100:00:00,400 –> 00:00:03,440The original legend200:00:03,640 –> 00:00:05,900God didn’t need to tell us anything300:00:06,680 –> 00:00:11,940about what lies beyond death. He could have just said now you trust me in the Christian life and as far as what lies beyond400:00:11,940 –> 00:00:14,640I’m not telling you anything. You just need to trust me on it500:00:15,320 –> 00:00:17,320But he doesn’t do that600:00:18,020 –> 00:00:21,080He pulls back the curtain just a little700:00:22,280 –> 00:00:27,540Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick and Colin. This is intriguing800:00:27,540 –> 00:00:30,700We really want to know what is on the other side of death900:00:31,000 –> 00:00:36,200Yeah, we’re in 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 where Paul tells us that we live in this body1000:00:36,200 –> 00:00:39,419That’s like a tent and one day is going to be pulled down1100:00:40,139 –> 00:00:43,799Tents aren’t very glamorous structures. Not a palace. It’s not a castle1200:00:43,820 –> 00:00:50,779There is a frailty within our own human frame. One day. It’s gonna come down. What will happen then and1300:00:51,240 –> 00:00:54,459He’s going to describe for us the very life of heaven1400:00:54,459 –> 00:00:55,020and1500:00:55,020 –> 00:01:01,700This is one of the passages in the scriptures that really gives us a glimpse as to what lies for a Christian believer1600:01:01,860 –> 00:01:06,620Beyond this life and we need to know this, you know set your mind on things above1700:01:06,639 –> 00:01:13,800Well, God has told us something about the things above so that we can do that and this is a great passage of encouragement1800:01:14,300 –> 00:01:15,959For building faith today1900:01:15,959 –> 00:01:23,879Well, the passage is 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verses 1 to 5 as we continue a message prepared for something better2000:01:24,320 –> 00:01:30,980Here’s Colin what God is saying in 2nd Corinthians in chapter 5 and verse 1 if you believe this2100:01:31,339 –> 00:01:37,000This healthy dose of biblical realism will greatly help you2200:01:38,980 –> 00:01:41,980So that you do not lose heart we need it2300:01:41,980 –> 00:01:46,919We need every part of the Word of God and we desperately need what is before us in2400:01:47,379 –> 00:01:49,320the scriptures2500:01:49,320 –> 00:01:51,320today2600:01:51,360 –> 00:01:53,540Now that’s the first point here’s the second2700:01:54,000 –> 00:01:59,540first a healthy dose of realism about the Christian’s life on earth the second a2800:02:00,360 –> 00:02:02,199marvelous gift of2900:02:02,199 –> 00:02:05,500Revelation about the Christians life in3000:02:06,559 –> 00:02:11,119Heaven a marvelous gift of revelation about the Christians life in3100:02:11,979 –> 00:02:13,979Heaven verse 1 again, we know3200:02:14,580 –> 00:02:15,919that if3300:02:15,919 –> 00:02:17,740the tent3400:02:17,740 –> 00:02:22,320That is our earthly home our earthly home is destroyed3500:02:23,119 –> 00:02:27,639We have a building from God a house, not made with hands3600:02:28,919 –> 00:02:30,759eternal in3700:02:30,759 –> 00:02:32,759the heavens3800:02:33,720 –> 00:02:38,559Now Paula’s using here a very simple picture, and it’s a very wonderful one3900:02:39,000 –> 00:02:42,080You can teach this to your children. You can teach this to your grandchildren4000:02:43,399 –> 00:02:45,399wonderfully simple4100:02:46,179 –> 00:02:48,179Christian is the owner of4200:02:48,580 –> 00:02:51,160two homes that’s true of every Christian the4300:02:51,380 –> 00:02:53,639The Christian is the owner of two homes4400:02:54,380 –> 00:02:57,660the home that you are living in now the body is the4500:02:58,300 –> 00:03:01,320Temporary one it is canvas it is ropes it is pegs4600:03:02,240 –> 00:03:07,559But you have another home that is more enduring and more substantial4700:03:08,740 –> 00:03:12,940It doesn’t say you will have another home it says you do have another home. We have this4800:03:12,960 –> 00:03:18,399It’s already there for us the date of your moving to the new home has not yet been given4900:03:19,279 –> 00:03:22,360But it is already known to God5000:03:23,839 –> 00:03:31,000Now what exactly is this new home that the Christian has that’s a very important question5100:03:32,779 –> 00:03:35,380Nobody that I have read on this question5200:03:36,100 –> 00:03:42,520deals with it or answers it better than Charles Hodge the great teacher from5300:03:43,199 –> 00:03:45,539Princeton in an earlier century5400:03:45,800 –> 00:03:48,979And he asks in his book on Second Corinthians5500:03:48,979 –> 00:03:56,000What is the building into which the soul enters when the present body is taken?5600:03:56,339 –> 00:04:02,580Down. What is the building that Paul is referring to here into which the soul enters?5700:04:02,820 –> 00:04:08,619When the present body the tent is taken down and he gives three5800:04:09,039 –> 00:04:12,460Possibilities that have been put forward by various writers5900:04:12,800 –> 00:04:16,100Over the years. The first is heaven itself6000:04:17,019 –> 00:04:23,299the second is the resurrection body and the third is some kind of temporary body an6100:04:23,899 –> 00:04:29,920intermediate body so that as Paul says we are not found naked between death and6200:04:30,700 –> 00:04:33,140resurrection when Christ returns in glory6300:04:34,100 –> 00:04:37,480Now I’ve been laid out these three very quickly Charles Hodge6400:04:37,480 –> 00:04:42,380and surely rightly dismisses the third one an interim and temporary body the Bible nowhere6500:04:42,760 –> 00:04:48,040teaches that and besides in this passage Paul says that the new house is6600:04:48,440 –> 00:04:53,059Eternal, so if the new house is eternal it could hardly be something that is interim or temporary6700:04:54,040 –> 00:05:00,720And so that leaves two serious contenders here of how we’re to understand this. Is it the resurrection body?6800:05:00,720 –> 00:05:02,859That is being spoken of or is it heaven itself?6900:05:04,140 –> 00:05:06,160with regard to the resurrection body7000:05:06,959 –> 00:05:08,820He points out7100:05:08,820 –> 00:05:14,619That the resurrection body is the gift of Christ to all believers when Christ returns in Glory7200:05:15,299 –> 00:05:18,559In other words Christians who die have to wait for it7300:05:19,700 –> 00:05:21,380always remember7400:05:21,380 –> 00:05:26,279that only one person has the resurrection body right now7500:05:27,380 –> 00:05:31,940the only person who has the resurrection body right now is7600:05:32,980 –> 00:05:34,619Jesus Christ7700:05:34,619 –> 00:05:36,440Peter James John don’t have it7800:05:36,440 –> 00:05:41,940They’re still waiting for the time when Christ returns in glory and all of His Church will be brought together7900:05:41,940 –> 00:05:46,100the whole family will get this marvelous gift on that great day so8000:05:46,399 –> 00:05:52,420Our believing loved ones who have died and are with Christ do not yet have the resurrection body8100:05:53,220 –> 00:05:57,579They are waiting that further joy that yet lies ahead8200:05:58,700 –> 00:06:01,420now I take a moment on that for this reason in8300:06:02,299 –> 00:06:05,7002nd Corinthians Chapter 5. Paul is8400:06:06,700 –> 00:06:08,660answering the question8500:06:08,660 –> 00:06:12,660What happens when a Christian dies?8600:06:14,100 –> 00:06:18,239What happens when the tent is taken down8700:06:19,679 –> 00:06:26,739When the tent is taken down what in the next moment is the experience of the Christian believer?8800:06:27,500 –> 00:06:29,640What happens to your loved one?8900:06:29,640 –> 00:06:35,640What will happen to you as a Christian the moment after you close your eyes in death?9000:06:36,459 –> 00:06:42,260Now obviously the answer to that question what happens next is not the resurrection body9100:06:42,839 –> 00:06:47,279That awaits the time when the Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory9200:06:48,140 –> 00:06:54,440Know the answer to the question. What happens next when the tent is taken down is laid out in full in verse 89300:06:54,820 –> 00:07:00,480To be away from the body is to be at notice the word home9400:07:01,299 –> 00:07:02,500with9500:07:02,500 –> 00:07:04,299the Lord9600:07:04,299 –> 00:07:11,739So I am convinced with Hodge and with many others that the home that is being referred to here the building9700:07:12,459 –> 00:07:17,940Relates to heaven itself and that he’s using the same language as the Lord Jesus9800:07:18,220 –> 00:07:23,619Himself did when he said in my father’s what’s the next word house?9900:07:23,980 –> 00:07:27,579Are many rooms and if it were not so10000:07:27,579 –> 00:07:31,260I would have told you but I go to prepare a place for you10100:07:31,260 –> 00:07:36,260Jesus speaks about this as the house that when the soul leaves the tent10200:07:36,260 –> 00:07:41,920Which is the temporary house it goes into the father’s house and?10300:07:42,459 –> 00:07:45,179Paul is using the same language here10400:07:45,179 –> 00:07:49,140He is saying we know that when the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed10500:07:49,160 –> 00:07:51,920We have a building from God a house10600:07:52,600 –> 00:07:57,739Not made with hands which is eternal in the heavens so the Christian?10700:07:57,739 –> 00:08:00,820Then is a person with two houses10800:08:01,760 –> 00:08:07,299the first house for your soul is the body, which is like a tent and10900:08:07,980 –> 00:08:12,760When that house is pulled down you will move into the other house11000:08:13,119 –> 00:08:14,799which is in11100:08:14,839 –> 00:08:17,959Heaven the house that Jesus has prepared for you11200:08:18,239 –> 00:08:25,220Heaven is the house into which your soul will enter when your present house the tent is11300:08:25,799 –> 00:08:27,700taken down11400:08:27,700 –> 00:08:33,059Now the contrast which is what Paul is getting at here between these two houses could hardly be greater11500:08:34,039 –> 00:08:36,820The tent is a house to lodge in11600:08:38,080 –> 00:08:41,719But the building is a home to live in11700:08:41,739 –> 00:08:43,260The11800:08:43,260 –> 00:08:47,820Tent is a fragile structure with many difficulties and limitations11900:08:48,239 –> 00:08:55,780And it will eventually be destroyed the building is an enduring structure that Paul says here will be eternal12000:08:57,260 –> 00:09:02,039In this earthly tent there is a great deal of groaning12100:09:03,179 –> 00:09:10,440But in the house that is not made with hands verse for he tells us. What is mortal will be12200:09:11,179 –> 00:09:13,179Swallowed up in life12300:09:14,039 –> 00:09:16,039beautiful marvelous12400:09:17,280 –> 00:09:22,880Now understand this the god is using language that we can grasp12500:09:23,960 –> 00:09:31,460to help us begin to understand something of what otherwise would be completely beyond us and12600:09:32,320 –> 00:09:38,299So try to take in this picture by which God is speaking to us two things happen when a Christian dies12700:09:38,419 –> 00:09:40,419It’s like moving house12800:09:40,799 –> 00:09:42,799there’s a leaving and12900:09:43,320 –> 00:09:45,500There is an arriving13000:09:46,859 –> 00:09:52,700Think about the leaving in the leaving your soul is separated from your body13100:09:54,299 –> 00:09:58,239Nobody likes to think about such a thing. Nobody likes the thought of leaving13200:10:00,419 –> 00:10:03,859That is why death is an enemy that is why it’s spoken of oh13300:10:03,859 –> 00:10:07,820It’s the last enemy even the last enemy of the Christian the last one to be defeated13400:10:08,179 –> 00:10:12,760It is the undoing of our nature. It’s the tearing apart of what God has joined together13500:10:12,760 –> 00:10:18,940He made your body soul unity the the interface between your soul, and your body is so13600:10:19,260 –> 00:10:21,260complex as to be almost13700:10:21,380 –> 00:10:28,780Unfathomable to separate your soul from your body feels like it’s the the undoing to take the soul out of its house, and it is13800:10:29,900 –> 00:10:35,940And that is why Paul speaks of longing to put on our heavenly dwelling13900:10:35,940 –> 00:10:37,359that14000:10:37,359 –> 00:10:40,479We may not be found naked verse 314100:10:41,140 –> 00:10:44,500Or in verse four we grown and are burdened14200:10:45,239 –> 00:10:50,799Not that we would be unclothed the thought of simply being a sort of lost14300:10:51,239 –> 00:10:54,140Spirit without a home is an appalling thought14400:10:55,619 –> 00:11:01,380Nobody in their right mind would want their soul to be separated from their body and14500:11:01,380 –> 00:11:02,619and14600:11:02,619 –> 00:11:10,159If death was only the leaving of the soul from the body it would be terrifying indeed14700:11:11,859 –> 00:11:19,200But the whole point here is that the Apostle is saying when your soul leaves the tent when your soul leaves the body14800:11:19,320 –> 00:11:21,799That the leaving is immediately14900:11:22,440 –> 00:11:25,260matched to an arriving your soul moves into15000:11:25,260 –> 00:11:33,039The new home that he’s describing for us here Christian brother sister when God takes down your tent15100:11:34,640 –> 00:11:39,880Your soul will not be lost in space without a resting place15200:11:40,940 –> 00:11:44,479The moment your soul leaves the tent of your body15300:11:44,479 –> 00:11:49,419it will be at home in the building the place that Jesus Christ has already15400:11:49,679 –> 00:11:56,320Prepared for you to be absent from the body verse eight is to be present with15500:11:57,059 –> 00:11:59,059the Lord15600:11:59,140 –> 00:12:04,619You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Collin Smith and a message called prepared for something better15700:12:04,739 –> 00:12:06,979We just got to pause briefly here15800:12:06,979 –> 00:12:10,340But if you have to leave early or if you’ve missed the beginning of the program15900:12:10,479 –> 00:12:14,359You can easily catch up or go back and listen again online at our website16000:12:14,880 –> 00:12:15,700open the Bible16100:12:15,700 –> 00:12:16,940dog16200:12:17,099 –> 00:12:24,580UK there you’ll find all the messages which have already been broadcast and they’re also available as a podcast on all the main podcast16300:12:24,580 –> 00:12:27,640sites search for open the Bible UK and16400:12:28,159 –> 00:12:30,780Subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders16500:12:31,340 –> 00:12:34,140Back to the message now here again is Colin. I16600:12:36,020 –> 00:12:37,440Expect16700:12:37,440 –> 00:12:40,559everybody’s got some story of moving house and16800:12:40,780 –> 00:12:42,080And16900:12:42,080 –> 00:12:48,440might enjoy swamp in some of these stories in the next week carn and I’ve only done that once in all of our married lives17000:12:49,700 –> 00:12:51,55916 years17100:12:51,559 –> 00:12:55,159Serving church in London and 18 years being blessed to be here17200:12:55,159 –> 00:12:57,500And so that was our one move17300:12:57,500 –> 00:13:03,760We left a house that was and still is owned by the church that we served and love17400:13:04,119 –> 00:13:11,320In London and came and and bought the house that we have here and we’ve been there 18 years and are so grateful17500:13:11,679 –> 00:13:13,679for it today and17600:13:14,179 –> 00:13:16,179You know what, it’s like17700:13:16,359 –> 00:13:18,359Leaving is never fun17800:13:18,400 –> 00:13:20,400here were a17900:13:20,640 –> 00:13:23,080congregation of people we really loved and18000:13:24,380 –> 00:13:27,479a home to which we’d brought home our18100:13:28,000 –> 00:13:33,340Our two boys when they were born and full of memories and leaving that house wasn’t easy18200:13:34,380 –> 00:13:36,380and it was made worse by18300:13:37,119 –> 00:13:42,059The last time that we were there. It all came back to me. Just thinking about it this morning18400:13:43,280 –> 00:13:45,280six months before we left18500:13:45,619 –> 00:13:48,000our house was flooded and18600:13:48,700 –> 00:13:50,700So we we lived for some months18700:13:51,159 –> 00:13:56,700Really effectively and what was a rebuilding job that was was going on there18800:13:56,700 –> 00:14:00,219We felt that it was right to stay rather than to to move out18900:14:00,219 –> 00:14:06,940But I’m just saying this because you know the process of leaving as we’re thinking about what this end of life can be like is19000:14:06,940 –> 00:14:08,500sometimes very difficult19100:14:08,500 –> 00:14:09,900and19200:14:09,900 –> 00:14:11,320I19300:14:11,320 –> 00:14:16,059Remember the the last day I closed the door its imprinted on on my mind19400:14:16,239 –> 00:14:18,840Karen and the boys had gone ahead with the car19500:14:18,840 –> 00:14:23,239And they’d gone down to her folks and our stuff was all on the high seas somewhere19600:14:23,239 –> 00:14:25,280and we hoped that we might one day see it again and19700:14:25,280 –> 00:14:27,140and19800:14:27,140 –> 00:14:33,039having said goodbye to everyone and finished up everything that we wanted to leave the place as best we could and and19900:14:33,679 –> 00:14:40,119I came out the door, and there. I am with my suitcase and got on the train and20000:14:40,659 –> 00:14:42,659It was raining20100:14:42,940 –> 00:14:44,940It always rains in London20200:14:45,359 –> 00:14:49,859But it was just a gray day, and I thought you know that’s exactly what it feels20300:14:51,500 –> 00:14:54,599Leaving’s no fun, no fun20400:14:55,760 –> 00:14:58,440Arriving was a different matter20500:14:59,679 –> 00:15:01,679Very different, wonderful20600:15:02,780 –> 00:15:05,320Now let me just give this personal caveat for a moment20700:15:05,900 –> 00:15:09,719the problem for us was that there was some distance in between20800:15:10,440 –> 00:15:12,200we found and20900:15:12,200 –> 00:15:15,640Folks here who were involved at the time and some of you prayed at this time21000:15:15,640 –> 00:15:21,080I had always been grateful for that and that there had been a delay and a glitch in the process of our application21100:15:21,520 –> 00:15:23,520Or the church’s application21200:15:23,580 –> 00:15:25,780for a green card for us and21300:15:27,820 –> 00:15:31,440We were stranded I mean our stuff was gone we were out of our house21400:15:32,159 –> 00:15:37,380We’d ended with one church. We had not legal permission now to begin here and21500:15:38,479 –> 00:15:42,640that was our position in no man’s land for 10 weeks and21600:15:43,679 –> 00:15:48,000that was not an easy time as you can imagine moved in with with my folks, but21700:15:48,919 –> 00:15:55,820Grateful for their kindness we we had a sense of we we have no home we’ve left one and we can’t get to the other21800:15:57,719 –> 00:16:02,900And eventually the great day came and with great thankfulness to God we made this long journey21900:16:03,400 –> 00:16:06,400Took a while 4,000 miles. It’s a long way to go22000:16:07,799 –> 00:16:09,799And I say that for this reason22100:16:10,640 –> 00:16:15,700There in great contrast to that experience. I want you to take this in22200:16:16,479 –> 00:16:21,739However difficult the last days in the tent may be for you and22300:16:22,340 –> 00:16:24,340Sometimes the leaving is hard22400:16:25,880 –> 00:16:29,200However, difficult the last days in the tent may be for you22500:16:30,159 –> 00:16:32,159The moment you leave22600:16:32,219 –> 00:16:34,219Will be the moment you arrive22700:16:34,340 –> 00:16:36,340The moment you close your eyes22800:16:36,900 –> 00:16:41,820Will be the moment that you see the full glory of the Savior22900:16:42,820 –> 00:16:48,380All these years to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord23000:16:48,719 –> 00:16:55,659You will never be stranded in no man’s land when you’re out of the one house. You’re into the other. It is an23100:16:56,179 –> 00:17:01,739instant house move of think about your story of moving house, how many people would have liked to experience an23200:17:02,260 –> 00:17:07,060Instant house move like that and that’s exactly what he’s describing23300:17:07,140 –> 00:17:10,680Describing here and out of the tent with all of its23400:17:10,900 –> 00:17:15,420sagging structure and all of the difficulties as it’s being taken down and23500:17:15,979 –> 00:17:23,619Into the glory of the home that Jesus Christ has already prepared for you and has it ready. It’s yours and23600:17:24,380 –> 00:17:26,380It’s there in23700:17:26,420 –> 00:17:30,979The heavens Matthew Henry just grasps this so helpfully. He says death23800:17:31,819 –> 00:17:36,560Considering merely as a separation of soul and body is not to be desired23900:17:36,880 –> 00:17:38,880but rather dreaded, but24000:17:39,280 –> 00:17:41,280considered as a passage to glory24100:17:42,560 –> 00:17:49,800The believer is willing to die rather than to live to be absent from the body that he or she may be present with24200:17:51,060 –> 00:17:53,060the Lord an24300:17:53,640 –> 00:17:55,640immediate translation24400:17:56,119 –> 00:17:59,880In which you change the tent for the building?24500:18:00,640 –> 00:18:07,780Earth for heaven the temporary for the eternal and the pain of groaning24600:18:09,459 –> 00:18:11,459for the joy of24700:18:11,520 –> 00:18:13,520Glory, and24800:18:13,520 –> 00:18:20,160then the Apostle Paul just caps it under the inspiration of the Spirit. He says this in verse 5 and24900:18:20,719 –> 00:18:22,439he who25000:18:22,439 –> 00:18:25,839Has prepared us for this very thing25100:18:25,839 –> 00:18:32,060That is he who has prepared us for this marvelous and instantaneous25200:18:32,959 –> 00:18:34,180translation25300:18:34,180 –> 00:18:37,680When the tent is taken down and you enter into the building25400:18:38,520 –> 00:18:45,020He who has prepared us for this very thing is saved with me god. Oh25500:18:45,579 –> 00:18:51,640Don’t you thank God for that? He has prepared, not he is preparing us25600:18:52,520 –> 00:18:54,560He has prepared25700:18:55,000 –> 00:18:59,579Jesus says I go to prepare a place for you. It’s done. It was accomplished on the cross25800:18:59,599 –> 00:19:02,640How has God prepared us for this?25900:19:02,640 –> 00:19:07,219He sent his son into the world to prepare the place for us26000:19:07,280 –> 00:19:12,040He sent the spirit into our hearts to prepare us for the place26100:19:13,099 –> 00:19:18,520The one who has prepared us for this is God and that’s why he says26200:19:18,780 –> 00:19:23,760here that he has given us the spirit in our hearts as a26300:19:24,439 –> 00:19:26,540guarantee of what is26400:19:27,400 –> 00:19:34,079To come isn’t this amazing in the Old Testament the others tabernacle which was a tent26500:19:35,560 –> 00:19:43,040And you remember that the glory of God God’s own presence came down into the tent26600:19:43,359 –> 00:19:44,739and26700:19:44,739 –> 00:19:47,119You say why in all the world?26800:19:47,900 –> 00:19:52,000Would God who made the earth and the heavens and all things?26900:19:52,280 –> 00:19:56,140Why would this great and glorious God want to live in a tent?27000:19:56,500 –> 00:19:58,079and27100:19:58,079 –> 00:20:01,599Yet the Old Testament tells us that that was where his presence was found27200:20:02,619 –> 00:20:08,680And you see how that goes through to the New Testament in this very verse that we’re in today. What’s your body like?27300:20:08,680 –> 00:20:10,719it’s like a tent and27400:20:11,359 –> 00:20:14,619The spirit of God, the spirit of the almighty27500:20:15,359 –> 00:20:22,439sovereign God, God himself by the spirit has come down to live in the tent of27600:20:23,699 –> 00:20:25,439your body27700:20:25,439 –> 00:20:27,439Christ in27800:20:27,780 –> 00:20:29,119you27900:20:29,119 –> 00:20:30,760the hope of28000:20:30,760 –> 00:20:31,920glory28100:20:31,920 –> 00:20:33,920God with you28200:20:34,280 –> 00:20:37,760in all the groaning and difficulty and28300:20:38,260 –> 00:20:39,640pressure28400:20:39,699 –> 00:20:41,599of life in the tent28500:20:41,599 –> 00:20:42,219God28600:20:42,219 –> 00:20:49,020Makes his home with you in the tent until the day when you make your home with him in28700:20:49,619 –> 00:20:51,540the house and28800:20:51,540 –> 00:20:59,599I call this a marvelous gift of revelation of the Christians life in heaven because God didn’t need to tell us anything28900:21:00,300 –> 00:21:03,599About what lies beyond death. He could have just said now you trust me29000:21:03,599 –> 00:21:07,359You trust me in the Christian life. And as far as what lies beyond, I’m not telling you anything29100:21:07,359 –> 00:21:09,359You just need to trust me on it29200:21:09,979 –> 00:21:11,979But he doesn’t do that29300:21:12,660 –> 00:21:15,800He pulls back the curtain just a little29400:21:17,540 –> 00:21:23,819So that we may be given a glimpse of what is yet to come and why does he do it29500:21:25,560 –> 00:21:30,040So that we will not lose heart29600:21:30,680 –> 00:21:32,680Hearth29700:21:32,979 –> 00:21:40,800That’s a really encouraging thought isn’t it that God makes his home with us in the tent until the day when we make our29800:21:40,800 –> 00:21:44,119Home with him in his eternal house in heaven29900:21:44,979 –> 00:21:47,819This message is the first in the series entitled30000:21:47,839 –> 00:21:54,579Don’t lose heart and the fact is that many people have a very tough life and believers aren’t insulated from that30100:21:54,660 –> 00:22:01,859We face heartache loss and depression on top of the actual real struggles with the way the world is30200:22:02,180 –> 00:22:03,939difficulties with money30300:22:03,939 –> 00:22:05,939housing jobs and family30400:22:07,079 –> 00:22:13,599Many people are forced to depend on donations of food to survive and many can’t afford to heat their homes in winter30500:22:14,239 –> 00:22:17,239For believers, it’s very possible to begin to lose heart30600:22:18,060 –> 00:22:20,599our message from two Corinthians chapter 530700:22:21,400 –> 00:22:26,400Encourages us to look beyond our immediate difficulties and onto the promises we have from God the Father30800:22:27,040 –> 00:22:31,160Through Jesus Christ. I hope you’ll gain encouragement from our series30900:22:31,160 –> 00:22:38,680Don’t lose heart as we hear more from Pastor Colin Smith in the coming days about the promises and love of God for his people31000:22:39,619 –> 00:22:42,439Don’t forget if you ever miss one of our broadcasts31100:22:42,459 –> 00:22:46,520You can always catch up or go back and listen again online at our website31200:22:47,119 –> 00:22:49,119www.openthebible.org.uk31300:22:49,300 –> 00:22:52,680and there you’ll find all the messages which have already gone out31400:22:53,339 –> 00:22:58,000You can also find them as a podcast and those are on all the main podcast sites. Search for31500:22:58,219 –> 00:23:01,619open the Bible UK or follow the link from our website and31600:23:02,540 –> 00:23:03,920While you’re on our website31700:23:03,920 –> 00:23:10,979Don’t forget about open the Bible daily many Christians find that tuning into open the Bible daily. It’s a great way to start the day31800:23:11,119 –> 00:23:15,540It’s based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and read in the UK by Sue MacLeash31900:23:16,579 –> 00:23:19,239Open The Bible is supported by our listeners32000:23:19,260 –> 00:23:24,939Here’s open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham to talk about this month’s offer for anyone who’s able to begin32100:23:25,239 –> 00:23:27,380supporting open the Bible financially32200:23:27,760 –> 00:23:29,099Thanks David32300:23:29,099 –> 00:23:36,959yes this month we are delighted to offer you two free copies of Christmas stories by Colin Smith a32400:23:37,819 –> 00:23:43,520Beautifully illustrated book that tells the Christmas story through five key characters32500:23:43,760 –> 00:23:46,739Including mary Joseph and the angel Gabrielle32600:23:47,260 –> 00:23:52,280You’ll also receive five exclusive Christmas cards featuring artwork from the book32700:23:52,839 –> 00:23:55,439Perfect for sharing the true meaning of Christmas32800:23:56,439 –> 00:23:57,560It’s our free32900:23:57,560 –> 00:24:04,160Thank you gift when you donate 50 pounds or more or set up a new direct debit of just 5 pounds a month33000:24:04,560 –> 00:24:08,680But please don’t forget to leave your address so that we can post your gift33100:24:09,500 –> 00:24:10,400Thanks Amanda33200:24:10,400 –> 00:24:15,180We’re very grateful to God for the many open the Bible listeners who support the work33300:24:15,380 –> 00:24:20,239If you’d like to join them head over to our website open the Bible org33400:24:20,900 –> 00:24:24,819UK where you can give online and find full terms and conditions33500:24:25,060 –> 00:24:29,099For our offer this month in the run-up to Christmas that open the Bible33600:24:29,099 –> 00:24:33,939We want to provide churches and groups with great supporting material33700:24:34,160 –> 00:24:41,020Here’s open the Bible’s executive director John Martin for fresh ideas for your Christmas and Advent33800:24:41,560 –> 00:24:47,599Services and events Open the Bible has free resources to help you all linked to a short book33900:24:48,000 –> 00:24:55,699Christmas stories for these resources to help you with advent and Christmas go to open the Bible dot org UK34000:24:56,459 –> 00:25:02,079Thanks, John. Our website address again is open the Bible dalton, UK34100:25:02,839 –> 00:25:08,060For open the Bible pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pik, and I hope you’ll join us again soon34200:25:16,880 –> 00:25:23,719Every Christian can see the challenges of life now, but have we thought about the challenges of life in heaven?34300:25:24,160 –> 00:25:27,119Find out about that next time on open the Bible