By Chalcedony Williams
He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
Titus 3:6-7 NLT
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
John 14:1-4 NLT
One of the biggest questions we humans ever ask is: “is there more to life than this?” I can imagine this question brings a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach – what if this life is all there is? That reality seems so final and makes death feel like an invisible hunter we are all just trying our best to outrun. It is no wonder that out of this worldview, we get phrases like “live your best life” and “you only live once”. Both seem to express more resignation than determination. Hope in this worldview, comes from living for as long as possible, avoiding all the worst things in life and attaining all the best things. This kind of hope depends on so many things we cannot control, no matter how hard we try. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” In other words, when our hopes fail to be fulfilled, it leaves us heartbroken and despair. But when our hopes and dreams are realised, they will sustain us and give us something by which we can go on living.
The Christian faith makes many claims. One of these claims is that there is hope and that there is certainty in this hope, even though we hope is in something that we cannot see and that has not yet come. As followers of Christ, we believe that we are currently living in an in-between state of the “now” and “not yet”. We live in the reality of things that are and are yet to be: a Kingdom that has come and is also coming; a conquered death, which will one day be destroyed completely; and we have been perfected in Christ but are being made perfect. As mind-boggling as this all might be, it all points to one, life-altering truth: something greater is coming!
In John 14, Jesus told His disciples that He would leave them, but they should not let their hearts be troubled. He promised that He was going away to prepare a place for them where they could be with Him forever. Like a groom, Jesus has made a promise to His bride, the church, and He has given an engagement ring. The Holy Spirit is our security, our assurance that He will fulfil His promise, return for us and bring us to the beautiful home He is currently preparing. Like Cinderella when she is found by the prince, it seems that this might be too good to be true. But it is true, and it is all because of God’s wonderous grace to us.
You see, grace is not for this life only. Grace is only grace because it gives us something so much more than hope in this life. In fact, the apostle Paul said that hope in this life is no hope at all. But we can be confident that grace will carry us through this life and into a glorious eternity, it is the gift that keeps on giving and never runs out. Today, you can be confident that the best is yet to come. Our bridegroom is coming, and eternity will be our happy ever after.
Ask: Why would hope in this life alone lead to despair?
Seek: What things are you currently hoping for/in? Are they temporary or eternal?
Knock: Read through John 14 and make a note of all the promises Jesus makes (usually when He says “I will”). Spend time praying about those promises that God will give you the grace to trust and live by Jesus’ promises.
(Upper Photo by Aditya Joshi on Unsplash)
(Inner Photo by Mike Enerio on Unsplash)
