The Hope of Heaven

Training for Today: Run 5 miles

Devotion: The Hope of Heaven

OK, it’s time for a gut check. In this grieving process we’ve undertaken together, the ultimate goal is to gradually change the self-focus of the early grieving period into a God-focus that can go the distance. Has your gaze lifted from the ground? Has your downcast expression given way to a glimmer of hope in your eyes?


Embrace this transformation, my friends! Lift your eyes to the One who has given you the hope of heaven! To remind you of how certain that hope is, read the following description of the coming of the Lord from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17:

13 “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”

God has given us His word! Our hope is secure! And we will be with the Lord forever! Look heavenward and wait upon the Lord. In Him, we have been set free from our sins. In Him, we need not fear the grave. In Him, we have the hope of heaven.

Prayer
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand. Amen!