The Story of Work- Restoration
Core Seminar | The Story of Work • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Work and Eternity: A Biblical Perspective
Work and Eternity: A Biblical Perspective
Introduction
Introduction
Our work being spoken about by Jesus.
Our work being spoken about by Jesus.
Matthew 25:21 “21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Hebrews 6:10 “10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”
Who will hear this? Small segment of believers?
Believe it will be us all who are believers, we are looking at different types of humans in the parable (believing and not believing) not different type of Christians.
This pictures a continuation of the work we do here on earth.
Continuation and discontinuation are two terms used when reading about the New Heaven and the New Earth.
Revelation 21:1 “1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”
What is new and what is renewed?
I. Review: Creation, Fall, and Redemption
I. Review: Creation, Fall, and Redemption
A. God’s Original Design for Work
A. God’s Original Design for Work
1. Work is part of creation, not a curse.
1. Work is part of creation, not a curse.
Work existed before sin and was part of God’s good design. Genesis 2:15 “15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”
If God is a worker, and we are made in His image, work will likely continue in eternity. John 5:17 “17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”
2. God delights in His work.
2. God delights in His work.
Genesis 1:31 “31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”
3. Humanity was created to work.
3. Humanity was created to work.
God commands people to cultivate, create, and steward the earth.
Genesis 1:28 “28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
"The work of a Beethoven, and the work of a housecleaner, become spiritual on precisely the same condition: that both are being done for God." – C.S. Lewis
B. The Fall and Its Effect on Work
B. The Fall and Its Effect on Work
1. Work became frustrating and toilsome.
1. Work became frustrating and toilsome.
Genesis 3:18 “18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;”
Sin introduced hardship, futility, and frustration into work.
Crown of thorns serving as a reminder of the curse of sin on this world.
All sickness and disability reminds of the effects of sin in our lives. We may not feel it or count it as influential but nature and physical battles should remind us of the destructive power of sin.
The world was reordered to match our fallen state. (Remember this)
2.Without eternal perspective, work becomes an endless grind.
2.Without eternal perspective, work becomes an endless grind.
Ecclesiastes 1:2 “2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.”
Each job has its on own challenges.
Encountering a New Culture in Chaplaincy / My experience considering chaplaincy for the sheriff’s office.Realizing that every workplace has its own culture, language, and worldview.
3. Work can be corrupted by pride and greed.
3. Work can be corrupted by pride and greed.
James 3:16 “16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.”
Work, when driven by selfish ambition, leads to exploitation and competition.
Work becomes a monster to avoid or an idol to worship - it should be seen as a means to worship our God.
C. The Good News and the Response
C. The Good News and the Response
God’s “good news” response Genesis 3:15 “15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
Adam’s Response: An “Amen” to the Gospel Genesis 3:15 by naming his wife Eve (Genesis 3:20 “20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.”
Ongoing decision we now make to see the truth of the Gospel applied to our lives and work.
Work is both a gift and a struggle, but it is being redeemed through Christ. Colossians 3:23 “23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
III. Work in the New Heaven and New Earth
III. Work in the New Heaven and New Earth
Revelation 22:3 “3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:”
A. Quick review of how and when we end up in the New earth
A. Quick review of how and when we end up in the New earth
Church Age (Present time)
The Rapture – Believers taken to heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:17“17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
The Tribulation (7 years) – Judgment on the world. Matthew 24:21 “21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
The Second Coming of Christ – Christ returns to establish His kingdom.
The Millennial Kingdom (1,000 years) – Christ rules on earth. Revelation 20:4 “4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
There are passages for this time we could falsely apply to Heaven.
There is also things we can learn from this time that we can safely assume inform our understanding of heaven.
The Great White Throne Judgment – Final judgment of unbelievers.
The New Heaven and New Earth – Eternal state of joy with God. Revelation 21:1“1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”
B. What Does “New Earth” Mean?
B. What Does “New Earth” Mean?
Many assume the new earth will be something completely different, but Scripture teaches continuity with renewal.
Example: A “new car” is still a car—so a new earth is still an earth.
Christ’s resurrection body serves as a model: recognizable, tangible, yet glorified.
The old earth will be destroyed and renewed 2 Peter 3:10 “10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The eternal home of the redeemed
Resurrected believers will live on the new earth.
No more suffering, pain, or death Revelation 21:4 “4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
The curse of sin is lifted (Revelation 22:3).
Heaven on Earth:
God’s throne will be on earth (Revelation 22:1-3).
The New Jerusalem will descend to earth. Revelation 21:2 “2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”
Heaven is not us going up to live with God—it’s God coming down to live with us.
Creation will be liberated. Romans 8:21 “21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”
We will not follow earths lead but creation will follow our lead. Romans 8:23 “23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
Therefore, you say to the parents of the disabled child: “Your child will not be changed to fit the new glorified universe; the new universe will be changed to fit the glory of your child.”
C. Our role on the new earth and new heaven
C. Our role on the new earth and new heaven
We should already have a patriotic pride for that place. Philippians 3:20 “20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”
What will we do.
We will serve and worship God. Revelation 22:3 “3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:”
Work itself will be so profoundly satisfying and sweet and enjoyable that nobody will say, ‘I need a weekend.’
Parables point toward responsibility in eternity. Luke 19:17 “17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.”
A reign that will involve us judging even the angels. 1 Corinthians 6:3 “3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?”
Quote:
"In Heaven, we'll find what we were truly made for: a place where work is always rewarding, joy is never overshadowed by pain, and service is the highest form of fulfillment." – Randy Alcorn
Quote:
"The idea that all we do is sit in heaven and do nothing is not biblical. We will have responsibility, and we will serve God actively. Heaven is not the absence of work—it is the restoration of work without the curse." – Randy Alcorn
We will use our gifts and talents for God’s glory. Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
God’s gifts and callings will find eternal purpose in the New Creation.
It is speculation, but it could be that the God given talents you use here will be used there.
We may pursue some of the same things we were doing, or dreamed of doing, before our deaths.
Of course, some people’s jobs won’t exist on the New Earth, among them dentists, police officers, funeral directors, and insurance salespeople.
What are now your interests or hobbies may become their main vocations.
Others might continue working as they do now, as gardeners, engineers, builders, artists, animal trainers, musicians, scientists, craftspeople, or hundreds of other vocations.
When I go to the grave I can say, as others have said, “My day’s work is done.” But I cannot say, “My life is done.” My work will recommence the next morning. The tomb is not a blind alley; it is a thoroughfare. It closes upon the twilight, but opens upon the dawn. - Victor Hugo
Could Cain and Abel been given responsibility with the fall?
Where sweat glands and adrenaline a result of the fall?
Is Heaven void of challenges and adventure?
We should do all that we can to make Heaven as real as possible to us.
We will serve the risen lamb.
The ultimate reason there is a new heaven and new earth is that the risen Christ will never lay down his human body, but keep it as an everlasting emblem of Calvary where the glory of God’s grace was displayed most fully.
We will never move past or become bored with this truth. Revelation 5:9 “9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
The cross will never cease to be the center of everything as the supreme revelation of the glory of the grace of God.
Jesus tells us, Heaven will be a place where God will compensate for our losses here, by giving us corresponding gains there. Luke 6:20–23 “20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”
Laugh, Eat, Leap, and Work are all things God made for us that have been distorted but in the new earth will be renewed.
"If we can’t imagine our work in Heaven, it’s because we’ve failed to understand work as God intended it." – John Piper
