ALL IN – A FUTURE HOPE
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am."
John 14:1-3 (NIV)
One of the big things that our culture emphasizes now is secularism—the idea that you can find any meaning in life outside of God. The problem with this is that God changes the whole outcome of how we live. Paul himself said, if we don't have a future, if there is no heaven then do whatever you want. Think about it—Jesus shows up to His troubled disciples, and what does He give them? A hope that is built on two things:
Who they know: The reason they can have a future hope, the reason their hearts don't have to be troubled is because of who they know. Think about it: Thomas was one of the disciples who doubted. The truth is we remember him from his doubts, but he became a force for the Kingdom and would later leave those doubts behind. What was the antidote? John 14, that he knows the God of the universe. It's almost like Thomas and the disciples are saying, we don't know the way to go, and Jesus is saying back to them, I am the way. Just stick close to Me, and it will all work out.
Where they will go: The second reason we can have a hope is because we know where we will go. Think of what all God has created in this world. Think of the mountains, the oceans, the sunsets, the animals and all the places that amaze us. The God of the universe has put some of His best efforts into our future home, heaven. This is an astonishing thought; no mind can imagine what God has prepared for us. How can you say no to the glories of this world when they seem so appealing to us right now? Because the best of the world will be mere appetizers to what God has in store for us. Jesus reminds us of our future hope.
Secularism will get you to take those things out of it. Secularism will try to get you to find meaning outside of God, but it doesn't work. God is our primary meaning and the reason we order our days the way we do. Live in the present, but also remember what awaits you to have strength in the current moments of doubt, temptation or weakness. He is worth it!
APPLICATION: Live with a deep understanding of what awaits you.
PRAYER: Ask God to help you remember that He is with you. Do you sense that in what you are carrying? Sit and think about the future hope of heaven and ask God to stir your spirit to what awaits.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?