“We continually remember … your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3 )
When they think about life, lots of people say they love the journey but aren’t much interested in the destination. Anna Quindlen, in her book A Short Guide to a Happy Life, writes, “Life is good. I don’t mean in any cosmic way. I never think of my life, or my world, in any big cosmic way. I think of it in all its small component parts: the snowdrops, the daffodils, the feeling of one of my kids sitting close beside me on the couch … Life is made up of moments.” It’s good advice to enjoy the present. But this is only a half-truth.
If you’re on a plane, your ability to enjoy the journey is greatly aided by your belief that there will be a smooth landing. But if the pilot tells you the plane’s landing gear is malfunctioning, you’ll care more about landing safely than whether they’re serving beef or salmon for dinner. The Bible values both the journey and the destination. But because the journey is often arduous, the Bible constantly urges us to remember the hope we have in Christ. And this is no itsy-bitsy hope; it’s the grand hope of a new heaven and a new earth — that in the end all will be well. “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul” (Hebrews 6:19). Indeed, it is this hope that frees us to relish our dinner today.
Prayer
Lord God, we thank you for the hope You’ve given us in the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ!
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
