100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,520Scripture!200:00:03,520 –> 00:00:06,680Someone might reasonably say,300:00:06,680 –> 00:00:13,120okay, so God has something better prepared for me in the future.400:00:13,120 –> 00:00:17,100Someday I’m going to move out my tent that’s causing me trouble500:00:17,100 –> 00:00:22,299and move into the marvellous building of Jesus Christ Himself.600:00:22,299 –> 00:00:24,260I get that,700:00:24,260 –> 00:00:26,719but here’s my question,800:00:26,719 –> 00:00:32,139what then exactly is the purpose of my life now?900:00:32,139 –> 00:00:35,900Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.1000:00:35,900 –> 00:00:38,400Colin, you’re right, some people may be asking1100:00:38,400 –> 00:00:41,700what is the purpose of my life right now on earth?1200:00:41,700 –> 00:00:44,740Yeah, and the answer is to prepare for the life that is to come.1300:00:44,740 –> 00:00:48,220Look, there’s a challenge involved in living this life in the body.1400:00:48,220 –> 00:00:50,439We’re looking at 2 Corinthians 5,1500:00:50,439 –> 00:00:53,020where we’re told that the body’s like a tent.1600:00:53,020 –> 00:00:55,660There’s going to be struggles living this life in the body,1700:00:55,660 –> 00:00:57,560so you’ve got a challenge now,1800:00:57,560 –> 00:00:59,939but there’s also a challenge that lies ahead.1900:00:59,939 –> 00:01:01,900We’re going to be in the presence of Jesus?2000:01:01,900 –> 00:01:04,459Where’s the challenge there? Here’s where it is.2100:01:04,459 –> 00:01:08,040We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ2200:01:08,040 –> 00:01:10,879and my opportunity to prepare for that2300:01:10,879 –> 00:01:13,580is in the way that I am living right now.2400:01:13,580 –> 00:01:16,040So in the pressures that we face,2500:01:16,040 –> 00:01:19,739there is also a tremendous opportunity that is given to us2600:01:19,739 –> 00:01:22,220and we’re going to explore how we can grasp that2700:01:22,220 –> 00:01:24,260and really use it wisely today.2800:01:24,339 –> 00:01:27,320So join us if you can in the second book of Corinthians2900:01:27,320 –> 00:01:30,660chapter five, starting today at verse six,3000:01:30,660 –> 00:01:34,559as we begin a message called Bringing Joy to Jesus Christ,3100:01:34,559 –> 00:01:36,199here’s Colin.3200:01:36,199 –> 00:01:37,639Now, today, we look at the question3300:01:37,639 –> 00:01:40,239of not losing heart from another angle.3400:01:41,239 –> 00:01:44,099And having got to second Corinthians chapter five3500:01:44,099 –> 00:01:48,339and verse five, someone might reasonably say,3600:01:48,339 –> 00:01:52,480okay, so God has something better prepared3700:01:52,519 –> 00:01:54,680for me in the future.3800:01:54,680 –> 00:01:56,760Someday, I’m going to move out of the tent3900:01:56,760 –> 00:01:58,620that’s causing me a lot of trouble4000:01:58,620 –> 00:02:03,360and into the marvelous building4100:02:03,360 –> 00:02:04,199prepared by Jesus Christ himself.4200:02:04,199 –> 00:02:05,040I get that.4300:02:05,940 –> 00:02:07,360But here’s my question.4400:02:08,240 –> 00:02:13,240What then exactly is the purpose of my life now?4500:02:14,199 –> 00:02:16,440What is the point of the life I have here4600:02:16,440 –> 00:02:19,759in this tent and in this world?4700:02:20,619 –> 00:02:22,080I mean, here I am in the tent4800:02:22,080 –> 00:02:25,399and the canvas seems to be sagging a bit,4900:02:25,399 –> 00:02:26,979the ropes seem to be fraying,5000:02:26,979 –> 00:02:29,220the pegs are bending,5100:02:29,220 –> 00:02:30,839the rain is somewhat coming in.5200:02:30,839 –> 00:02:32,720What is the point of this existence?5300:02:32,720 –> 00:02:36,220Am I simply doing time in the tent5400:02:38,220 –> 00:02:39,679until God sees fit to let me out of the tent5500:02:39,679 –> 00:02:41,100and then I go into the building5600:02:41,100 –> 00:02:43,800and everything’s going to be so much better?5700:02:43,800 –> 00:02:48,199I hear what you say about the joys of the life to come,5800:02:48,199 –> 00:02:51,440my question is what is the point5900:02:51,440 –> 00:02:55,639of the life that I have right now?6000:02:56,960 –> 00:02:58,300Now, we all know the phrase6100:02:58,300 –> 00:03:01,960that a person can be so heavenly minded6200:03:01,960 –> 00:03:05,320as to be no earthly use.6300:03:05,320 –> 00:03:06,320And it’s very interesting6400:03:06,320 –> 00:03:07,440when you think about that phrase6500:03:07,440 –> 00:03:10,479that actually the Apostle Paul in the New Testament6600:03:10,479 –> 00:03:14,820had to rebuke some Christian believers6700:03:14,880 –> 00:03:18,500who had basically given up on this life.6800:03:18,500 –> 00:03:20,139They thought a great deal about heaven6900:03:20,139 –> 00:03:22,419and about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ,7000:03:22,419 –> 00:03:24,740but they had basically come to the conclusion,7100:03:24,740 –> 00:03:26,699what’s the point in working?7200:03:26,699 –> 00:03:30,740What is the value really in going and earning a living7300:03:30,740 –> 00:03:33,380in the light of this great eternity that is ahead?7400:03:33,380 –> 00:03:35,460And so they basically dropped out7500:03:35,460 –> 00:03:37,020and Paul has to deal with that.7600:03:37,020 –> 00:03:41,220You can read it in 2 Thessalonians in chapter three.7700:03:41,220 –> 00:03:44,940You will find that God places the highest importance7800:03:44,940 –> 00:03:49,220on our life with its difficulties, here in this world,7900:03:49,220 –> 00:03:51,899and he therefore calls us to do the same.8000:03:53,039 –> 00:03:56,619And I do want to encourage you with regards to this.8100:03:56,619 –> 00:04:00,259I’ve had many conversations over a period of time8200:04:00,259 –> 00:04:01,779with folks in the congregation8300:04:01,779 –> 00:04:05,580and many of you have expressed something like this,8400:04:05,580 –> 00:04:09,139you know, I look at my life and in the light of eternity8500:04:09,160 –> 00:04:11,360and here I am, and I have this job8600:04:11,360 –> 00:04:14,800and what is the point of what I am doing?8700:04:15,820 –> 00:04:18,140I mean, I’m making money, I’m making widgets8800:04:18,140 –> 00:04:20,679or whatever it is, but what does that really matter8900:04:21,660 –> 00:04:23,579in the light of the big picture?9000:04:24,459 –> 00:04:25,839And it’s a real question.9100:04:26,760 –> 00:04:28,880You’re asking, what is the point?9200:04:28,880 –> 00:04:32,739What is the value of life in the tent,9300:04:32,739 –> 00:04:37,739life here as I’m giving it right now in this world?9400:04:38,260 –> 00:04:39,779And the heart of the message today,9500:04:39,779 –> 00:04:42,260what I prayed for today and for this weekend9600:04:42,260 –> 00:04:46,440in our services, is that you will be encouraged9700:04:46,440 –> 00:04:50,260with a new sense of the purpose of your life9800:04:50,260 –> 00:04:54,640in this world, even at its most frustrating,9900:04:55,700 –> 00:04:57,679even at it’s most frustrating.10000:04:57,679 –> 00:05:00,920And perhaps we will see today is especially10100:05:00,920 –> 00:05:03,200at its most frustrating.10200:05:03,239 –> 00:05:06,220God has great purpose for you10300:05:06,220 –> 00:05:08,980in your life in this world.10400:05:08,980 –> 00:05:10,420So I hope you have your Bible open10500:05:10,420 –> 00:05:13,660at 2 Corinthians and Chapter Five.10600:05:13,660 –> 00:05:14,820Now, you’ll see there straight away10700:05:14,820 –> 00:05:17,220if you look at verse six and verse eight10800:05:17,220 –> 00:05:19,619that the Christian life or the life10900:05:19,619 –> 00:05:23,420of a Christian is really in two parts11000:05:23,420 –> 00:05:25,660and very encouragingly, both of them11100:05:25,660 –> 00:05:29,100are described as being at home.11200:05:29,100 –> 00:05:31,100Verse six, we know that while we are11300:05:31,100 –> 00:05:35,500at home in the body we are away from the Lord.11400:05:35,500 –> 00:05:37,619Verse eight, we would rather be away11500:05:37,619 –> 00:05:42,619from the body and at home with the Lord.11600:05:43,239 –> 00:05:44,339So here is the Christian.11700:05:44,339 –> 00:05:47,119We said last time, a person with two homes,11800:05:47,119 –> 00:05:52,119one life that is lived in two very unequal parts.11900:05:54,959 –> 00:05:57,899Now, I am at home in the body.12000:05:57,899 –> 00:06:00,679That’s the description of our life now in this world.12100:06:00,760 –> 00:06:02,859And while we are at home in the body,12200:06:02,859 –> 00:06:06,059we are as Christian believers in Christ12300:06:06,059 –> 00:06:09,739and we’re living this life in the body by faith.12400:06:09,739 –> 00:06:11,480That’s why he says in verse seven,12500:06:11,480 –> 00:06:14,420we walk by faith and not by sight.12600:06:15,519 –> 00:06:19,200So as long as I am living this life in the body,12700:06:19,200 –> 00:06:22,079I live in Christ and by faith.12800:06:22,079 –> 00:06:24,000And I will experience many pressures,12900:06:24,000 –> 00:06:27,160many difficulties, many frustrations and all the rest of it.13000:06:27,160 –> 00:06:29,720The tent sags, it wears out, the pants bend13100:06:29,760 –> 00:06:33,040and eventually the whole thing will be taken down.13200:06:33,040 –> 00:06:35,239But when that happens, as we saw last time,13300:06:35,239 –> 00:06:38,880I will be at home with the Lord.13400:06:38,880 –> 00:06:42,239I will move and you will move as a Christian believer13500:06:42,239 –> 00:06:46,640from living in Christ and by faith13600:06:46,640 –> 00:06:50,059to living with Christ and by sight.13700:06:51,640 –> 00:06:55,160And it is a very, very wonderful change13800:06:55,160 –> 00:06:56,760that will take place.13900:06:57,640 –> 00:07:01,760These are the two parts of a Christian’s one life,14000:07:02,899 –> 00:07:07,480life in the body, life with the Lord.14100:07:07,480 –> 00:07:11,040And they are two very unequal parts.14200:07:11,040 –> 00:07:13,160To be with the Lord, the Apostle Paul says14300:07:13,160 –> 00:07:16,839in Philippians is better by far.14400:07:16,839 –> 00:07:21,839It is incomparably better and it is unimaginably longer.14500:07:22,500 –> 00:07:27,500The Christian has one life in very unequal parts14600:07:30,899 –> 00:07:32,820but it is one life.14700:07:32,820 –> 00:07:34,239You’re listening to Open the Bible14800:07:34,239 –> 00:07:35,619with Pastor Colin Smith14900:07:35,619 –> 00:07:39,079and a message called Bringing Joy to Jesus Christ.15000:07:39,079 –> 00:07:41,440Part of our series, Don’t lose heart.15100:07:41,440 –> 00:07:43,679If you have ever missed one of the messages in the series,15200:07:43,679 –> 00:07:47,000you can easily catch up or go back and listen again online15300:07:47,000 –> 00:07:51,760at our website OpenTheBible.org.uk.15400:07:51,760 –> 00:07:53,940All this month we’re giving away two copies15500:07:53,940 –> 00:07:56,899of Pastor Colin Smith’s book, Christmas Stories,15600:07:56,899 –> 00:08:00,760to anyone starting to support Open the Bible Financially15700:08:00,760 –> 00:08:02,519and Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham15800:08:02,519 –> 00:08:05,279will be here later to tell us about that offer.15900:08:05,279 –> 00:08:06,959But in the run up to Christmas,16000:08:06,959 –> 00:08:09,519we also want to provide churches and groups16100:08:09,519 –> 00:08:12,959with excellent study materials based on the book.16200:08:12,959 –> 00:08:16,799Here’s Open the Bible’s executive director John Martin16300:08:16,799 –> 00:08:18,320to tell us about that.16400:08:18,320 –> 00:08:21,200If you’re planning events for Christmas and Advent16500:08:21,200 –> 00:08:23,200for your church and community,16600:08:23,200 –> 00:08:25,859then Open the Bible has resources to help you.16700:08:25,859 –> 00:08:28,779A nativity script you can use outside or indoors,16800:08:28,779 –> 00:08:31,600sermon outlines for an Advent sermon series,16900:08:31,600 –> 00:08:32,820Bible study guide,17000:08:32,820 –> 00:08:34,940and it’s all linked to a new little book,17100:08:34,940 –> 00:08:38,039Christmas stories, five first-person narratives17200:08:38,039 –> 00:08:43,039from Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and even King Herod.17300:08:43,599 –> 00:08:48,039To find out more, go to openthebible.org.uk.17400:08:48,039 –> 00:08:49,400Thanks John.17500:08:49,400 –> 00:08:50,739Back to the message now17600:08:50,979 –> 00:08:52,780here again, is Colin.17700:08:52,780 –> 00:08:54,859Now, many of you will have lived your life17800:08:54,859 –> 00:08:56,200in more than one place.17900:08:56,200 –> 00:08:58,299I was just reflecting on my own life,18000:08:58,299 –> 00:09:01,119just trying to think of illustrating this18100:09:01,119 –> 00:09:02,900by way of experience.18200:09:02,900 –> 00:09:07,900And my life so far in this world has been in two parts18300:09:08,940 –> 00:09:13,940and I have been at home in two places.18400:09:14,140 –> 00:09:19,140Part one was in the United Kingdom for a 38 years.18500:09:20,780 –> 00:09:24,859Part two of my life has been here in the United States.18600:09:24,859 –> 00:09:29,099It has lasted for 18 years and it is continuing.18700:09:30,260 –> 00:09:32,000But it is one life.18800:09:33,140 –> 00:09:38,140And it has been lived in two very different places.18900:09:39,140 –> 00:09:44,140There’s continuity of memory and of experience.19000:09:45,039 –> 00:09:47,599I have known myself to be in the UK.19100:09:47,640 –> 00:09:51,500I know myself here to be in the US.19200:09:51,500 –> 00:09:55,219It’s my life, it continues unbroken19300:09:56,260 –> 00:09:59,520in the marvelous continuity of the life19400:09:59,520 –> 00:10:02,239that God gives to me.19500:10:02,239 –> 00:10:04,679And many of you will be able to translate that19600:10:04,679 –> 00:10:06,400into your own particular story19700:10:06,400 –> 00:10:09,280and some of you living in multiple places19800:10:09,280 –> 00:10:11,520at different times in your life.19900:10:11,520 –> 00:10:13,820Now this is true of you as a Christian.20000:10:13,820 –> 00:10:16,359Just try and think of what you experience in this world20100:10:16,679 –> 00:10:21,219and project it out onto the totality of your life.20200:10:21,219 –> 00:10:24,960You have one life, your life begins here20300:10:24,960 –> 00:10:27,099when you’re at home in the body20400:10:27,099 –> 00:10:30,679and it will continue an unbroken continuity20500:10:30,679 –> 00:10:32,039as you pass through death,20600:10:32,039 –> 00:10:35,739it will continue as you are at home with the Lord.20700:10:35,739 –> 00:10:38,359You will know yourself to be there20800:10:38,359 –> 00:10:41,039as much as you know yourself to be here.20900:10:42,039 –> 00:10:44,080And you will look back with an awareness21000:10:44,080 –> 00:10:46,280of all the Christ has redeemed you21100:10:46,280 –> 00:10:49,700from knowing yourself and knowing others21200:10:49,700 –> 00:10:51,599healed of all that which is painful,21300:10:51,599 –> 00:10:53,880all tears wipe from your eye21400:10:53,880 –> 00:10:56,760but knowing yourself to have a life21500:10:56,760 –> 00:10:59,400that began in a certain place21600:10:59,400 –> 00:11:01,000and continued for a certain time21700:11:01,000 –> 00:11:02,359and now is in another place,21800:11:02,359 –> 00:11:05,080not in the body but with the Lord21900:11:05,080 –> 00:11:08,359as you are immediately translated after death22000:11:08,359 –> 00:11:12,039into the presence of Jesus.22100:11:13,059 –> 00:11:14,200So this is what we’re learning22200:11:14,239 –> 00:11:18,020from Second Corinthians and Chapter 522300:11:18,020 –> 00:11:20,239and here now is the heart22400:11:20,239 –> 00:11:23,119of what I want to lay before you today.22500:11:24,039 –> 00:11:29,039The Christian then has one life in two parts22600:11:29,039 –> 00:11:34,039and each part has both a challenge22700:11:34,679 –> 00:11:36,400and an opportunity.22800:11:37,640 –> 00:11:42,640The Christian has one life lived in two parts22900:11:42,679 –> 00:11:47,679and both parts have both an opportunity and a challenge.23000:11:51,599 –> 00:11:55,119Now, it is easy to see the challenge that we have now.23100:11:55,119 –> 00:11:56,559We thought about that last week,23200:11:56,559 –> 00:11:59,039life in the tent and all the rest of it.23300:11:59,039 –> 00:12:01,460We know the difficulties of that.23400:12:01,460 –> 00:12:02,559You’re living in the tent,23500:12:02,559 –> 00:12:04,359you’re walking by faith and not by sight.23600:12:04,359 –> 00:12:07,200We understand the challenge of the life that we have now23700:12:08,119 –> 00:12:11,380and it’s very easy for us to understand the opportunity23800:12:11,419 –> 00:12:13,520that we will have when we are with Christ.23900:12:13,520 –> 00:12:15,099I mean, we will be with Christ.24000:12:15,099 –> 00:12:19,020You will see the king in his beauty.24100:12:19,020 –> 00:12:21,260Faith will be turned into sight.24200:12:22,760 –> 00:12:25,719So what we’ve looked at in the first five verses24300:12:25,719 –> 00:12:28,460of 2 Corinthians in chapter five24400:12:28,460 –> 00:12:30,820is the challenge of life now24500:12:31,859 –> 00:12:35,219and the opportunity of life that is to come.24600:12:35,219 –> 00:12:36,859The challenge in the body24700:12:36,859 –> 00:12:39,380and the opportunity with the Lord.24800:12:40,340 –> 00:12:45,140What I want us to see today from verses six to 1024900:12:45,140 –> 00:12:48,700is that, actually, you can flip that on its head25000:12:48,700 –> 00:12:51,299and I want us to look at the challenge25100:12:51,299 –> 00:12:54,159that we will have then with the Lord25200:12:54,159 –> 00:12:56,940and the opportunity that we have now25300:12:56,940 –> 00:12:58,239while we are in the body.25400:13:00,140 –> 00:13:02,659And you might immediately say25500:13:02,659 –> 00:13:07,659what possible challenge could there be25600:13:07,659 –> 00:13:09,659when I am in the presence of the Lord?25700:13:10,700 –> 00:13:12,859And the answer to that, of course, is in verse 10.25800:13:12,859 –> 00:13:13,840Will you look at it with me?25900:13:13,840 –> 00:13:15,859There will be a challenge to face26000:13:15,859 –> 00:13:17,219when you are at home with the Lord26100:13:17,219 –> 00:13:19,539and here is what it is, verse 10.26200:13:19,539 –> 00:13:23,760”We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ26300:13:25,619 –> 00:13:29,840”so that each one may receive what is due26400:13:30,940 –> 00:13:34,320”for what he has done in the body,26500:13:34,440 –> 00:13:37,859”whether good or evil.”26600:13:38,960 –> 00:13:41,219Now, that’s not happening now while you’re in the body.26700:13:41,219 –> 00:13:43,299You are not before the judgment seat of Christ,26800:13:43,299 –> 00:13:44,840but what the Bible is telling us26900:13:44,840 –> 00:13:47,599is that when you are in the presence of Christ,27000:13:47,599 –> 00:13:49,359that will be your experience then27100:13:50,739 –> 00:13:51,760and we’re being told that27200:13:51,760 –> 00:13:54,200because we have to prepare for it.27300:13:54,200 –> 00:13:56,039So there’s a challenge related to then27400:13:56,039 –> 00:13:58,359and there is correspondingly an opportunity27500:13:58,359 –> 00:14:01,119that relates to now.27600:14:01,119 –> 00:14:03,679Precisely the mirror reverse27700:14:03,679 –> 00:14:05,539of what we were looking at last week.27800:14:06,580 –> 00:14:08,440Three things that a Christian needs to know27900:14:08,440 –> 00:14:10,500about the judgment seat of Christ.28000:14:10,500 –> 00:14:12,140Very simply, number one,28100:14:13,479 –> 00:14:15,539you will not be condemned.28200:14:15,539 –> 00:14:16,960If you’re in Christ,28300:14:18,679 –> 00:14:21,020there is now no condemnation28400:14:21,020 –> 00:14:23,200for those who are in Christ Jesus,28500:14:23,200 –> 00:14:24,119Romans 8.1.28600:14:25,200 –> 00:14:27,159Those who put their trust in him28700:14:27,159 –> 00:14:29,479will never be put to shame.28800:14:29,479 –> 00:14:31,539Romans 10 in verse 11,28900:14:32,539 –> 00:14:35,320whoever believes in him shall not perish29000:14:35,320 –> 00:14:38,119but will have everlasting life,29100:14:38,119 –> 00:14:42,020John 3 in verse 60.29200:14:42,020 –> 00:14:44,059If you are in Christ,29300:14:44,059 –> 00:14:46,299you will stand before the lord29400:14:46,299 –> 00:14:48,280as his redeemed child.29500:14:49,260 –> 00:14:50,940No Christian believer,29600:14:50,940 –> 00:14:52,340no person in Christ29700:14:52,340 –> 00:14:54,719will experience the wrath of God29800:14:54,719 –> 00:14:57,299because Christ entered into hell29900:14:57,299 –> 00:14:59,340on the cross on your behalf30000:14:59,380 –> 00:15:02,940so that you should never, never, never know30100:15:02,940 –> 00:15:05,239what that is like.30200:15:05,760 –> 00:15:07,799Your home in heaven we saw last week30300:15:07,799 –> 00:15:09,739was not built with human hands30400:15:09,739 –> 00:15:11,979and it certainly cannot be dismantled30500:15:11,979 –> 00:15:15,059by the failure of human hands either.30600:15:15,700 –> 00:15:17,780The person in Christ cannot lose30700:15:17,780 –> 00:15:20,260his or her salvation30800:15:20,260 –> 00:15:23,119in the judgment seat of Christ.30900:15:23,119 –> 00:15:24,619By the way, that’s an amen moment.31000:15:24,619 –> 00:15:25,760Isn’t that something you’re thankful for?31100:15:25,760 –> 00:15:28,479I’m so, so thankful for that.31200:15:28,479 –> 00:15:30,520By security in Jesus Christ.31300:15:30,520 –> 00:15:32,979Number two, second thing that every Christian31400:15:32,979 –> 00:15:35,739needs to know about the judgment seat of Christ,31500:15:35,739 –> 00:15:38,000you will give an account.31600:15:38,000 –> 00:15:39,940You will not be condemned.31700:15:39,940 –> 00:15:43,179You will give an account.31800:15:43,179 –> 00:15:45,179Now, Scripture speaks of this so many times,31900:15:45,179 –> 00:15:48,400Hebrews 4, 13, how everything is uncovered32000:15:48,400 –> 00:15:52,140before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.32100:15:52,559 –> 00:15:55,619Romans 14 verse 12, each of us must32200:15:55,619 –> 00:15:58,340give an account of himself to God.32300:15:58,380 –> 00:16:01,080Matthew 12 and verse 36 Jesus speaks32400:16:01,080 –> 00:16:03,099of how we will give an account32500:16:03,099 –> 00:16:06,099for every careless word that we have spoken.32600:16:06,099 –> 00:16:08,419And this Scripture itself we must all,32700:16:08,419 –> 00:16:10,140and he’s writing to Christian believers,32800:16:10,140 –> 00:16:12,659we must all, brothers, sister,32900:16:12,659 –> 00:16:17,659stand before the judgment seat of Christ.33000:16:17,859 –> 00:16:19,859You will give an account.33100:16:22,260 –> 00:16:24,960In the college where both Karn and I33200:16:24,960 –> 00:16:27,559studied and trained,33300:16:27,559 –> 00:16:31,280the curriculum was made up of two elements.33400:16:32,200 –> 00:16:34,840There were examinable courses33500:16:34,840 –> 00:16:37,020that contributed towards the degree.33600:16:38,099 –> 00:16:40,299And then there were other courses33700:16:40,299 –> 00:16:43,739that were mandatory for all students,33800:16:43,739 –> 00:16:45,979but they were not examinable33900:16:45,979 –> 00:16:50,080and they did not contribute towards the degree.34000:16:50,080 –> 00:16:51,200Well, you can understand,34100:16:51,200 –> 00:16:52,200with a bunch of students,34200:16:52,200 –> 00:16:54,820every time there was a new course that started34300:16:54,820 –> 00:16:56,719the discussion in the dining room was34400:16:56,799 –> 00:16:58,419is this one of the examinable ones34500:16:58,419 –> 00:17:01,840or is this one that doesn’t count towards the degree?34600:17:01,840 –> 00:17:03,440And as you can imagine,34700:17:03,440 –> 00:17:06,420the professors who had to teach34800:17:06,420 –> 00:17:09,459the non-examinable courses34900:17:09,459 –> 00:17:12,000had a pretty rough time.35000:17:12,000 –> 00:17:13,819And the first thing obviously was35100:17:13,819 –> 00:17:16,319that the attendance at these classes35200:17:16,319 –> 00:17:17,640was considerably lower.35300:17:17,640 –> 00:17:20,239The second thing was that the level of attention35400:17:20,239 –> 00:17:21,599was definitely lower.35500:17:21,599 –> 00:17:22,939This was before e-mail.35600:17:22,939 –> 00:17:25,400It was before tweeting and texting35700:17:25,400 –> 00:17:26,319and all the rest of it35800:17:26,319 –> 00:17:28,640where people were old-fashioned long hand35900:17:28,640 –> 00:17:30,199writing letters to other people36000:17:30,199 –> 00:17:31,760and pushing notes around the place36100:17:31,760 –> 00:17:33,839and all the rest of it.36200:17:33,839 –> 00:17:35,099Well, you get the picture36300:17:35,099 –> 00:17:38,660and it’s not hard to put yourself in that situation,36400:17:38,660 –> 00:17:40,800so let’s invent a student36500:17:40,800 –> 00:17:42,819and we’ll call him John.36600:17:42,819 –> 00:17:45,280And there was a new course that’s starting at the college36700:17:45,280 –> 00:17:50,239and it’s on Monday morning at seven o’clock.36800:17:50,239 –> 00:17:52,839And people are talking about this in the dining room.36900:17:52,839 –> 00:17:54,119What’s this, with a new course?37000:17:54,160 –> 00:17:56,219I mean, Monday is at seven o’clock.37100:17:56,219 –> 00:17:57,880I mean, who needs that?37200:17:57,880 –> 00:17:59,260Oh, says someone in the group,37300:17:59,260 –> 00:18:01,959you don’t need to worry about this.37400:18:01,959 –> 00:18:05,520It’s one of these non-examinable courses.37500:18:05,520 –> 00:18:08,079Just sign in to show that you’ve been there.37600:18:08,079 –> 00:18:09,160That’s all you need to do,37700:18:09,160 –> 00:18:11,760you can doze off to sleep for the rest of the time.37800:18:12,959 –> 00:18:15,160So that’s what John does.37900:18:15,160 –> 00:18:18,680He goes in there for the first week38000:18:18,680 –> 00:18:20,439and he starts taking notes,38100:18:20,439 –> 00:18:23,439but it’s seven o’clock Monday morning and he’s a student38200:18:23,599 –> 00:18:26,920and he writes a few things, but it’s hard going38300:18:26,920 –> 00:18:29,119and he begins to think after a while, why bother?38400:18:29,119 –> 00:18:31,900I mean, it doesn’t even count towards the degree.38500:18:33,199 –> 00:18:36,119And then the next week, John shows up late38600:18:36,119 –> 00:18:38,479because he slept in and the week after that,38700:18:38,479 –> 00:18:41,199he didn’t show up at all because he forgot to set his alarm38800:18:41,199 –> 00:18:43,739and you’ve got the feeling of the story.38900:18:45,280 –> 00:18:48,280The last day of the class, the teacher has an announcement.39000:18:49,599 –> 00:18:50,800As you know,39100:18:51,699 –> 00:18:54,819this course is not examinable39200:18:54,819 –> 00:18:58,260and it does not count towards the degree.39300:19:00,180 –> 00:19:01,619This does not mean, however,39400:19:01,619 –> 00:19:03,760he says that the course is unimportant.39500:19:05,160 –> 00:19:08,060As a graduate, you will require a reference39600:19:08,060 –> 00:19:09,280from this college.39700:19:10,839 –> 00:19:12,939And at the end of this session, he says,39800:19:12,939 –> 00:19:16,680I want each of you to submit the notes39900:19:16,680 –> 00:19:20,400that you have taken throughout the last 10 weeks40000:19:20,420 –> 00:19:22,959of this class and they will be placed in your file40100:19:22,959 –> 00:19:24,739as evidence of the character40200:19:24,739 –> 00:19:27,079and commitment that you show to learning.40300:19:28,319 –> 00:19:30,959And when future employers are asking40400:19:30,959 –> 00:19:32,319for a reference from this college,40500:19:32,319 –> 00:19:33,459we will write you a reference40600:19:33,459 –> 00:19:37,400and we will append the notes that you have taken40700:19:37,400 –> 00:19:40,939over these last weeks for them to see your character.40800:19:42,619 –> 00:19:44,540And John looks through his file,40900:19:44,540 –> 00:19:48,540half a measly page from session one.41000:19:48,579 –> 00:19:53,540One paragraph from the second half of session two.41100:19:54,500 –> 00:19:58,140Session three, not a stroke of the pen41200:19:58,140 –> 00:20:01,119because he slept in that entire day.41300:20:02,619 –> 00:20:05,979And suddenly he realizes that the shoddy work41400:20:05,979 –> 00:20:10,540he has done for 10 weeks will be the first thing41500:20:10,540 –> 00:20:14,819that is seen by his potential employer.41600:20:15,939 –> 00:20:18,260He rushes to the tutor.41700:20:18,260 –> 00:20:20,819This is not fair, he says, this is not fair.41800:20:20,819 –> 00:20:23,180I was told quite clearly that this course41900:20:23,180 –> 00:20:25,180does not count towards my degree42000:20:25,180 –> 00:20:28,300and if I knew that it mattered,42100:20:28,300 –> 00:20:30,380I would have done better work.42200:20:32,060 –> 00:20:33,780You’re quite right, says the tutor.42300:20:34,900 –> 00:20:37,160It does not count towards your degree.42400:20:39,260 –> 00:20:40,660The mistake you made,42500:20:41,819 –> 00:20:44,619was that you thought it didn’t count for anything.42600:20:45,520 –> 00:20:47,699And that’s a terrible mistake.42700:20:49,079 –> 00:20:51,619And you see, there are many Christians42800:20:51,619 –> 00:20:53,859who have made the same mistake as John.42900:20:53,859 –> 00:20:57,060They have learned that entrance into heaven43000:20:57,060 –> 00:20:59,819does not depend on our works, that is true.43100:21:01,119 –> 00:21:03,979Salvation is the gift of God, it is by grace,43200:21:03,979 –> 00:21:06,619it is through faith, it is in Jesus Christ.43300:21:08,060 –> 00:21:10,339But it is a big mistake43400:21:10,359 –> 00:21:15,000to assume from that that your Christian life43500:21:15,000 –> 00:21:17,260doesn’t count for anything.43600:21:19,099 –> 00:21:20,859Brothers, sisters, says Paul,43700:21:20,859 –> 00:21:24,420we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.43800:21:24,420 –> 00:21:25,819We’re going to give an account,43900:21:25,819 –> 00:21:28,400therefore, we make it our aim to please Him.44000:21:29,839 –> 00:21:32,400We’re going through the course of our life in this world44100:21:32,400 –> 00:21:35,680with the knowledge that while we are not trying44200:21:35,680 –> 00:21:38,099to earn our way into heaven, which we could never do,44300:21:38,099 –> 00:21:41,260and Christ has purchased that for us,44400:21:41,260 –> 00:21:43,180we are on a journey in which one day,44500:21:43,180 –> 00:21:47,219we are going to stand before the King of Kings himself,44600:21:47,219 –> 00:21:49,040and he’s going to look me in the eye,44700:21:49,040 –> 00:21:52,199and I’m going to see him in his beauty and in his glory.44800:21:53,660 –> 00:21:58,520We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ,44900:21:59,900 –> 00:22:02,099and you need to know that when that happens,45000:22:02,099 –> 00:22:03,300you will not be condemned.45100:22:03,300 –> 00:22:06,099If you’re in Jesus Christ, that’s the wonderful truth.45200:22:06,099 –> 00:22:07,359You also need to know45300:22:07,540 –> 00:22:09,199that you will give an account45400:22:10,160 –> 00:22:12,880not as a means to salvation that is in Christ,45500:22:12,880 –> 00:22:15,420but don’t get the idea that your Christian life45600:22:15,420 –> 00:22:17,000doesn’t count for anything.45700:22:17,000 –> 00:22:18,380That’s a terrible mistake.45800:22:19,560 –> 00:22:21,000You’ve been listening to Open The Bible45900:22:21,000 –> 00:22:22,300with Pastor Colin Smith46000:22:22,300 –> 00:22:23,099and a message called,46100:22:23,099 –> 00:22:25,719Bringing joy to Jesus Christ,46200:22:25,719 –> 00:22:28,400part of our series Don’t Lose Heart.46300:22:28,400 –> 00:22:31,359In this series, we’ve been answering the question,46400:22:31,359 –> 00:22:33,540how do I not lose heart?46500:22:33,540 –> 00:22:35,199How can I live in this world46600:22:35,199 –> 00:22:39,439with its darkness and pain and not feel discouraged?46700:22:39,439 –> 00:22:41,680I hope you’ll continue to follow Pastor Colin Smith46800:22:41,680 –> 00:22:43,520as he leads us through this study46900:22:43,520 –> 00:22:46,180of 2 Corinthians chapter five,47000:22:46,180 –> 00:22:48,719searching for answers to that question.47100:22:48,719 –> 00:22:50,819Don’t forget if you ever missed one of the series,47200:22:50,819 –> 00:22:54,920it’s easy to go online and catch up or listen again47300:22:54,920 –> 00:22:59,959on our website, www.openthebible.org.uk.47400:22:59,959 –> 00:23:02,780Open the Bible depends on the support it receives47500:23:03,339 –> 00:23:05,680from our listeners and we’re extremely grateful.47600:23:05,680 –> 00:23:07,660Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham47700:23:07,660 –> 00:23:09,619to talk about this month’s offer47800:23:09,619 –> 00:23:10,739for anyone who’s able47900:23:10,739 –> 00:23:13,859to begin supporting Open the Bible financially.48000:23:13,859 –> 00:23:14,920Thanks, David.48100:23:14,920 –> 00:23:18,760Yes, this month we are really excited48200:23:18,760 –> 00:23:21,199here at Open the Bible U.K.48300:23:21,199 –> 00:23:24,500to offer you a very special gift.48400:23:24,500 –> 00:23:26,660Two copies of our new book,48500:23:26,660 –> 00:23:30,180Christmas Stories by Colin Smith.48600:23:30,640 –> 00:23:33,060This beautifully illustrated book48700:23:33,060 –> 00:23:35,660brings the Christmas story to life48800:23:35,660 –> 00:23:38,380through the eyes of five key characters48900:23:38,380 –> 00:23:40,699from the early years of Jesus.49000:23:40,699 –> 00:23:43,060The angel Gabriel, Mary,49100:23:43,060 –> 00:23:46,500Joseph, Simeon and even King Herod.49200:23:46,500 –> 00:23:50,060Each short chapter is based on key Bible events49300:23:50,060 –> 00:23:52,599with scripture woven throughout49400:23:52,599 –> 00:23:55,599offering a fresh and powerful presentation49500:23:55,599 –> 00:23:57,260of the gospel.49600:23:57,260 –> 00:24:00,160It’s a perfect read for all ages49700:24:00,160 –> 00:24:02,699and ideal for sharing with friends,49800:24:02,699 –> 00:24:05,540neighbours or loved ones this Christmas.49900:24:05,560 –> 00:24:08,719Why not pop a copy in with that box of chocolates50000:24:08,719 –> 00:24:10,579or the annual pair of socks50100:24:10,579 –> 00:24:12,780and give a book that tells about50200:24:12,780 –> 00:24:15,579the best gift of all.50300:24:15,579 –> 00:24:16,839Along with the two books,50400:24:16,839 –> 00:24:19,280you’ll also receive five exclusive50500:24:19,280 –> 00:24:21,160Christmas cards featuring50600:24:21,160 –> 00:24:23,119the same stunning illustrations50700:24:23,119 –> 00:24:24,239from the book,50800:24:24,239 –> 00:24:26,040perfect for sharing the message50900:24:26,040 –> 00:24:28,199of hope this season.51000:24:28,199 –> 00:24:29,579This thank you gift is yours51100:24:29,579 –> 00:24:31,219completely free51200:24:31,219 –> 00:24:33,260when you give a one-off donation51300:24:33,260 –> 00:24:35,199of £50 or more51400:24:35,199 –> 00:24:36,280or when you set up a new51500:24:36,280 –> 00:24:39,199direct debit of just £5 a month.51600:24:39,199 –> 00:24:40,880But please do remember to51700:24:40,880 –> 00:24:42,880include your address when you donate51800:24:42,880 –> 00:24:45,140so that we can send you your gift51900:24:45,140 –> 00:24:46,140in the post.52000:24:46,140 –> 00:24:47,339Thanks, Amanda.52100:24:47,339 –> 00:24:48,839We’re very grateful to God52200:24:48,839 –> 00:24:50,819for the many Open The Bible listeners52300:24:50,819 –> 00:24:52,739who support the work.52400:24:52,739 –> 00:24:54,219If you’d like to join them52500:24:54,219 –> 00:24:55,640head over to our website52600:24:55,640 –> 00:24:58,640openthebible.org.uk52700:24:58,640 –> 00:25:00,180where you can give online52800:25:00,180 –> 00:25:02,180and find full terms and conditions52900:25:02,180 –> 00:25:03,680for our offer this month.53000:25:04,479 –> 00:25:05,599For Open the Bible,53100:25:05,599 –> 00:25:06,739Pastor Colin Smith,53200:25:06,739 –> 00:25:07,699I’m David Pick53300:25:07,699 –> 00:25:09,739and I hope you’ll join us again soon.53400:25:17,560 –> 00:25:18,479You know that53500:25:18,479 –> 00:25:19,979being acceptable too53600:25:19,979 –> 00:25:21,780and loved by God53700:25:21,780 –> 00:25:23,000does not depend on53800:25:23,000 –> 00:25:24,140living a perfect life53900:25:24,699 –> 00:25:25,699but don’t make the mistake54000:25:25,699 –> 00:25:28,099of thinking your works don’t matter.54100:25:28,099 –> 00:25:29,099Find out why54200:25:29,099 –> 00:25:31,099next time on Open the Bible.