Our Future Hope


Living on this earth for the Lord is the most exciting and rewarding life there is, but it's not easy. It's a fight against the flesh. It's living in a wicked world. It's a spiritual battle. But God gives us hope, and it is hope that enables us to keep going strong for the Lord. Hope is knowing that someday soon we will be with the Lord. It is a vision of a bright future in heaven, a promise of a new world to come, a confidence that we will be eternally blessed and rewarded in heaven.

As Christians we are not like unbelievers in the world who have no hope, like the rich man in Luke 12 who said to himself, "take it easy, eat, drink, and be merry." We have a reason for living; we can look forward to a wonderful future. And this hope, this future in heaven motivates us to live for our Lord during our short stay on earth.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58

The primary aspect of our hope is that we will be with Jesus Christ. Jesus is our lover, our Lord, our true friend, our Savior. He is the One who loves us with all His heart, and cares for us more than anyone else in the world. He's always thinking about us, praying for us, defending us and protecting us. He can't wait to be with us in heaven. And we should be looking forward to being with Him.

...Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27.

What else is this hope? What else does God have in store for us?
- Hope means that we will be in heaven, and have a heavenly home. John 14:1-3
- Hope means that we will be with all believers from all time, with Abraham, Moses, David, Mary, Paul,
and with Christian friends and family members who we knew on earth. 1 Thess. 2:19-20, 4:13-14
- Hope means that we will gain an eternal inheritance, and be given eternal rewards. 1 Peter 1:3-4
- Hope means that we will be given a brand new, glorified, immortal, powerful and spiritual body.
As Christians we have a lot to look forward to.  

So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body;
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.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44

But what are some of the present results and benefits of possessing this heavenly hope?
- Faith and love spring forth from this hope. Colossians 1:5
- Hope helps us to persevere for the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 1:3
- Hope helps us to grow in purity. 1 John 3:2-3
- Hope is an anchor for the soul, helping us get through the tough times of life. Hebrews 6:18-19
- Hope helps us to not grieve when our loved ones die, for we know that we will see them again, and be with them forever in heaven.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep,
that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope
.
1 Thessalonians 4:13

Living as a Christian in a sin prone body is difficult. Living as a Christian in this world and in this country is also difficult. We can easily put our hopes in the things of this world; we get discouraged and spiritually tired; we want to give up. Only by God's grace, and only as we have hope can we live wholeheartedly and victoriously for God. And so God gives us hope, a guarantee of a great future, a promise that we will be with the Lord, an assurance that we will be blessed in heaven.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires
and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus...

Titus 2:11-13

We are eternal people living in a temporary world, and we need hope. We need to be looking forward to what awaits us in heaven. I encourage you to pray that God opens your heart to know this hope, and to be hoping for what God has in store for us. Be heavenly minded as you work for the Lord on this earth. Look forward to going home, to being with the Lord, to being with your friends, and to getting a brand new body.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,
so that you may know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints...

Ephesians 1:18


Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

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