Heaven

Finding Hope

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Ephesians 1:18 KJV

My friend’s voice sounded somewhere between hopeless and amused as he told me about waking up on Mother’s day to find snow on deck. Maybe dragging into this 8th week of shutdown you are also running a bit low on hope. Today Paul reminds us that our greatest hope is in heaven because that is the place God has promised His people. Our great hope on earth begins where Jesus suffered on the cross for our free gift of salvation. But our great hope right here and right now is put to work when we love others in daily practical ways. Together we share a common hope and finding feet to wash may be the best medicine for hopelessness because it gives earthly reality to the heavenly hope we have in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Our Hope of Heaven

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

As we are ploughing through this sixth week of Corona related shutdown here in Florida I thought that today it might be a good idea to focus on joy. God has not called us to worry, to live in depression or in fear. He has given us instead a hope that is not only eternal but it is also filled with joy.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4 ESV

When I was doing my nursing home ministry up till this shutdown I found that some of the residents’ favorite songs were about heaven They often not only listened but the sang along, smiled and swayed back and forth in their wheel chairs in time to the music. Here are a few of those songs; including When the Roll is called up Yonder; When we All Get to Heaven and Mansion Over the Hilltop.  We know that if we follow Jesus He has promised to lead us home to His Father’s house in Heaven! Have a blessed day everyone!

 

Our Heavenly Country

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16 ESV

Two months ago few of us bothered to worry much about our seemingly invincible economy or give more than a second thought to  some medieval plague striking from out of the blue.  But since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic many of us have  been  rudely awakened to just how fragile our American dream really is. In my own personal experience I discovered that the house we had just put on the market, could not be shown to anyone. The visit to see our grandson’s graduation was cancelled and our 47th anniversary dinner (Tomorrow) is going to be take-out from Olive Garden.

 

But no matter our experience in this crisis, what the Apostle Paul tells us still holds true.

For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling. 2 Corinthians 5:2

I am not saying that the sufferings our friends, family and neighbors are passing through don’t matter. What I am discovering is that I have had my eyes focused on things of only temporary value while rarely remembering what matters most. But now that Heavenly country shines brighter than ever and it is not only for me but for anyone who will trust Jesus as Lord and Savior. On the cross Jesus has purchased for us a home with no taxes due, no repairs scheduled and which will never go up for sale. All He has asked us to do is to point others to a place that is better than our American dream. It is our heavenly country where what matters most will never pass away! Have a great week everyone. God bless and stay safe!