What we know or appreciate is based on our experience.We can have an understanding of an action or place without being present.I have never performed surgery, but I have an understanding of the process.I have never seen Paris, France, but I have seen pictures and know people that have been there.Man’s experience cannot tell him of the spiritual.Note Paul’s experience - II Corinthians 12:1-5v2,4 - He speaks of his location as: in the “third heaven”, “paradise” - Luke 23:43v4 - He heard “unspeakable” wordsHeaven is described to us based on human experience.Revelation 21:10-22We can have some appreciation.Hell is described to us based on human experience.Mark 9:44 - Worm dieth notMatthew 8:12 - Outer darkness, weeping and gnashing of teethRevelation 20:6 - Second deathRevelation 20:10 - Lake of fire and brimstone, tormented day and nightGod’s love is described to us based on human expressions.Ephesians 3:14-20v18 - The breadth, length, depth, and height (full measure of God’s love)v19 - The love that passeth knowledge (beyond man’s capabilities)v20 - “exceeding abundantly above” - Paul still could not fully express the ideaWe can have some appreciation.The glory of a relationship with God is described based on human experience.Colossians 1:12 - Partakers of the inheritanceColossians 1:21-23 - Holy, unblameable, unreproveableRomans 8:14-18 - Sons, children, heirs, joint-heirsRomans 8:29-30 - Called, justified, glorifiedEphesians 1:6 - Accepted in the bloodWe can have some appreciationWhere do we look for answers?Do we look to God or man for spiritual answers? (I Corinthians 2:12-16v12 - Man doesn’t know the spiritual.ConclusionFast: the love of God cannot be fully appreciated while in the flesh (John 3:16Fact: our relationship with God cannot be fully appreciated while in the flesh (Hebrews 12:6-11Fact: the glory of heaven cannot be fully appreciated while in the flesh (Matthew 25:34Fact: the damnation of hell cannot be fully appreciated while in the flesh (Luke 16:23-26The only way to have a full appreciation is to be there.Where will you be to fully know?
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