2 Corinthians 5:1-5:10
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Ord Military Chapel
Seaside, CA
10 January 2008
Memorial Service for Joaquin “Kin” Santiago Quenga
BIG IDEA: When believers catch a glance of their Heavenly Homecoming Celebration, they can hardly wait to leave their Temporary Home to enter their Permanent Duty Station.
REFERENCES: I Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him; Romans 8:18 (KJV) I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us; 1 Corinthians. 15:52-54 (KJV); 2 Corinthians. 5:1-10 (MSG); John 11:25-26 KJV (I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live…).; Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 KJV (Everything has its time: To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven; A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted); Job 14:1 KJV (Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble); Job 2:9 (Mrs. Job’s dealing with the loss of 7 boys and 3 girls; and what looked like the imminent death HER HUSBAND – JOB); Luke 16:19-31 KJV (This parable of the Rich Man (Dives) and Lazarus (God helps) is not “theology” but it’s a clear story that gives us some insight into “life after death”). It tells us that our behaviors on earth are readdressed in heaven.
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 (MSG)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 MSG
III. READ THE TEXT: 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 MSG (For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven – God made, not handmade – and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move – and so we cry out in frustration).
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the bereaved family to affirm to others that because Joaquin had caught a glance of his Heavenly Homecoming Celebration, he could hardly wait to in-process Heaven.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “A Glance of Heaven”
INTRODUCTION: (LET US TALK ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH. Surely there is not a person here who has not at some time thought about what happens to him when he dies. You cannot live very long without at least having some thoughts and questions about it. WE CANNOT ESCAPE IT, FOR IT CONFRONTS US ON EVERY SIDE. It is imperative, therefore, to examine a subject like this from time to time; even though some folk try to ignore “all together” the whole subject of death.
(Parallel) Nearly two weeks ago, SPC Steve Brown and I, traveled to Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital to visit Kin. I had received an email from our commander - Colonel (Pamela) Martis - informing me of Kin sudden illness turn-around. Apparently, he had been ill, hospitalized, and then released to return home.
In fact, it’s my understanding that “Kin” had an awesome Christmas 2007 with his family. And when I say family,… I really mean family in the Biblical Sense – the entire household: children, grandchildren, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends.
After arriving at the hospital and being greeted and escorted by “Brenda” (Kin’s sister-in-law and Janet’s Sister) to Kin’s room, I too saw a glance of heaven in that hospital room. On one-side of the bed, I saw the oldest daughter sitting at the head of his bed, while the youngest daughter was sitting at the feet.
************TAKE 5 BEATS *************
MOVE 1: On the other side, I saw his loving and devoted wife Janet … and one of their sons stroking their father’s hair.
a. I saw all five children, one of Kin’s brothers and sister-in-law …
b. … all in the same room. I saw a glance of heaven.
c. Now, my brothers and sisters, … I might have been the only chaplain in the room; but, on that day,
d. …. at that moment … I wasn’t the ONLY … ONE that got … a glance of heaven.
***********TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: And … I’m not sure if the Quenga Family is aware of the gift that they have given to their… father prior to him PCSing from this life to the next.
a. In fact, I don’t think that there’s a father in this sanctuary that wouldn’t love to have a family do unto him as the Quenga’s has done unto Kin.
b. Can I get a witness? …
c. For don’t you remember, It was Saint Paul that said, in I Corinthians 2:9 (KJV), … and I quote …
d. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him;”
e. IN OUR TEXT TODAY, PAUL (with his many thorns in the flesh) IS EXPERIENCING AN EARTHLY BRUSH WITH DEATH ….
f. Something happened …. I’m not sure what happened … but whatever happened …
g. ... GOD ALLOWED Paul … TO TAKE A BREAK FROM DYING … TO … GET A GLANCE OF HEAVEN …
*********TAKE 5 BEATS *********
MOVE 3: Afterwards, St Paul PAINTS US … A BRIEF … WORD PICTURE … OF LIFE AFTER DEATH …
b. HE SAYS … AS BELIEVERS … WE KNOW THAT, IF OUR EARTHLY TENT IS DESTROYED (and our bodies die)… BEFORE THE LORD BREAK THROUGH THE CLOUDS …
c. WE HAVE A BUILDING (and another home) that is not made with hands.…
d. PAUL SAYS …. SOMETIMES … IN THIS EARTHLY TENT … THAT WE CALL A BODY … WE GROAN … WE Hurt … and WE Complain about situations and circumstances …
e. Am I right about it?
f. You know its true: THINGS JUST AREN’T THE WAY THEY USE TO BE …
************TAKE 5 BEATS *************
MOVE 4: I USE TO RUN UNTIL I GOT TIRED … NOW I GET TIRED, BEFORE I RUN . …
a. Paul says … as death gets closer …
b. … that he looks forward to the time … that he will put on his heavenly body … and … PCS … to be at home with THE LORD.
c. Now, BEFORE THIS PASSAGE, in 1 Corinthians 15:52-54 … PAUL SAID: …
d. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
e. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on
immortality.
f. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall
have put on immortality, …
g. …. then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up
in victory.
********TAKE 5 BEATS*********
CELEBRATION: … Now, my brothers and my
sisters, I am about to take my
seat … but before I do … I want you to know
that I sincerely believe … that
If God granted Kin … an opportunity to say 10
LAST WORDS …. To us today…
Although he loved DOIM …. And he looked forward
to work … I don’t believe …
Kin would have one word for DOIM …
Although Kin loved Golf … and everyone that
knew him … knew that he loved playing
Golf and watching Janet play Golf too
… yet … if he was given an
opportunity to say 10 Last Words … I don’t
believe Kin would utter one word
about Golf …
For, you see, I believe if Kin was granted an
opportunity to say 10 Last Words …
He would say: I Want My Family … To Get A
Glance of Heaven ….
