“Farther Along”

1. Read: 1 John 3:1-3

2. About the Text:

1) The faithful Christian wants to know about heaven and what it will be like.

2) There are many questions that he has.

a. What will it be like?

b. Where will we go?

c. What will we do?

d. How will we exist?

3) In the passage just read, John frankly admits that he doesn’t know what we will be like.

4) He does say, however, that we will be like Him.

5) For John this is enough.

6) He’s satisfied to have these questions answered “Farther Along.”

3. “Farther Along” is an old familiar favorite.

1) It is song #753 in our book.

2) It was written in 1911 and attributed to W. B. Stevens.

3) The words of this song are comforting and help us to go through difficult times in life.

4) Let us consider some thoughts based upon this familiar hymn.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. There are some things in life that are a mystery.

2. Consider Moses statement in Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

3. Job 26:14 “Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?”

4. We can ask more questions that we will ever have the answers to.

5. We do have the answers to all things that we NEED spiritually in this life.

1) 2 Peter 1:3 – life and godliness.

2) Titus 2:11-12 – grace of God teaches us.

3) 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – complete, thoroughly furnished.

6. The other questions we ask we must rely on our faith to answer.

1) Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

2) We must trust that God knows the answers. Ephesians 3:20-21 states “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

7. Farther along all of the mysteries in life will be revealed.

1. There are times when life is uncertain.

1) We sometimes feel like we don’t know to whom to turn or where to go.

2) I felt like this one time stranded on the border between Costa Rica and Panama.

3) Part of my uncertainty was that I had not had such an experience before.

4) Sometimes uncertainty can only be alleviated by going through the experience.

5) When I place my faith in God at such times, He will help me get through.

2. Consider the example of Abraham.

1) God said that Abraham would have a son by Sarah.

2) This was beyond Abraham’s experience.

3) He had never heard of someone Sarah’s age having a child.

4) Romans 4:19-21 “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

3. God assures us that when we are uncertain about life, He is there.

1) Uncertainty of necessities – Matthew 6:30 “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”

2) Uncertainty of “uncontrollable” – Matthew 8:26 “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.”

3) Uncertainty of Self – Matthew 14:31 “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

4. Farther along we’ll be better prepared and able to endure life’s uncertainties.

1. Life also has a certain amount of inequity.

1) There is no guarantee for justice in this life.

2) Criminals receive little or no punishment whether it be rape, child abuse, murder, etc.

3) Large companies can cheat and steal from their employees without consequences.

4) Children are orphaned by selfish parents.

5) It seems as if there is no justice.

6) But not all wrongs are righted in this life.

7) Some wrongs are only righted after death.

8) When we are wronged, we must place our trust in God knowing that justice will be served.

9) Ecclesiastes 5:8 “If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.”

2. Justice is served through the Cross.

1) Jesus death on the cross was for the sins of mankind.

2) There is God’s merciful way to bring justice.

3) If sinners will call upon the Lord in faith and obedience, God will accept the blood of Christ as the price for their sins.

4) Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

5) 1 Timothy 2:5-6 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”

6) 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

7) Romans 3:25-26 “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”

3. If one does not accept God’s justice through the cross, then one must accept God’s justice for eternity.

1) Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

2) Hebrews 10:30 “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.”

3) Jude 1:7 “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”

4. Farther along God will make all wrongs right some day.

1. Farther along we’ll be able to understand more about the …

1) Mysteries of Life

2) Uncertainties of Life

3) Injustices of Life

2. Invitation