Longing for the Age to Come

A. Celestial shores. Soul being clothed immortal wings its flight
to realms above. Sweet by and by. Beulah Land. Common
misconceptions about heaven lead to a distorted hope.
1. Platonic influence distorts the biblical hope making it a
disembodied and ethereal existence in the clouds
2. The hope of the Jewish Scriptures is earthly, physical,
and material.
3. A clear picture of the prize gives motivation and incentive
to run hard and live sacrificially.
• “Trying to develop an appetite for an eternity of
disembodied existence is like trying to develop an
appetite for gravel” -Randy Alcorn
B. Instead of an immaterial heavenly destiny, the restored
heavens and earth will be a “home of righteousness” with
Jesus the Messiah on the throne of David in the Kingdom
of Israel ruling over all creation. God’s dwelling will be with
man.
C. “The popular conception of heaven revolves around clouds,
harps, and angels, with humanity marching through the Pearly Gates to live a life of bliss. This conception is far removed from the biblical witness. Rather,
the Bible depicts heaven under the wrath of God, the scene of cosmic warfare, and finally subject
to dissolution prior to the creation of a new heaven. This ambivalence surrounding heaven is to be
expected because of the fundamental antithetical structure of biblical eschatology, which is conceived
in terms of this present evil age and the age to come. It must be stressed that in this framework this whole age experiences turbulence, disquiet, and flux; both heaven and earth experience the wrath of God, the powers of evil, personal incompleteness, and temporality. Only the age to come is ‘heaven’
in any idyllic sense.” (C. R. Schoonhoven, “Heaven,” ISBE, 2:6)

A. In the biblical view of time, there is a distinction between this present age and the age (or ages) to
come. It is important to understand the delineation that is separated by the Day of The Lord and live
our lives accordingly. Misplaced hope and unmet expectations can sabotage the longevity and vitality
of the disciple of Jesus.
• Jesus said, ”Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or
mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will
receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters
and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come,
eternal life. (Mark 10:29, 30 NASB)
• but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead,
neither marry nor are given in marriage; for they cannot even die anymore, because they are
like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. Luke 20:35, 36 NASB

• Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in
uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them
do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for
themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal
life. I Timothy 6:17-19 NKJV
• The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will
keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

A. Eternal life is the end goal of discipleship,It takes training, preparation, discipline and endurance
to attain. It is the sole focus, treasure, and delight of followers of Jesus.
• 12 Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make
every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do:
Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, 14 I pursue as my goal
the prize promised by God’s heavenly call (See vs. 20-21) in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore,
all who are mature should think this way. And if you think differently about anything,
God will reveal this also to you. 16 In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we
have attained. 17 Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to
the example you have in us. 18 For I have often told you, and now say again with tears,
that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is
their stomach (appetite NASB); their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly
things, 20 but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 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 3:12-21 HCSB
• Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in
such a way to win the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24, HCSB
B. The Maranatha Marathon. We’ve got a race to run. Instead of being a brief sprint of faith, this is a
long-distance haul.
1. “binding up the loins of your mind,” a figure of speech drawn from the Middle Eastern
practice of gathering up long robes around the waist to prepare for work or action. Net Bible
Note 1 Peter 1:13
• That is why, bracing your minds for a difficult race, (difficult fight, or for a difficult
task/effort) and exercising self-control, you must set your hope fully and completely on the
gracious salvation that will be granted to you, yes, when Jesus the Messiah is revealed.
1 Peter 1:13, BHT
• Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us, Hebrews 12:1, NIV
• You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?
Galatians 5:7 NIV
• But the person who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:13 NET
C. The call to eternal life is a race marked with trials, persecutions, and suffering. It is in the job
description. As believers, it is our destiny.

• 13 “Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad the road that leads to utter
ruin, and those who enter through it are many. 14 But how narrow is the gate and filled with
suffering the road that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 BHT
• 21 When they had proclaimed the gospel in that city and instructed a considerable number of disciples, they made their way back north to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
22 strengthening the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith.“It is God’s will for us
to enter the Kingdom of God through many trials and persecutions and sufferings in this
age,” they said. Acts 14:21-22 BHT
• 3 so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are
destined for this. 4 For in fact when we were with you, we were telling you in advance that
we would suffer affliction, and so it has happened, as you well know. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-4
NET
• See also Mt 24:21; Jn 16:33; Rm 5:3; 2 Co 1:8, 4:16-18, 6:4, 8:2; Eph 3:13; Col 1:24; 1 Th 1:6, 3:3;
2 Th 1:4; Heb 11:35-36; Re 2:9-11, 7:14.

• 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating
the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to
others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 10:1 For I do not want you to be
ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and
that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in
the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they
drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the
wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts
on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The
people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit
sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them
died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do
not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 1 Corinthians
9:27-10:10
A. Paul disciplined himself in order that his life would be in line with the message he preached.
Conversely, Israel’s rebellion in the wilderness (Numbers 13-14, 20, Exodus 32) is an example of
losing sight of the reward and being disinherited from the Promise.
B. Enduring hardship and running for the prize are critical to finishing well. So is avoiding common pitfalls
that take us out of the race.
• DON”T crave evil things/idolatry
• DON’T be sexually immoral
• DON’T presume upon God’s mercy/ put Christ to the test
• DON’T have a constant state of bitterness and complaining

A. 6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering (Wine poured out completing the
sacrifice, Numbers 15:1-10), and the time for my departure is near. 7
I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to
me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8 NIV

B. At the time that Paul wrote Second Timothy, he was imprisoned in Rome, awaiting the moment of his
own execution, which would be death by decapitation. Paul is nearing the end of his life and ministry
and he knows it. His time of departure is before him.
C. “Loving Jesus appearing” sums up the big picture hope of Eternal Life in the gospel. This is the ultimate prize and treasure of the Christian. The day Jesus’ comes back is the Blessed hope (Titus 2:11-
13)
• 11 For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny
godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the
present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great
God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works. Titus
2:11-14
D.Paul is confident that the reward for his suffering is before him, the crown of righteousness. The Greek
word for a “crown” in these verses is not the word for a royal diadem, as a king would wear. Rather,
it is the Greek word stephanos, which describes the crown given to athletes — most notably, runners
— after they had run their race or finished their contest victoriously. It was generally referred to as a
victor’s crown. All those who have set their hope on Jesus’ return will receive the reward

A. 8
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but
also to all who have loved His appearing. 9 Make every effort to come to me soon; 10 for Demas,
having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica 2 Timothy 4:8-10
B. Who is Demas? A colaborer with Paul who deserted him. They were working closely together as partners, sharing work and responsibility. There is even the suggestion of equality in the word co-worker.”
He is mentioned in Philemon and Colossians.
• Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my colaborers, greet you too. Philemon 24
• Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you. Colossians 4:14
C. If Colossians was written in 59-61 AD and 2 Timothy in 66-67 AD, we can assume Demas was associated with Paul for at least 5-10 years. He knew the message, he saw the miracles, he witnessed the
suffering.
D. We know he was staying with Paul, who was in prison at this point. As a co-worker, it meant further
suffering for the gospel, and so he went back to Thessalonica, which may have been his hometown;
Perhaps he found the apostle’s demands too rigorous and some think he actually apostatized.
E. Paul described him as being in love with this present world.

A. The heart of the matter is the desires of our heart that are in conflict with the things of God. We need to
be weened of an appetite of worldly things that keep us from loving God.
• “Do not love (Strong’s 25: To love, wish well to, take pleasure in, long for; esteem.) the
world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in
them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away,
but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:15-17 NIV
• For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what
can a person give in exchange for his life? Matthew 16:26 NET

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way
they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Luke
8:14 NIV
B. The bottom line is that we need the longing for the gospel hope burning brightly in our hearts, families, and communities. Keeping this focus requires daily self-denial and the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us from growing dull and hardened to the gospel message. It is difficult to not go
with the flow of the culture of eating, drinking, and being merry. It’s certainly easier to long for the age to come in times of suffering, but what can we do now in a time of comfort and ease to cultivate our hearts in the hope of the gospel? How do we develop an appetite for the age to come?