Hope. It’s what we all want and need in life. When we face challenges in this life we want to have the comfort and joy that comes from knowing that there will be better days ahead. We all have hope that our lives will continue to improve. We look forward to the good things that will come to us as we do our best to live a productive life. It is hope that drives us to live a certain way that will make that hope a reality. But if we do not do the things that lead us to obtain what is hoped for then that hope will fall flat.
Spiritually speaking, the grace of God has brought us the forgiveness of sins and with it the hope of eternal life. God’s love is amazing and the hope He has given us is awesome. Christians are children of God. And as such we have been given the hope that we will see God face to face and be with Him forever in Heaven. Look at what John said about it in 1 John 3:1-2, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are…..Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is.” What amazing love that we could be called the children of God! We don’t deserve it. But He’s adopted us. We belong to Him. That brings with it the hope of God’s children. The assurance that we will be with God in Heaven. We will be made like Jesus in a resurrected body. It is the hope of life and joy everlasting.
But there’s one thing we have to remember about this hope. It comes with a condition attached to it. God tells us that if we want that hope, then we have to live a pure life. We are to be holy as He is holy. Holy and pure in all our conduct. Right after 1 John 3:1-2 comes 3:3 which reads, “And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure.” God has brought hope. He offers it to us. But in order to have the hope of eternal life in Heaven we have to live a pure life here on Earth. If we want this hope then we will obey God’s commandments. Live life His way. We will give up sin and the things of the world. We will change the way we talk, the way we think, and the way we act. We will be holy children of God. Created in His image through Jesus Christ. We will purify ourselves. Our hearts and our minds.
Do you want to go to Heaven to see God and be with Him for eternity? To see our Heavenly Father and Jesus our brother? I know I do. If that’s what we want then we have to be holy in all our conduct. We have to purify ourselves as He is pure. Let’s live in hope. Let’s live in purity.
A Cord of Blue 