Homecoming - Part 1 [Notes]

Many learned the children’s song “Heaven is a Wonderful Place” in Sunday school. The song begins, “Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace. I want to see my Father’s face. Yes! Heaven is a wonderful place.”  Although the song is simple, it captures a remarkable truth. The most wonderful aspect of heaven will be seeing the face of the One who loves us so much. But this is only the beginning...

Today's Takeaway // Our hearts long for something more.

Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.¹
– 1 John 3:2-3 (HCSB)
_{¹ The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (1 Jn 3:2–3). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.}

The sky or universe as seen from the earth; the firmament.

The abode of God, the angels, and the souls of those who are granted salvation.

An eternal state of communion with God; everlasting bliss.

For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits—we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.²
– Romans 8:19-23 (HCSB)
_{² The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Ro 8:19–23). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.}

A watching with the head erect or outstretched. Hence awaiting in suspense.³
– M.R. Vincent
_{³ Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 92). Charles Scribner’s Sons.}

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.
– Romans 8:22 (HCSB)

“Nature, with its melancholy charm, resembles a bride who, at the very moment when she was fully attired for marriage, saw the bridegroom die. She still stands with her fresh crown and in her bridal dress, but her eyes are full of tears” (Schelling, cited by Godet).4
4 Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 3, p. 94). Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Originally an enclosed park, or pleasure-ground. Xenophon uses it of the parks of the Persian kings and nobles.⁵
– M.R. Vincent
_{⁵ Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 431). Charles Scribner’s Sons.}

Then he showed me the river of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the broad street of the city. The tree of life was on both sides of the river, bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, and there will no longer be any curse...
– Revelation 22:1-3a (HCSB)

"Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water... If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing."
– C.S. Lewis

It’s once people have achieved the utmost success the world has to offer—whether it be in sports, culture, politics, making money, or even in family life and relationships—that they suddenly realize that it hasn’t fulfilled their deepest longings, after all. Worldly things can’t satisfy spiritual desires; to assume they can is “wishful thinking” indeed, “always thinking that the latest is ‘the Real Thing’ at last, and always disappointed.”
– C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

...but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.
– Philippians 3:20-21(HCSB)

1. Do you think most people believe in a place called, “heaven?” How do you think most would describe what heaven is like?
2. What do you personally think heaven will be like?
3. Read Genesis 3:16-19 and Romans 8:19-23. In what ways is all of creation “groaning?” Can you give some examples where life is now “hard” for us because of the curse of sin?
4. Read Revelation 22:1-5.How do these verses make you feel? What are some specific ways God is going to fix everything that went wrong in the Garden of Eden?
5. Read 1 John 3:1-3. How might focusing on our future hope help us lead a holy life? What are some other benefits associated with considering our eternal destiny?
6. How might you apply today's lesson to your life?

Milk & Honey / Homecoming / Firm Foundation (He Won't) / O Praise the Name

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