It is Well with my Soul – Part 1

2 Peter 3:2-7 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

With our neighborhood church in transition, I visited a sister church to see their service and hear the Sermon message for ideas to take back to ours. Here are my notes and thoughts on that message from Pastor Kyle titled “It Is Well”, based off the Horatio G. Spafford hymn. It is crystal clear that Heaven is real and in light of eternity, how are we to live before the face of God. There are two key points. (1) The type of life we are supposed to live in light of “heaven is real”. (2) It is well with my soul as we have comfort knowing Jesus.

2 Peter 3:8-10 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Jesus taught that the kingdom of heaven is here and now, but aspects of it are not complete in this fallen world as a result of sin. Don’t miss the point on living in light of heaven, that the choices and decisions that we make in this life, here and now, will echo through eternity. We need hearts wide open and honest, watching and waiting for Jesus’ return as a “welcoming committee”. There is a day coming when this world is temporary and ends, whether in a lifespan or Christ’s second coming. Every prior generation believed that they’d see Christ’s second coming to take them home. The Lord is not slow, but patient and we are more likely to die naturally or unnaturally (God forbid), yet we need to be awake, watching and prepared to greet Him should He arrive at any time – See Luke 12:35-40). In light of, one way or another this world passing away, what sort of people should we be? Have a light hand on the things of this world and a mind on things above and eternal, looking and living life through the window of Christ, Savior and Lord of the world.

2 Peter 3:11-13 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

There are five things that we should be doing in life while waiting on the Lord, (1) The outcome of a life on the highway to heaven is “hope” in the here and now. Do we see much hope or are we satisfied with less than the abundant life to the full that Jesus gives as our Good Shepherd. (John 10). When we put our hope in the temporal things of this world, then our hope is temporary. But, when we put our hope in eternal things then our hope is eternal. Life is more than getting by and more than just fine. The question is, “When did we lose our hope and start believing in less?” Jesus paid our way out of hell by His redeeming blood. Our justification hope is in His sacrifice on the cross for those who believe. Our salvation hope comes from heaven through the Lord. If you died today, where would you go? Do you and I have the eternal perspective of blessed assurance?

Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

(2) Obedience gives a glimpse of heaven in our lives today. By denying obedience to the Word of God, are we then saying that we can make our own heaven? Isn’t that just believing the devil’s original lie that we can be as gods? Disobeying the commands, laws, statues and teaching of the Lord is robbing God of His ability to bless our lives today, because God cannot bless sin. Sin is a pretty box with filthy, stinking garbage inside. We want the box but not the garbage. This side of heaven, temptation is with us every day. Endure it by walking in the Spirit, where God wants us to go; not our own ungodly way. Remember that God always gives us a way out. When you get to the fork in the road, the moment of decision between the paths of either right or wrong in the eyes of the Lord, choose the “right” path. 1 Corinthians 2:9 “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepares for those who loves Him.”

This sermon by Pastor Kyle has great truth and application in our lives, but going to have to finish this expounding upon the Word, Will and Way of God on the next post.

In Christ, Brian