My sister-in-law, Kathy, passed away April 27 after nine grueling months of chemo, emergency hospital stays, hope for recovery, and finally the news that her body was giving out. It was heartbreaking to see her suffer. She wanted to live with her husband into old age, to see her daughter get married, love on her grandchildren, and meet her son’s new baby in June. We prayed for healing, but it was not to be. And yet I have the hope of seeing her again in heaven when I die.
I have this hope because I believe that what Jesus said is true. All who ask Him to forgive their sins and want to live in relationship with Him here, will one day live forever with Him in heaven. And in heaven there is no more sorrow, sickness, or pain.
Webster’s definition for hope is: “a desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment. Someone or something on which hopes are centered. Trust, reliance.”
Eternal life is not just wishful thinking, but a confident expectation that God will fulfill what He promised to His children. God’s faithfulness is the reason for my hope. Believing in heaven is not the same as wishing for a pet unicorn or to find a magic lamp with a Genie in it. My hope is based on facts.
While we cannot see God now, we can believe in the observable, verifiable facts about Him we know to be true:
- Jesus was an historical figure.
- Jesus fulfilled over 300 Old Testament prophesies, written hundreds of years before He was born—through His birth, ministry, death, and resurrection.
- All His disciples continued to tell the world Jesus rose from the dead, even when it brought them persecution and death.
- Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after His resurrection over a 40-day period.
- God has performed verifiable miracles throughout history that continue today.
- You can’t deny the radical changes in people who have become Christians, and their personal testimonies.
The word “hope” is used 5 times in Rom. 8:24-25:
24 For in this hope we were saved.
But hope that is seen is no hope at all.
Who hopes for what they already have?
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
That’s the hard part—to wait for it patiently. Personally, I’d like to see all my hopes materialize with a clap, like the lights on TV. But God has His reasons for delaying:
- To grow our faith
- So, we’ll lean into a relationship with Him, instead of skipping off to do our own thing after we get what we want.
- He waits for the right time, the perfect time—when all the people involved are in place to do their part in His plan.
- God waits so He can give us not just what we want, but what is best.
Another great verse about hope says:
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Heb. 11:1
I am confident that God will continue to get me through the difficulties of life. I believe He will continue to bring meaning and purpose to each new day. I expectantly hope He will return for those who love Him and take us to heaven to live with Him forever. And then, I look forward to looking into His face, seeing all my loved ones who’ve gone ahead, and meeting new friends from all nations throughout history. What a party that will be! I will see you again Kathy.
Take heart, we serve a “God Who Listens” by Chris Tomlin