Time is that division from eternity that God did in order for us to be able to become who He intended for us to be; that division that keeps us from death until the point at which we make the transition, we can live with Him.

     From the spiritual perspective, we are moving further from time and closer to eternity with God; we are growing in understanding what His will is for us and how we are to live in this present world.

Titus 2:11-13

¹¹ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

¹² Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

     Moving from time to eternity involves going through this world and still meeting the standards of God.  Therefore, the transitions in our lives are necessary.  God has given us time to prepare for eternity!  We need to make the transitions in order to get prepared.  Paul wrote to the Corinthians;

1 Corinthians 13:11

¹¹ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

·       Transitions aren’t always easy. 

·       Transitions not only involve taking on but putting off. 

·       Transitions involve leaving things behind; sometimes it involves leaving people behind.

Ephesians 4:22-24

²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

We go through the process of transition to get to place God wants us to be.  Word of Life is in transition.  We are being positioned

WE NEED ANOTHER BUILDING!

    The need for a new dwelling place is certain. This building is going back to its source;

Genesis 3:19
¹⁹ In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

    We desire another building.  This building is subject to sickness and pain, fatigue and all of the other ailments that are associated with a temporary dwelling place.

    Paul says that we know when this tabernacle is dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  While our body is seeking its source, our spirits are seeking their source.

2 Corinthians 5:2
² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

     Peter said that he knew that they laying aside of this earthly dwelling was imminent (2 Peter 1:14).  Paul said that his departure was at hand (2 Timothy 4:6).

THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE!

    The earthly house (Oikia) is going to be torn down and there is new construction.  I’m not moving into a hose that someone has already lived in.  The word translated building (oikodome) means building as a process; not something that is already built.  Jesus said this;

John 14:1-4

^14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

² In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

⁴ And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

     We used to sing; “I’m working on a building….”  We aren’t working on the building, God is working on the building.  We are just trying to get ready to move in. 

CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS BUILDING!

1. There is no human involvement.
2. It is eternal! (not temporal)—this new building, this new body cannot be torn down).
3. It is in the heavens.

John said;

1 John 3:1-2

^3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

² Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

JUDGMENT!

     As we move from time to eternity, we should be doing the word of God that will allow us to spend eternity with Him.

     It is plainly declared that we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ that we may receive what we have done while in this temporary shelter.. 

James 2:12-13

¹² So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
¹³ For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

    Entrance into heaven is based on our acceptance of Jesus Christ.  Judgment is going to be based on what we do.