Our Hope
1 Corinthians 15:50-54
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
This is our daily hope, the Return of Christ!
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The evil doctrine concerning hell gives people stress, worry, and fear. When they should be focused on, “Today, could be the day Christ returns.” Instead of looking for the return of Christ to take the Body of Christ to their home at the Lord’s side, those who believed are worried about centuries in Purgatory or even eternity in hell.
The Greek word translated “hope” is elpis. Elpis means an expectation, a confident expectation. But it is more than that, it is an excited anticipation of the blessings. When you begin your day, you are excited, today could be the day, I could be in the presence of God, and Jesus Christ, and the entire Body of Christ. Today you could be rewarded for everything you did in believing God’s Word. It is like you are standing strong and leaning forward, into the howling winds of the world’s unbelief.
2 Peter2:7-8
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
Living in an ungodly world wears on the child of God. But your head is looking forward, mindful of the God in Christ in you, while an ear is listening for the trumpet and the voice of an archangel. You are excited to go home.
It is our hope, it is God’s promise.