1. A POETIC GEM by Amy Carmichael
1) Hast thou no scar? No hidden scar on foot or side or hand? I hear thee sung as mighty in the land; I hear them hail thy bright, ascendant star. Hast thou no scar? 2) Hast thou no wound? Yet I was wounded by the archers; spent, Leaned Me against a tree to die; and rent By ravening beasts that compassed Me, I swooned. Hast thou no wound? 3) No wound? No scar? Yet as the Master shall the servant be, And pierced are the feet that follow Me. But thine are whole; can he have followed far Who hast no wound or scar?

2. WE ALL HAVE WOUNDS & SCARS
Some are the result of our own stupidity
(2) Some are the result of living in a fallen world
(3) Some are the consequence of living a Christian life
(a) the gospel gives no promise of life of ease
(b) the NT pictures the Christian experience as one of effort &
fatigue, of danger & suffering
Like: (i) a race (ii) a battle (iii) a labour (iv) a cross

3. HOW DO PREACHERS HAVE THE NERVE TO INVITE OTHERS TO SUCH A CHOICE?
HOW DO PREACHERS HAVE THE NERVE TO PROCLAIM A GOD OF LOVE IN THE LIGHT OF THE SCARS OF A SUFFERING WORLD?

4. ANSWER- THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN THIS
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven--. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose--. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
2 Cor 4:18 to 5:9

5. 3 Simple ideas (1) GOD’S HAS A PURPOSE FOR US BEYOND THIS LIFE
(2) GOD’S HAS A COMFORT FOR US IN THIS LIFE
(3) GOD’S HAS A REQUIREMENT OF US IN THIS LIFE

6. GOD’S HAS A PURPOSE FOR US BEYOND THIS LIFE
(a) Does life make sense? Is there reason to it all?
(b) Paul’s answer
(i) there is a reason. There is life beyond this.
“Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose”
(ii) “made” carries the idea of completion
The real purpose has to do not only with the here & now but with something better, fuller and eternal

7. GOD’S HAS A COMFORT FOR US IN THIS LIFE
(a) Does Paul have a negative view of life? “Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling” (b) No! But he does say that there is something better. A series of comparisons (i) now a tent, then a building (ii) now unclothed, then invested with heavenly clothes (iii) now away from home, then at home (iv) now mortal subject to death, then life characterised by the eternal (c) And this is something about which he is confident- “we are always confident and know”

8. GOD’S HAS A REQUIREMENT OF US IN THIS LIFE
But how does Paul know? He knows because of faith
“We live by faith, not by sight.”
Simply trusting every day, Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small, Trusting Jesus, that is all
Trusting Him while life shall last. Trusting Him till earth be past. Till within the jasper wall, Trusting Jesus, that is all.