Worship Programs

Theme:

"Kingdom Power"

Sunday after Christmas

H e a v e n   o n  E a r t h!

HIS INDESCRIBABLE GIFT!

2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Can you believe it?  We've made it through another Christmas season!  As a part of our celebration of the coming of God to earth in human form, we have given and received gifts.

A gift, ideally, is something given voluntarily and without thought of compensation.  So, when you are hit up for a contribution toward the boss' Christmas present, think of it not as a gift but, rather, as an annual insurance premium to ensure future compensation.

One of the nice features of giving and receiving at Christmas is the gift of perfume or cologne which likely we would not have purchased for ourselves because of the cost.  And we are reminded of the unnamed woman who brought her alabaster jar of precious perfume to the house of Simon the leper in Bethany as a gift to Jesus.

Shopping for Christmas gifts need not be difficult or time-consuming once you have discovered the miracle of mail-order.  All you need is an online catalog, an 800 number and a credit card number, and L. L. Bean in Freeport, Maine, will take it from there.

On his radio program the late Dr. Bob Cook told of a gift from his father.  The family was not well-off by any means, but young Bob was thrilled to receive his

second-hand Flexible Flyer sled.  He told how his Dad picked him up and, holding him in his arms, he said, "Now, Boy, do you know how much I love you?"

"The gift of God is eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).  One of the most-visited sites in the Holy Land is Golgotha, the Place of the Skull, where Jesus gave His life that we might be forgiven for our sins.  The greatest gift ever given was the greatest life ever lived.

When we accept God’s great gift of salvation, It's as though He reaches down and picks us up and, holding us in His arms, He says, "Now, do you know how much I love you?"

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).  We understand from this that the purpose of the gift - the Son of God - and the result of our believing in Him - receiving Him as Savior - is life, eternal life.

"Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift" - the gift of life.  Jesus witnessed to the Pharisees, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Let’s consider this indescribable gift - the gift of life - in terms of mortal life, spiritual life and eternal life.  Surely, these aspects of life balance by far the alternatives: mortal death, spiritual oblivion, eternal separation from God.  Not much future in those!

1.  MORTAL LIFE

Do you love life?  Raise your hand if you love life!  This mortal life has a lot going for it.  We enjoy the simple things of life: perhaps a cool, clear drink of water, a cup of strong coffee with a sweet roll; a multi-hued sunset, a Grand Canyon sunrise; watching the football playoffs on TV, listening to a top Salvation Army band or a symphony orchestra.

To be sure, there are dark moments of disappointment in life, but these are more than offset by the good times: recognition for a job well done, the birth of a baby, family get-togethers.

The gift of mortal life is concisely described in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes:  "He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.  That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil - this is the gift of God” (vv.11-13).

2.  SPIRITUAL LIFE

But God has something even greater in mind for us.  Jesus comes into our lives so that we might have life - "and have it to the full."  God calls us to a spiritual life through the voice of Peter in Acts 2:38, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Chief among the joys of the spiritual life is fellowship with those who are one in the Spirit.  In his letter to the Christians at Rome, Paul wrote, "To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints . . . I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong" (Romans 1: 7,11). 

Now, let's put it to the test!  What spiritual gift are we imparting to our fellow Christians, loved by God and called to be saints?  The gift of criticism?  No, that doesn't qualify.  The gift of unkindness?  No, that doesn't make it either.

How about the gift of encouragement?  That's more like it!  Paul goes on to say:  "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (vv.11,12).

I'm convinced that the biggest hindrance to growth in the Church is not the opposition of Satan so much as it is the inability of the saints to get along and work together.

To live above with saints we love,

That surely will be glory;

To live below with saints we know,

Well, that's another story!

3.  ETERNAL LIFE

Further on in his letter to the Christians at Rome, Paul says, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap (the gift you receive) leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:22, 23).

Paul thought highly of his Christian comrades at Corinth.  Wrote he to them, "Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed" (1 Corinthians 1:7)

As children, we stood on tiptoe to reach the cookie jar.  We stood on tiptoe to see over the fence.  We don't know all that much about eternal life.  But by faith we stand on spiritual tiptoe to catch a glimpse of Heaven.

This much we do know:  We'll be nearer to God than ever before.  We'll be free from pain and disease forever.

No more depression!  No more disappointment!

No more tragedy!  No more trauma!

No more debt!  No more taxes!

No more pollution!  No more toxic waste!

No more murder!  No more child abuse!

There will be no hospitals in Heaven; no cemeteries!

Wrote Sidney Cox:

One golden morning, one glorious morning,

When earth’s dark shadows flee away,

Our voices blending in song unending,

In brightest realms of fadeless day.

No sad repining; love’s sun is shining

Where Jesus dwells; O wondrous place!

Our praises voicing in glad rejoicing

To him who saved us by his grace.

With Christ forever!  No sin can sever

A fellowship as blest, so sweet;

We’ll sing in Glory salvation’s story;

Before his throne we’ll stand complete.

There’ll be no sorrow in God’s tomorrow,

There’ll be no sadness, doubt or fears;

There’ll be no sorrow in God’s tomorrow,

For he will wipe away all tears.

(SASB 888)

"I have come," said the Son of God, "that (you) may have life, and have it to the full."

Eternal life!

Life everlasting!

This indescribable gift has your name on it!