Hope. It is one of those words that has lost its meaning. True? Hope used to mean a strong or urgent anticipation of the future. For example “I hope Christ will come soon to really take me home”. However, through time words have either increased or decreased in meaning. Hope is one that has decreased. “Jimmy, do you think you’re going to heaven when you die?” And the answer, “I hopeso”. I hope so? More like I don’t know-so or I don’t care-so. I mean, who cares about Heaven…I am concerned about the NOW, today. And do I really know if I am going to heaven? Who knows? Yikes, do you realize what I just said? Your definition of ‘hope’ is seen in and through your life. Hope. Believes the best is yet to come. It is confident in the reality of the future. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” C.S. Lewis said, “the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.” (Mere Christianity, 134) Sure we have heard it said that someone could be too Heavenly minded to be any earthly good. Is this really true? I beg you to think not. We cannot hope enough for the afterworld because it will affect how we live in this world. “Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.” We have been trained to think in this world. Heaven is one of those places that doesn’t seem appealing. I desire to marry, have a family to raise, career to boost, vacation to take…there is no time or thought of Heaven yet. Sure I will be reunited with friends and family, but who wants to strum a harp and sit on clouds all day. Sounds silly, eh? That really isn’t what Heaven is about. Is it? Answer these questions and Heaven becomes more appealing. Do I deserve to go there? (Rom.5:2; 2 Cor.1:10) How do I get there? Do I get to take anything with me? (Eph.1:18; Lam.3:1-19) Will He be there? Will I see Him? (Titus 2:13) Will I ever get off of my face worshipping Him? (Rev.19:1-10) This world is not my home; I’m just passing through. Father, give me a taste of what is to come, so that I might crave it more. Heaven. Hope. I HOPE so.
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