"The Best Is Yet To Come"

Ephesians 2:1-10

1. The best is yet to come Paul shares

• We were dead spiritually “we were dead in our transgressions and sins”, vs 1

• We were against God

• We were living the way the world lived “we followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air”vs 2

• We tried to please ourselves “3we gratified the cravings of our sinful natureA and followed its desires and thoughts.”

2. But because of Gods mercy

• Because of his mercy he loved us 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy”

• Because of his mercy he gave us a new life a life compelled by the spirit “5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.

• Because of his mercy we receive the greatest gift given “ 8For it is by grace you have been

saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God”--

• Because of his mercy we are new people “10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,”

3. We have been graced blessed with so much right now but the best is yet to come

• The great Apostle Paul writes “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.” (1 Cor 2:9)

• In other words, we can’t imagine how wonderful, exciting and beyond our wildest dreams it will be! It will be anything but boring.

• The revelator wrote told us the best is yet to come we will live in a mansion John 14:2-3: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.”

• The best is yet to come we will be like Jesus and we will see him1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear [Jesus], we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

• 1 Cor 15:42-44: “So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”

• 1 Cor 15:49: “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”

• The best is yet to come as Jesus told a thief on the cross you will be in a place “Today thou salt be with Me in paradise.

• The best is yet to come consider who will wipe our tears away he will dwell with us he will be our God Rev 21: 3-4: “He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be nor more pain, for the former things have passed away”

An anonymous Arthur wrote the following and I will close with this story.

Keep Your Fork... the Best is Yet to Come

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible.

Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. There's one more thing," she said excitedly. "What's that?" came the pastor's reply. "This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand." The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say.

"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor. The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?'. Then I want you to tell them: