is clear that God has set the universal law on the earth and everything on it to pass away or die at a certain time. One main  reason is that the earth follows the God-given law of Justice instituted by God when Adam sinned. It is called the law of sin and death. Where the earth being ruled by sin – diseased man is now infected and subjected to the curse, mortality, decay and ultimately death. This is biblical truth. Now science discovered it in the laws of physics which they call ENTHROPHY.

This word simply mean that natural earth is decaying and regressing which will one day die unless a higher power intervenes to lengthen it’s Life. He purposed it this way so he can make a new earth and heaven and for us saints and believers a new body incorruptible and immortal WHAT DO WE DO NOW THAT IS WORTHWHILE, PERMANENT, LONG-LASTING EFFECT AND HAS FUTURE AND ETERNAL REWARDS? 1. HIGHLY VALUE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST BY KEEPING HIS TEACHINGS AND COMMANDMENTS.

2. Avoid, Resist, Keep away from the temptations and entrapments the world offers

On the ff:

a. Get rich quick schemes

b. Internet, cell phone, letter announcements that you won money grants, inheritances and asks you to give money.

c. Free money !

d.Purchase offers of products and items that may disrupt your budget. Think carefully. It may loose your joy.

3.  The temptation to yield to immorality, inappropriate relationship, sensuality whether internet or personal.

4.  The temptation to compromise to believe a lie than the truth or to mix both

5.  The temptation to make God second or third priority in life.

6.  The temptation of overindulging in the good things of life and forget God and His commandments.

Our Prayer:

Dear heavenly Father, we thank you for saving us and preparing us to inherit the new heavens and earth. As we journey in this earth, as a transitory place we pray that you strengthen our faith; increase our wisdom so we can avoid all the distractions of this world and in your grace deliver us always when we are entrapped and pick us up when we fall. Let your blood protect us always and your word light our path in this dark world. In Jesus name we pray Amen!