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Saints …
Biblical hope is perspective. The larger your perspective the more hope that you have.
Paul writes that hope does not disappoint and the author of Hebrews says that hope is an anchor for your emotions.
Often our perspective is attached to smaller things — routines, recreation, relationships, money — yes important, but we can lose them. Hope built on what can be shaken will be disappointed.
I heard it again yesterday, “When things get back to normal.” Another person added, “I hope things get back to normal quickly.” If hope is in ‘normal’ what happens with a new unexpected normal.
My father was a used car salesman. He would have a bad day and not sell a car. Sometimes he went a week without selling a car. He would say, “My hope isn’t in selling cars.”
My Dad had a bigger perspective.
Consider my dad’s life — if he had a bad day of sales, maybe he would have a good week; if he had a bad week, perhaps a good month; if a bad month, there is still the rest of the year. Get the idea — perspective!
With the ups and downs of selling cars for his life, a week before Dad passed to be with the Lord, he didn’t even mention selling cars — he talked of eternity and his love of family.
That’s a huge perspective.
Consider Jesus and eternal perspective. Thirty-three years of life, three years of ministry, three days from crucifixion to resurrection. Jesus’ time in the flesh had perspective. Because of three days in history, time was changed to eternity. Those who follow Jesus live forever.
The night before Jesus was crucified. He ate the last supper with his friends. His perspective is eternity with those who love Him.
That’s big hope.
Our perspective changes because of the resurrection. We are not confined to our sins and our past. We are forgiven. We have days numbered on earth but days without number with Jesus in heaven.
Hope will not disappoint.
Pray for God’s perspective to become your perspective. The virus has been front and center for about a month. This time next year, a month may not seem that big of a deal. Certainly 10 years from now a little less, 20 years even less, and a century — perhaps a very small footnote to history.
Because of death, burial, and resurrection, anything that happens to you or me — has a year, a decade, a century, and with eternity millions of years to add perspective. Our greatest trials are fulfilled in God’s sovereignty.
Our darkest moments will be understood in the light of His purposes.
The first item on God’s ‘to do’ list in heaven, will be wiping the tears from our eyes and providing a banquet for all of us — family and friends, past and present — to reveal His eternal perspective.
We will live in eternity and worship Him forever. This hope will not disappoint.
Paul writes in Romans 8 that, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
SM Lockridge preached 40 years ago …
It’s Friday
Hope is lost
Death has won
Sin has conquered
and Satan’s just a laughin’
It’s Friday
Jesus is buried
A soldier stands guard
And a rock is rolled into place
But it’s Friday
It is only Friday
Sunday is a comin’!