BIBLE PASSAGE:
Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed,
we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven,
not built by human hands.
(1 Corinthians 5:1)
MEDITATION:
We live in a world where nothing lasts forever. Time can cause
even the finest and most expensive things to deteriorate. It is
hard to imagine a world where things maintain their original
state of being. But that is what has been promised to those
who believe in, and surrender their lives to the Lord.
‘Hope’ is described as,
‘a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen’.
Without a glimmer of hope in our lives, we can develop a fairly
gloomy outlook of the future.
Without hope, we can assess where we have been, where we are now,
and where we are headed, and arrive at the conclusion that we are
basically in a rut. Someone described a ‘rut’ as
‘a grave with both ends kicked out’.
It can create an attitude of ‘just existing’ instead of ‘enjoying life’.
That is not what the Lord wants for His people. His desire is for us
to have a vibrant and exciting life of righteousness and goodness.
We cannot expect this kind of life by assuming that we can believe
in the Lord and still continue living our life as we have been living it.
Confession of our sins, belief in God’s Son, and surrender of
our will for His will, means dramatic changes will happen to
our thoughts, attitudes, actions, and outlook for the future.
For those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior, the
future looks brighter because there is an expectant hope.
ACTION:
Have you ever thought about your time on earth as a
‘training ground’ for heaven? The Bible says we are
strangers in a foreign land. This world is not our home.
Why? Because our citizenship is in heaven. This is the
foundation of the hope of Christians.
When a Christian dies, he or she goes into the presence
of Christ, he or she goes to heaven to spend eternity with
God, and he or she will go to face a judgment for believers.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is
due us for the things done while in the body,
whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
Paul told the believers in Corinth (and us)
to live our lives on earth in anticipation of our future home.
Therefore we are always confident and know that
as long as we are at home in the body we are away
from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.
We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be
away from the body and at home with the Lord.
So we make it our goal to please him, whether
we are at home in the body or away from it.
(2 Corinthians 5:6-9)
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promises to
those who belong to Your family. When things of this
earth tend to disappoint and discourage me, remind
me of the hope I have in You. Stir my thoughts so that
rather than sinking into a state of hopelessness, I will
be encouraged as I think about the home You have
prepared for me. Help me to live a life more pleasing
to You.”
BLOG: utvolwoody.wordpress.com
BREAD FOR BELIEVERS 
Without hope, we can assess where we have been, where we are now, and
where we are headed and arrive at the conclusion that we are basically in a rut.
Someone described a ‘rut’ as ‘a grave with both ends kicked out’.
It can create an attitude of ‘just existing’ instead of ‘enjoying life’.
This is where I was for the 14 years I spent away from the church and doubted Jesus Christ after Seminary. But since I have come back I am realizing just how wonderful a life God wants us to have “that (y)our joy may be complete”. We are called to hope in all things and situations. Hope extends life and the quality of life.
Wonderful post
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Posted by Kate Hufstetler | February 14, 2019, 9:59 pmThank you Kate! I would love to take credit for my posts, but I truly believe the content is from the Lord. So glad you are not where you were. Thanks again for your encouragement!
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Posted by Don Woodruff | February 14, 2019, 10:12 pm