A New Hope

The Bible begins in a garden and ends in a city, the city of God. And with that ending comes an altar call for the spiritually thirsty, for all who would believe in Jesus for salvation. Until he comes again, that invitation is still open!

Streets of gold; endless light; healing life; the presence of God -- those pictures of heaven speak of great hope ahead for those who know Christ. Jesus will come again, but the story is only beginning for those who serve him!

Genesis 1 will be revisited. The God who makes all things new will not only evict evil’s presence but recreate what was the domain of evil’s activity. The new heavens and earth will be the culmination of what our transformation in Christ is beginning now.

Before the new can come, the old must be put away. One day evil will be dealt with, justice will prevail, and Satan himself will be thrown into hell. Be sure you don’t end up on the wrong side and go with him!

We could use a HALLELUJAH! That word is used four times in the Bible, all of them during Heaven’s celebration over Jesus’ triumphant second coming. In the midst of trouble, hurt, and confusion until then, let’s lift a HALLELUJAH even now!

There is no future event that is more important to a Christian than the second coming of Christ. He will bring justice, victory, and the kind of peace that the world has strived for but has been unable to achieve. Even so, come Lord Jesus!

The second coming of Jesus to the earth is known as the “blessed hope.” It is “blessed” because it will be the final triumph of Jesus’ saving grace in the world. And it is “hope” because that future event strengthens our perseverance today with an anticipation of a better day tomorrow.

Things in this world will get worse before they get better. Satan will wield his power through the world-wide domination of the AntiChrist. But the true Christ who came once to save us is coming again to finish up what he started!

Some of us have been going to too many funerals. The pandemic has been taking an unprecedented toll on human life, not to mention accidents, violence, and sickness in general. Where do we look? Can anything help us to grieve and find hope?

Jesus is coming back, but he hasn’t told us when. So how do we live until then? Alertness, watchfulness, and faithfulness to what the Lord has called us to do are the keys that Jesus gave.