Peter once said that God has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). One of the things that God has granted us is hope. Without hope, people wander around with no real direction in their lives. Hope gives us purpose; something for which to strive, and that can help us endure the difficulties of life’s journey. As Christians, we have the greatest hope of all, and it serves as an anchor for our souls.
Hebrews 6:19 (ESV)
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
We hope to see Jesus appear in the clouds in the same way that He ascended back to heaven.
Titus 2:13 (KJV)
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
We hope to have an incorruptible body.
1 John 3:2-3 (ESV)
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
We hope to be in heaven with Jesus.
John 14:2-3 (ESV)
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
This is the hope that the Hebrews writer exhorts us to hold on to and keep before us. It is an anchor that will keep us from giving in to temptation and drifting off into a world of sin. This hope will motivate us to live pure lives as we await our Savior’s coming to take us home to be with God (1 Corinthians 15:24).
Can you see the importance of maintaining this hope? To keep it before us, we must be spiritually minded, focusing our hearts on things above, not on things of this earth.
Colossians 3:1-4 (ESV)
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Do you think enough about heaven? We should think about it every day. Let us never forget that this world is not our home; we are just pilgrims passing through to a better place. Tomorrow when you rise, do not forget to put on the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17).
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.