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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
“For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” (Romans 8.22-25).
The hope of the redeemed is the adoption! Certainly our hope is not in this world. Paul put it succinctly when he said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1 Corinthians 15.19). Opponents of the true Christ call what Paul hoped for “pie in the sky, by and by.” They seem to disagree with Paul about the value of a mundane-based hope known by many; that kind of hope can be had almost anywhere and for a very, very cheap price. The hope which Paul knew was one of a kind and extremely costly. Not that the brunt of the cost was borne by Paul; rather, the price of Paul’s hope was the death of the sinless Son of God!
Note that the hope which Paul knew was not a realized hope. He explained it this way, “…we hope for what we do not see” because, as he explained, “…hope that is seen is not hope.” How very often we miss the point of hope as well as its value. I am not certain, but it seems to me that hope is an earthly phenomenon and that it will not be existent in heaved or hell. Once the doors of eternity have swung wide and the fate of humanity has been declared, there will be no change of destiny; nor will there be any appreciable change in circumstances of our existence. So there may be an existence where hope as we know it does not exist, but what a painful earthly existence it would be to live without hope. In fact, someone has observed that when we lose hope, we die! Hope exists in our dimension of time and it makes that dimension bearable!
As a final note about the adoption of the body and the hope connected with it, Paul said, “we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” As a bona fide member of the human race, Paul indicated that it was something for which he eagerly awaited. Like the words of a contemporary song state, Paul was “homesick for a country to which he had never been.” Such is the plight of those who pass their time here with honesty and integrity of heart that it takes to withstand the onslaughts cast against us. Heaven will surely be worth it all; heaven is the place to which Jesus ascended and there awaits the time of His return. Upon that blessed day, the day in which our vile bodies will be changed, the realization of millions will be realized. This august crowd will have been seen the worst of times, and the redeemed will have begun to experience the best of times. Many will rejoice to see His Day and they will never, ever have a need or desire to stop rejoicing! That is the power of faith buoyed by hope, and realized in grateful adoration!
Given the magnificence of the time yet to come, is it any wonder that some seem to be perfectly content to be here while they yearn for an entirely different existence? We have a hope that refuses to be denied and which attends our every step! Toil and sorrow will end and voices will blend, never to be separated from the Captain of their salvation! The adoption will be complete!
Questions:
1. Why was it said in today’s article that hope is an earthly phenomenon?
2. What happens when hope dies? What keeps hope alive?
3. What was the price of our hope?
4. What can we do to raise the hopes of many who are struggling with their doubts? How can we keep such matters from consuming us during our walk here?
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