16th May 2026

16th May 2026


Pray (ACts) 


Read (2 Corinthians 5v1-8) 


Message (Scott Woodburn)


It’s not a surprise for me to tell you that I love my home of East Belfast. I was born and reared down there, saved there, married there and a small part of me misses home everyday. I’ve always been like this and when I studied Computer Science at Jordanstown I had a little tradition of listening to Simon and Garfunkel’s song “Homeward Bound” as I waited for the train to take me East.


I don’t sing that song much anymore but by faith in Christ I have a hope that one day I get to go home. Paul was clear about our fragility describing our body as a tent (v1) but he knew that if the tent was to be destroyed then we have an everlasting and permanent dwelling in heaven (v1b).


Even so, for a little while we must dwell in this tent with groaning and burdens (v2&4). That is not to say we can be endlessly grumpy and always moaning. Our groaning is because we long to put on clothing of substance. Paul didn’t describe us as naked but he did say that our longing was to be further clothed (v4b) What did he mean? Simply that our mortal bodies would be exchanged for true life in our eternal home (v4b).


It was this that gave Paul good courage (v6) for he knew that as soon as we put off this earthy tent, we will be at home with the Lord which is better by far (v8). For many all of this seems to good to be true. We are convinced that life is all there is and we cannot imagine what the everlasting will be like and so we struggle to believe it. Furthermore, in this world all we know is trouble, futility and sin - is it really true that one day all of these things will be no more?


Brothers and sisters, I fully understand that heaven and the life to come can sometimes be extraordinary concepts that we struggle to believe but nevertheless I am certain that we will one day receive these blessings. How can I be sure? Because God has prepared us for glory and He has given us the Holy Spirit as our guarantee (v5). The promises of God are not pie-in-the-sky, He will really do what He has promised. So be of good courage my friends, we have trusted Christ and one day we will be absent from the body but at home with the Lord. We are homeward bound.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q69 What is forbidden in the sixth commandment? The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.