Living with Eternity Consciousness
A theological 3-point sermon based on 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (11-13), 14-17
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
 

Introduction: 

In our reading today, Paul talks about what it looks like to follow Jesus. There is an important lesson that we can learn from this passage: i.e. how to live in the world without being of the world, or belonging to the world, to say it in the wording of John 17:16.

The bottom line of Paul’s message in this text is a call to a life in the light of eternity—a life with "eternity consciousness," if you will.
 

Historical Background:

The second epistle to the church at Corinth is generally understood to be a defense on the part of the apostle Paul.  His critics have made a stand in this church boasting their "success theology" in contrast to Paul's "theology of the cross and resurrection."

One of the points Paul is making here is in defense of his suffering, his "weakness" as his opponents named it. He points to the bigger picture and reiterates to all those who follow the "success theology" that we do not only live in the here and now, but we live in light of eternity  : "...for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." Verse 5:7b-8

To drive home his point, he refers to the “judgment seat of Christ."
 

I. Paul’s Theology of the Cross and Resurrection in light of Eternity:

Let’s take a closer look at Paul’s theology of the cross and resurrection in light of eternity. To Paul these events are not merely a pivotal point in human history.  The work of Jesus is more than a simple event on the historic timeline.

To Paul, the work of the cross and resurrection is the stuff made in eternity and will therefore continue to be important in all eternity. In Paul’s view, the work of the cross, much like the resurrection of Christ, is the most extraordinary thing that ever happened.  It is a moment in time when eternity penetrated time and history itself.  Now ordinary eternity and time do not mix.  Time is bound into eternity, but the two are something essentially very different.  They belong to different dimensions.

If you’re a Trekki you may remember the episode in which the crew of the Enterprise thought they encountered two-dimensional life-forms, and they found that, as much as they tried, there was no way of communicating with them or affecting them in any way.

Well, that’s the kind of thing God had to do in the work of the cross.  It took that much of an extraordinary act of God in order to accomplish a way of salvation for creation.  The events that took place in the period between Christ’s crucifixion and his resurrection, eternity penetrated history.  That’s the reason why I can--even though it is 2,000 years after the fact-- still experience the work of the cross and the resurrection as if it is happening today.  My sins can be forgiven today, because the work of the cross in its eternal nature is still to this day penetrating time and history. 

When Jesus died on the cross, something significant, unique, and historically unrivalled happened to the universe. The reports of the gospel writers confirm it: they describe that unusual things happened: the light of the sun was momentarily eclipsed, that people who had died were seen again walking among those in Jerusalem, and that the veil separating the inner sanctum from the sanctuary in the temple at Jerusalem was mysteriously torn apart. Because God’s redemptive power was now set free--not only in the present, but also for all future generations, and even extending back into the past.
 

II. The Christian Believer as “New Creation”

Into this phenomenal theological understanding of the cross and the resurrection, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5 that we are a new creation, we no longer belong to the old and dying world.  I think his metaphor of “a new creation” is excellent because it illustrates so well what Jesus means when he teaches (in the gospels) about the kingdom of God which is to come, but which is already here too--for those who have eyes to see it.

We already belong to the new world which is already here, invisible now, but one day to materialize for everybody to see. We are already citizens of the new world and we are to live in this life like this isn’t our home.

And, according to Paul we must live like we are not at home in our bodies any longer.  We must live our lives in the light of eternity. We need to have “eternity consciousness.”  By the way, Jesus had perfect eternity consciousness--that’s why he was able to humble himself to the utmost and walk the path of suffering and death.

III. Eternity Consciousness

Even though Paul may not have coined this phrase, I believe that “eternity consciousness” is an excellent descriptive term for what the passage in 2 Corinthians talks about.  Eternity consciousness is in my mind the most awesome power of the work of the cross! You can tell where a believer is in terms of spiritual maturity by gauging his/her eternity consciousness.

For instance: the more you are conscious of your place in eternity, of your heavenly citizenship, the less you are bothered by getting older.  Every day you’re getting older on earth, you are getting younger toward eternity).

The more eternity conscious you are the less you are bothered by materialism.  Now don’t get me wrong, God wants us to be good providers to our families and good stewards.  But the more eternity conscious you are the less you will compare yourself to others in terms of salary, possessions, in terms of the status in this world.

The more eternity conscious we are as a church the less we are concerned about ourselves, about politics, about  physical structures, and the more we are concerned about the spread of Christian values, the Word of God, about prayer, about reaching out to a dying world.  Have you been to any church “business meeting” lately?  What are we talking about in our business meetings--the things of eternity, or the things that are here today and gone tomorrow?
 

Conclusion:

I dare to say that if we have no or little eternity consciousness there is something missing in our spiritual life.  We need to experience the power of the cross and resurrection all over again. We all need to grow in our eternity consciousness, and we all need to be empowered and inspired by the hope and joy it can give us, including . . .

• our self-understanding, purpose and calling
• a greater perspective for our lives beyond old age and death
• hope to a better life in a world as God intended from the beginning.
•  hope to be re-united with our loved ones who passed away
• joyful expectation to meet our Maker face to face

I pray that God will help us grow in eternity consciousness in all those respects.  Amen.