2008-11-05 - Eternal Hope

Colossians 1:5, “Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the Gospel.”

Paul is still in introduction mode in this verse of his letter to the church at Colossae. He talks of their faith and love in the 4th verse, and then proceeds to speak of the Heavenly hope they have found in the Gospel of salvation throughChrist. This hope is a marvelous thing, and those who have it wouldn't trade it for 10,000 worlds. It is an eternal hope. It is based in Heaven, and it is the Christian’s security from every danger. There will come a day when not only will we be freed from the evil that we know in ourselves, our sin, but also freed from the fear of every evil around us that might cause us alarm. The follower of Christ has a sacred hope, grounded in Christ and thus untouchable.

There will come a day when we will know no pain. Mourning, sorrow, sadness, bereavement, and grief will not even come anywhere near us. Can you picture such a day? It is not far away for those resting in Christ. The day comes soon, when all will be security, peace, rest, safety, and protection with God in Heaven. Here we labor, our work is toilsome, and we grow weary. In Heaven, we may labor, but any labor will be our joy. We will have a harp that no other hand has struck. We will have crown that no one has worn. No doubts, no confusion, no difficulties, fears, horrors, or struggles of any kind. Nothing good shall be absent, and everything evil will not be found. Is that it?

You know there is more, and I will give you just one thing more. There will be no sin. There will be no temptation to resist. Heaven is a place of peace. It is peace in perfect holiness. We can only speak of it in a cloudy way, because it is so much more than all this. Words fail, but reality will not disappoint. This is our hope. It is grounded in Christ, and it is found only in Him.

Heaven is a place of happiness. In our church, we have a Scripture memory program and one verse we recently memorized was 1 Corinthians 2:9, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.” So do you want “All that.” I know most young people want that, but here we have all that and more. Christ gives things that have never even entered into the imaginations of your heart -- more, greater, better, larger, and superior things than you have ever seen, heard or even thought about. All that - here we have the glass of wine, but there we own a 1000 vineyards. God's mercies are known today, but we don't know them at all, compared to how we will one day know them. Things that have never even entered into your heart are the very things the Lord has prepared for those that love Him. So go ahead; think of the greatest things you can. Let your imagination run wild at the blessing of God toward you in Heaven - and the reality is bigger, better, more than you can think in your wildest dreams. Paul speaks of the hope Christ gives His people at Colossae. It is a great hope indeed, and may this hope cheer our hearts, and set solidly our affections in the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

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