The Thrill of Hope

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: “The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. 

I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.” Revelation 3:1-2

Just as Sardis was on the pathway of being a questionable church, so are many people in the same situation today. Despite this, through Jesus there is still a chance to change your life. As the song “O Holy Night” says, there is a thrill of hope in the world because we have hope in Jesus. Through His virgin birth He came and died and rose again. He died so we can have life. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘til He appears and the soul felt its worth. 

Turn back from sin, live for Christ. The stars are brightly shining, when Christ is in your life it is full of light, it is no longer based on sin alone but now replaced with living for Christ. Fall on your knees; oh hear the Angel voices. Hear the good news and repent. 

We all have a good reason to fall on our knees, for Jesus is our Savior, His name we forever praise.

O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Creating Goals for a Heavenly Status

 

Achieving perfection on earth is impossible to be done unless you’re Jesus, yet as believers in Christ we always have this goal of complete heavenly status also known as perfection. This leads to continually pressing on with eyes on the prize as it says in Philippians 3:12 “ Not that I have already obtained this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Despite life being so jarring, we can have the goal of heaven. With this excitement we don’t need to be dreary yet live a life conscious of what the future holds as it says in 2 Timothy 4:6 “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.” Living with a goal of heaven cheers us on for we have the knowledge of eternity with Jesus.

Exhilarating Motivation

Be motivated and moved to live joyfully on this earth despite all its problems. Turn the ugly to pretty by transforming your life from thinking of earthly things to heavenly. As believers of Christ we know He has given us access to something amazing- a peace that can only be found with Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 says, “be on your guard, not asleep like the others, Stay alert and be clearheaded.” Having this good news of Jesus and heaven, we aren’t called to be silent or only think of ourselves, but focus on spreading the good news of Christ, which should be the goal for every Christian. The best unbelievers get is this world, they have nothing to look forward to. 

Along with that we need to be loving Him right here and now in this world with an in-dwelt motivation for the next life. We are encouraged to share our excitement in Christ, and to keep living our life joyfully until we reach heaven. As it says in Philippians 1:21 “for to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.” We are also encouraged to keep focus in 1 Timothy 6:11-12 “But you, Timothy a rare a man of God; so, run from dark things. Pursue righteousness, a Godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.” 

There’s a difference between just living and using your time wisely. Spread the exhilarating news given by Christ! Be an eager beaver and share about His gift of eternal life. No need to be unhappy for not being in heaven yet, but how about spending your time helping others?

Seek, and You Will Find

The world’s advice isn’t an unchanging powerful mechanism for a may-hem free life. Sure it’s great for a brief while, but it’s not very strong. Just one thing falls then everything shatters like a glass cup. If it chips a touch the whole glass is unusable, even if it’s just a little broken, it’s of no use. 

A human’s life is unlike this. If we mess up we don’t completely crumble. We are fixable. But how can we be fixed?  With the assistance from our Father in Heaven, who redeems us. How do we get help from God? As it encourages us from James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” If we realize we need help, ask and God is there to save us. The Lord is sufficient to satisfy all our needs.

1 John 2:15 says, “Do not love the world or things of the world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him.” The world is chipped as the glass cup, but the Lord isn’t lacking anything but is complete, giving each of us His heavenly wisdom. If we seek we will find as it says from Matthew 7: 7-8, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you; For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

 

Put Down the Compact Mirror

 All of us need to calm down and learn to look to God in all choices. Replacing your own wants and wishes with remembering how God is working out all things in your life. As it says in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God to those who are called according to His purpose." We need to be enthralled with God's plan, not in our own self. Don't just check your compact mirror to see if something is in your teeth and then stare at yourself because you don't want to forget how good looking you are. By becoming too self-involved you could walk into something or right into trouble.

A better option would be to continuously meditate on God's plan for each of us. By staring at your reflection you develop a second problem, you begin to notice your imperfections like, I never realized my nose was that big, or I hope no one sees that wrinkle.

By focusing on Christ instead of yourself problems seem less problematic. He is aware of your thoughts, and He cares about you. He reverses negative type thoughts into positive. This transformation occurs in all Christians.

The Lord gives us instructions to stay away from negative thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:3 says, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh." Don't let carnal pity party rages take hold of your life, for we have something which overpowers these chunky monkey thoughts which leads to creating those bad pity parties, the Lord!

Remember each of us have access to our magnificent Savior to lean on, who wants us to have a relationship and prayer life with Him. As it says in Philippians 4:6-9, "Fret not about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will keep your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus."

The only thing eternal does not come from the reflection of the mirror, but from the One who gave us life. There is a season, and a reason, and God brings it all together. 

When Dehydrated

Becoming dehydrated is unavoidable if you choose to not drink water. Observe plants, being similar to humans in this way, if they don’t have water they stop growing wilt and die. We need a source of water, a spiritual beverage, that is equally important as the drink that relieves your thirst. This spiritual drink is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:13 which says, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

The Greek word that correlates with this verse is potizo, which is defined as made to drink. We share in the power of Christ, having His Spirit in our hearts, because we have been made to drink the living water. This spiritual water is beneficial in this crazy world for it is the only route to be in a unified body of Christ. Being refreshed with it, delivered through Jesus, you will find peace. As it tells us in John 4:10, “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘if you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 

The reason we all need the relief is because it’s the only option for reaching eternal life. To attain this refreshing beverage, ask God and you will receive.