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4/14/13

“The Shadow of Things To Come”

Scripture Reading:
I Corinthians 13:1-10
  How needy would you say you are? Did you know that God created us with needs? So, human being is born helpless and needy. Needs are things we simply can’t get along without. Sometimes they are referred to as “the necessities of life;” food, water, safety; the things of the physical realm.

  But we also have needs beyond the basics. There’s also a level of emotional, spiritual, mental, even financial needs. Do you remember the Hierarch of Needs? Seventy years ago, all the way back in 1943 an American Psychologist by the name of Abraham Maslow designed what he called “The Hierarchy of Needs.” He used it to describe his understanding of human beings.

  Here’s the chart he devised. As you can see, it begins with our basic and our largest needs being things like food and water and shelter. It then moves on up to a sense of belonging and then self-actualization and morality and creativity at the top.

  I want to say something today about needs, which, by the way, will always exist. Now there’s something missing in Maslow’s chart, which is probably not immediately apparent.

  And, as you know, the Bible is our Light. And the Bible does address the matter of our needs. But it does so from God’s viewpoint rather than a man-centered picture.

  I’ve given today’s sermon what you might think of as a bit of an odd title. I’ve titled it: 
    “The Shadow of Things To Come.” 
Shall we pray?

  Please open your Bible with me to the Book of Colossians chapter two.

  Whenever you read Colossians, you should remind yourself that the writer was the Apostle Paul. And Paul was in the Mamertine Prison in Rome when he wrote the letter. 
  And, do you think that Paul, prisoner Paul, was a man who had some significant needs in that prison? Of course he did. And yet, Paul’s primary concern appears to be the lives of the Christians in a entirely different part of the world. He knew about the Colossians. He’d heard that many had come to Christ. So, he writes this epistle.

  And look with me at what he writes; Colossians 2:16.
Colossians 2:16 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: (17) Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
(18) Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, (19) And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.”

Here’s what is on my heart today.

  1. God’s Kingdom has a sufficient supply to take care of all your needs.
  2. Don’t let anyone judge you by their “spiritual” standards.
  3. The Head of your life is Jesus Christ.

  First, then, there’s a wonderful kingdom we know as “The Kingdom of God.” And here’s what it is. God’s Kingdom is the realm where God reigns. It is made up of God’s people and God’s rule.

  Now, of course, we know and believe that God is sovereign. He’s over all. He’s LORD of the entire universe. So, the universe belongs to God. But we all live in two worlds; one visible and one invisible.

  And one of these two realms is far more sufficient for you than the other. Folks, the kingdom of God has in it all you will ever need. You see, this visible world is an extension of the invisible.