The God of Eternal Life

November 8, 1998 AM

Luke 20:27-38

The Sadducees came with trick questions . . .(To, two, too . . 'Second day of week' ??) (Twenty-six/ twenty-sick sheep . .) that are not expected to be answered . . No straight answers possible . .

• What is the afterlife? What is heaven really like?
• We don't really know, at least from personal experience
• We have several sources from which we can choose the answers we want to hear:
• Literalists - street of gold/ three layered universe
• Near death experiences
• Observing the dying - all these are tremendously subjective, unreliable

OR

• We have Jesus' word

To these Sadducees - in effect: you don't know what you are talking about.

Insights in the parables: particularly the talents; hints of useful work.

Direct words: Today you will be with me in Paradise / I go to prepare a place for you.

Eternal life is connected with God's integrity. He has made covenant with us, and we with Him. By grace we can keep covenant. I am willing to believe He will know me, and help me know Him in the great unknown that waits us every one.

I heard a story about Cecil B. De Mille recently; he told of canoeing on a lake in the northern woods. He observed a swarm of water beetles under the surface of the water near his canoe. One of the beetle contacted his canoe and crawled up the side right out of the water where it seemed to fasten itself and die. He forgot about it for a time. But as the sunshine beamed down on it the shell of the beetle seemed to harden and crack, and out came a dragonfly. The gossamer wings unfolded, and dried, and the beautiful shimmering dragonfly took to the air. In one minute it flew farther and higher and faster than all its life as a beetle under the water.

De Mille imagined as it swooped down over the other beetles still under the surface that they could not have any clue as to what was happening in the world of sunlight and air, let alone that soon thy would flit and dart and fly. He thought, "If God can do that for a beetle, what will He do for me?"

Prayer:

O God, whose Son came to this world to destroy the works of the devil and make us Your children and heirs of eternal life: Grant that we may take hold of this hope, and purify ourselves even as he is pure; that, when he comes again in power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal kingdom of glory; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen