We are in a time of year when we tend to be more reflective and more thankful for the things we are blessed with. We tend to give more thought to the meaning of this life. We all want purpose or a reason for living. What are we contributing? What difference do we make as individuals? Thoughts such as these take us naturally to the book of Ecclesiastes.

In Ecclesiastes, Solomon seeks to understand meaning in life so he may share what he learns with others. He calls life under the sun is unprofitable. What this means is that life has meaning, but if we only define ourselves by things of this world, we will ultimately find life meaningless.

Vanity Under the Sun

There is a certain amount of gloom in studying this book. Ecclesiastes 2:11 is only one instance of Solomon expressing distress over the vanity of worldly pursuits. Despair comes when we define ourselves by nothing but carnal standards. Time and again throughout Ecclesiastes 2 and beyond, Solomon expresses despair over his accomplishments. He speaks of vanity – of things that have no true support or continuance.

Solomon sets out to discover whether or not man can find real advantage from his works in this life. He asks this in chapter 1:3 when he asks what profit comes of his labors. He also pursues what, indeed, man should pursue in this life. Chapter 2:3 begins this exploration. He seeks purpose in work, in pleasure, and in general.

Searching for Purpose in this World

Success, friendships, education, comfort, family, wealth, glory, power, enjoyment – all of these are often cited as meaningful in life. In Ecclesiastes 2:1, Solomon begins his search for meaning in pleasures. Chapter 2:16 records him seeking wisdom and honor. Chapter 2:8 records his amassing wealth and possessions. Ecclesiastes 5:10-14 tells us that we will never be satisfied with our material possessions. In all these, Solomon finds vanity.

Ecclesiastes 6:3 explores the joys of a large family. Chapter 1:17 tells of Solomon’s search for worldly wisdom as well as madness and folly. Also, chapter 2:4 begins his search to make a name for himself and surround himself with comfortable things only to realize he would leave everything to someone else. Again, he finds vanity in these worldly pursuits.
If happiness cannot be found in all these things, then why not explore the pleasures of sin? Hebrews 11:24-25 speak about the joys of sin, but these joys are fleeting. The Hebrew author describes their effects as but a season. Romans 6:20-21 speaks of sin as a slave-master that drives one unto death. No true profit or benefit comes from sinful living. Sin does not produce love, respect, or purpose – only harm.

Meaning in Hope

Solomon concludes that life has purpose when it is focused beyond the sun. Under the sun – upon this world – we find little, but God gives us much. Ecclesiastes 2:24, chapter 3:12-13, chapter 5:18-19, all speak of doing good, for goodness is a gift from God. Chapter 8:12, 11:9, 12:13 – these remind us to focus on our Creator. In God, we find goodness and purpose. He motivates us to share that goodness with others, and Solomon assures us that remaining mindful of and obedient of God fulfills the purpose we seek.

There is much for which we can be thankful. We have many worthwhile pursuits, and many of us have professions that help us care for our families. However, the things of this world cannot distract us from the true purpose of this life – the life that is to come. Solomon concludes that God gives our lives purpose and meaning, and, because of that purpose, we have hope.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: hope, purpose

Trials of David

Psalm 27 is one of David’s works, and it concludes on the ideas of patience and fortitude after describing distress in his life and hope in His Lord. Several Psalms put us in wonder of David’s attitude during the trials of his life.

• I Samuel 21 records David meeting with Ahimelech for help but needing to continue to flee. Psalms 34 and 56 reflect on the despair in his life at this time.
• I Samuel 22:3 shows David looking for sanctuary for his parents, but he has to flee again into the forests.
• I Samuel 23 records David rescuing the inhabitants of Keilah from the Philistines, but they prepare to betray him to Solomon.
• II Samuel 15:13 begins recounting David having to flee Jerusalem to avoid an uprising by his own son Absalom.
  

Most of us never have to flee our home and country to save our lives, to protect ourselves from family members who want to kill us as David’s. Imagine the mortal danger he was in. Saul or Absalom would have gladly killed David. He lived with the responsibility of those who helped him on his shoulders. Many were harmed or killed on his behalf. He moved from place to place. He lived in caves and forests for months on end. Additionally, many psalms demonstrate depressing bordering on his life.

Patience Like David’s

In Psalm 27:3 and verse 8 speak of him avoiding fear, and verse 14 describes his taking courage in the Lord. That same verse speaks of him and us waiting on the Lord. Patience is difficult for us in many settings. Whether we are working with things or with people, we tend to want instant gratification and resolution, but David tells us to wait. The solution is not ours to create. Rather, we should be looking to God.

This patience takes continual communion. We cannot remove ourselves from the Lord’s presence and then expect His intervention. This also takes continual prayer as illustrated in I Thessalonians 5:17, and we have to maintain ourselves in God’s presence. Like the Hebrew author warns, we should be wary of drifting away. Finally, staying in the fight is a necessary element to our spiritual patience. I Kings 18 records Elijah’s confrontation between himself and the prophets of Baal, but, by chapter 19, Jezebel has put a price on Elijah’s head. He is depressed and frightened, and God quietly appears to him on Mount Horeb, telling Elijah He still needs the prophet to work despite the obstacles.

God’s Promise of Strength

We are promised God’s goodness and strength, but He has not promised to remove our trials. Think of the apostles in Acts 5 who stand trial before many of the same men who worked to execute Jesus. They pray for strength to face trials. God has not promised to make our lives easy. In fact, the scriptures promise the opposite to those who follow Him, and nowhere does He promise us an explanation. Remember Job. He never understands the “why” of what he goes through. God delivers him but never offers explanation.

He does promise to strengthen our hearts, however. Trials make us stronger and equip us to help others. They make us grow closer to each other and to God. If we remain in communion with God and stay in His presence, if we stay in the fight and live prayerfully, we need not fear. We can be confident as David was in Psalm 27 as we wait patiently for the Lord.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: david, hope, endurance, examples

From childhood, we know what July the Fourth is about – fireworks and cookouts. Under these festivities, though, we are commemorating the freedoms we have in this country as individuals as well as the price those freedoms carry. Sometimes this message may be lost, and we may fail to appreciate the price that had to be paid for the liberty we have. It is a message we don’t allow to resonate within us because, in many cases, it was someone else who paid the price.

In John 8:12, Jesus is preaching that He is the light of the world, and, in verses 31-32, He speaks of obeying the truth of His word, which will set them free. In subsequent verses, the Jewish audience contest him on this, saying they have never been under bondage – despite examples from their own history. Those past captivities were impersonal, served by others, and they have little impact on the individuals in Jesus’ time.

Israel’s Captivity and Redemption

Hosea 8:13-14 records God’s dissatisfaction with His people’s service, and He speaks of sending them into captivity. Amos 4:2-3 speaks of the Assyrians coming to lead the children of Israel away on hooks. Amos 2:4-5, alluding to the Babylonian captivity, God describes fire that would consume Judah and Jerusalem. Israel’s history is full of these terrible captivities, but, in every case, God redeems His people.

In Exodus 6:6, God is describing to Moses His plans to free the children of Israel and deliver them to the Promised Land. At the base of Sinai, God reminds them that He has done as He said. He has redeemed them from bondage. Concerning the Assyrian captivity, Micah 2:12-13 records God promising to bring the faithful of the northern kingdom into His fold. Zephaniah 3:16-20 is yet another promise of God to gather His scattered people and redeem them.

Despite all God does for them, many of the Israelites grow to tolerate being enslaved. Numbers 4 records the people crying out for food, and, even after manna is provided, they weep for the days of their enslavement in Egypt. Similar themes crop up in Numbers 14 when their confidence that they can take the lands of Canaan is shaken. They go so far as planning to usurp Moses to return to Egypt. Additionally, once the Babylonian captivity ends, God has to send messengers to remind them to go home from their content slavery.

Our Slavery and Redemption

The sad truth is that we do the same thing as these individuals we criticize for embracing captivity. Romans 7:14 is in the midst of Paul discussing his struggles with being enslaved to sin. Romans 6:6 also describes sin as a form of slavery, but, sadly, we may have grown to tolerate or even enjoy this enslavement. John 8:34 records Jesus saying that sinning brings us under captivity to sin.

John 8:36, Romans 6:7, Romans 8:2, Galatians 5:1, and more tell us that the price for our freedom has already been paid. However, sometimes we forget that price. We forget God’s promises and what He has done through Christ on our behalves. Far too often, we dismiss what sin does to us, and we use terms and phrases that endear sinful behaviors. We grow content to lie, steal, gossip, and act ungodly while refusing to see that we need to be set free. Unfortunately, Hebrews 10:26 reminds us that turning our backs on Christ in sinning removes the effects of His sacrifice in our lives.

The price paid for our freedom from sin is not casual or common. While I may have not paid that price, One gave His life in my place. I might be far removed from the scene at Calvary, but I can know that God is personally invested in my spiritual freedom. As a result, I should be personally investing myself into following after His footsteps and avoid willing reentering the slavery of sin, which brings separation from God and death. We must come out of this captivity and seek to never turn back.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: salvation, sin, hope, examples

I Samuel 17 retells the events of David facing Goliath, and, in this conflict, David exhibits four qualities we can emulate when we face giants in our own lives. These giants may not be as obvious or as aggressive, but they provide a threat to our spiritual survival, so let’s look at these qualities and how we can apply them in our own lives.

David Facing the Giant

David displays faith when encountering the threat of Goliath. The military had withdrawn from facing the giant. I Samuel 17:34-37 recounts David making his case to King Saul, and, in this, he expresses his faith in Jehovah. Along with this faith, he demonstrates trust. Instead of trusting in the king’s weapons and armor, David trust’s God to deliver victory. He shows the correct attitude before danger. He doesn’t try to take credit from God when facing Goliath. In his eyes, the victory belongs to God. Finally, David runs out to battle, doing exactly what he said he would do.

Our Giants

We face giants in our own lives. They are distractions. They prevent us from moving forward. They blind us to the goal we hold so dear. I John 2:15-17 introduces us to the giant of worldly interests, and, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds his audience that our priorities reflect the contents of our heart. Luke 12:15 begins the parable of a rich man who places his trust in his possessions. What he is not prepared for is meeting God.

I Peter 2:11 speaks of desires and lusts that battle with our souls. Immorality is always readily available to tear down our spiritual security. Additionally, discouragement can tear us down. Isaiah 35:3 makes a call to strengthen the weak, to comfort the afraid. Acts 11:21-23 and I Thessalonians 5:14 both speak to exhorting and encouraging among the brethren. Discouragement can lead to bitterness and self-justification.

Finally, a lack of direction can be a giant in our lives. Returning to I Samuel 17:25-27, David learns of Goliath and the rewards the king has prepared for the one who defeats him. Verses 28-30 records David reconfirming this goal, verifying the threat Goliath poses and the rewards involved. David sees a goal before him, and then he pursues that goal.

Emulating David

How do we avoid being consumed by these giants of desires, discouragement, worldliness, and lack of focus? Quite simply, we begin by setting a spiritual goal. I John 5:4 reminds us of the power in our faith. Through our faith in God, we can overcome anything, and it sustains us in difficult times. I John 4:4 and Galatians 2:20 both speak of the way we live our lives, trusting in the power of Christ within us. I have to rust God enough to put my faith into action. The first few verses of Philippians 2 reminds us of the attitude we should have, and James 2:17 reminds us that we have to take our faith into obedience and do the right thing.

If we have faith and trust in God, if our attitude is right, and if we are willing to take action, we can face those giants waging war with our souls. We can overcome, striving toward our goal of an eternity with our Father.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: priorities, hope, parallels, david

We sometimes take time to ourselves where we have experiences that give us enthusiasm, that give us energy. We might call it “recharging our batteries.” How do we maintain this kind of focus and enthusiasm in our spiritual lives – tuning out the noise and distractions of the physical world? Am I excited about being a Christian, or do I view my faith as a necessary evil? Am I enthusiastic about leading others to Christ?

Acts 8:35-39 describes the baptism of the Ethiopian, and the last we read of the individual is of his rejoicing after becoming a Christian. He has reason to be excited, and he demonstrates it. The Philippian jailer in Acts 16 actually comes close to physical death prior to his conversion. After his conversion, he invites Paul and Silas into his house and rejoices over his new life.

Maintaining Enthusiasm

We today should be excited about the forgiveness of our sins, about a potential life with God in Heaven, about being born again. Sometimes, however, we grow nearsighted and discouraged, losing focus of what is really important.

In Revelation 2:4 and 2:14-16, 2:19-20, 3:1-2, and 3:15, Jesus criticizes various congregations for different forms and symptoms of complacency in His service. It’s easier to grow lax in our service, but, in each of these messages, Jesus calls the congregations to work as a cure for complacency. Focusing on the good works we can accomplish can drive us forward while focusing on negatives or shortcomings can suck the energy from us.

Tuning out the crowding noise can be difficult, but Colossians 3:1 calls us to set our minds on what is above. Setting our mind on the bigger picture can help us maintain the enthusiasm and focus we need on this journey. Romans 12:2 reminds us to continue renewing our minds.

Engagement and action helps. Luke 22:31-32 records Jesus telling Peter that his faith would be tested, and Jesus encourages Peter to go to work encouraging others after regaining his focus. Here is a man who would fail the Lord and watch his companions also fail Him. Acts 1:12-13-15 records Peter doing exactly what Jesus asked. His faith is restored, and we see him transform into a force of encouragement in the New Testament. Hebrews 12:12-13 encourages us to help others in our work, lifting them up when weak. When we put our energy in encouraging others, we encourage ourselves in the process.

Conclusion

There is a great deal of noise to distract us from our goal, but we have to continue to work with and for our brethren to maintain the focus and enthusiasm we need on our Christian journey. We need Christ, and we need each other. Together, we can find our goal.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: attitude, hope, priorities

I Corinthians 15 centers around the idea of resurrection – not only of Christ but of ourselves as well. The saints at Corinth do not deny that Jesus is bodily raised from the dead. What they have a problem with is our own bodily resurrection. In the first few verses, Paul establishes three facts about the resurrection: the resurrection as the source, the course, and the force of the Bible.

The Resurrection Driving the Gospel

Verses 1-4 record Paul stating that their faith is based on the doctrine of Christ’s death and resurrection. That Christ died and was raised is a nutshell of the gospel. Spiritually, sin puts us under the condemnation of death, and Christ’s death and resurrection provides us with a path of reconciliation with God. If He had died and remained in the grave, we would be without hope, but the resurrection provides foundation for our hope.

From here, Paul describes how the resurrection is verified in the gospel. It is the course of the gospel. He brackets the process of the death, burial, and resurrection with the phrase “according to the scriptures” in verses 3-4. Psalm 16:8-10 is quoted in Acts 2:25-29, and Peter applies this passage to Christ. From here, Paul appeals to eye witnesses in verses 5-8 of I Corinthians 15. He walks among others for forty days before His ascension to Heaven.

Finally, the resurrection is the motivator of the gospel. I Corinthians 6:9-10 speaks of the sins in which these brethren had once been involved, but they had been redirected by the gospel – God’s power of salvation according to Romans 1:16. In chapter 15: 9-10, Paul then uses himself as proof of the power of the resurrection. After seeing the Lord, Paul recognizes his own need for salvation. I Timothy 1:13 records Paul describing himself in hostile terms, but his exposure to the resurrection fundamentally changes his character. It requires him to redirect his energies.

Applying Ourselves In the Resurrection

When we think of the resurrection, we should be like Paul and let that message of the risen Messiah motivate us to examine ourselves, change our character, and redirect our energies. Being a successful Christian is not a passive experience. We must be energetic for the Lord.

If indeed Christ is raised and we will be raised, there are some glorious results. I Corinthians 15:20-23 describes a great gathering of the faithful – made alive to be united with Christ and with each other. We will be raised to never face death again. It is the culmination of God’s plan according to verses 24-28 when all shall come under subjection to God, and the spiritual kingdom – of which we are a part – will be given over to God, abolishing death for all time.

Anticipation of this event should produce perseverance within us. I Corinthians 15:29 begins asking a series of questions regarding the point of our faith and the resultant trials if we have no hope of resurrection. However, that hope should sustain us and give us the confidence to look forward to that day when we will be reunited with our Lord. Paul is dramatically changed by the power of the resurrection, and we can be likewise changed. Our hope and confidence drive us to put away our sinful selves and fully center our lives around Christ who was raised and who will raise us.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: hope, salvation, resurrection

Do you get what you want, or do you get what you deserve? How many times have we heard the expression, “I knew that was going to happen!” We have other frustration statements we use, and many of these express an expected negativity in our lives. What makes a difference between good and bad expectations? How does our faith and hope affect our expectations, and how are these reflected in those expectations?

Hopeful Expectations

Faith, hope, and love are all elements that are supposed to fill our lives, and all of these imply a trust in our God. I Thessalonians 1:3 speaks of these three in terms of action and attitude. These work together, and they will affect the expectations we have in our lives. Faith relies on hope in God and His promises, expecting Him to deliver on those promises. I John 3:3 speaks of a hope we have fixated upon God, and I Peter 1:13 encourages us to hope in the grace of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 11:5-6 reveals some more details about the Enoch we are briefly introduced to in Genesis 5:24. He is described as having never seen death, and this is the direct result of his faith – the hopeful expectations he placed on God. II Corinthians 5:7 simply states that faith guides us, and Paul goes on to express His expectation to be delivered by Christ and present with God, an idea also reflected in Colossians 1:5.

James 1:5 speaks of us entreating God for wisdom, but verse 6 speaks to the expectations we should have when praying to God. We are to pray with the expectation that God will listen to and answer us. Our cynical expectations keep us from Him.

Triumph in Faith

Hebrews 11:1-3 gives us a definition of faith, and this definition includes expectations – hopeful expectations that may contradict what we see in this world. Then, the author goes on to describe several examples of people acting upon hopeful faith. Abel is cited as one acting upon faith based on his sacrifice to God, and Noah took action to prepare for an event he had no physical evidence on which to base expectations.

In verse 8, the author speaks of Abraham who left his home to seek a land he had not seen. Abraham expected to be led despite his ignorance of the destination. He had faith that God would work good in him. Romans 8:28 reflects this confidence, and the preceding verses encourages to have hopeful expectations and trust in God.

Ephesians 3:20 describes God as being able to deliver beyond anything we can imagine. So often, we set our expectations for God, for others, and for ourselves at such a low level, we can’t help but have those expectations fulfilled. Our expectations can only be enhanced by what we tell ourselves to expect. Edification starts within ourselves. I Peter 5:8-9 describes a devouring power, seeking to consume our souls, but faith resists this power. It gives us the hope to lift ourselves above those snares.

Conclusion

Our faith and hope motivate the expectations in our lives. We can set our bar high, or we can set it low. However, if we set it on God, we know that He will help us achieve our goal of being with Him.

By Mike Mahoney

Tags: faith, apostasy, hope

Verses 3-12 of I Peter 1 consist of four large sentences that build up to his thoughts that will continue through the rest of the chapter and into the next. He begins by blessing God for the hope of the resurrection and the gift of salvation. He claims this hope is a motivation for rejoicing even when times are tough, and he continues to focus on salvation as we enter verse 10, recalling the prophets who foretold of this hope – claiming they did so by the spirit of Christ. He concludes this introduction, reminding his audience that this hope has been revealed and is available to them.

The Grace Prepared for Us

These points leads him to his lesson in verse 13. Because we have this hope that God prepared, Peter calls us to prepare our minds. He uses the expression to gird up one’s loins as Paul does in Ephesians 6:14, calling us to gird ourselves with truth. Likewise, in Exodus 12:11, as the people prepare for the Passover deliverance, the people of Israel are commanded to gird their loins as if ready to depart. There is a sense of preparedness and alertness in this expression.

Being a Christian is not a spectator sport. We have to be alert and prepared at all times based on the gospel and the hope and that Christ continually brings to us. This grace is the free gift of Romans 6:23 – the hope for eternal life in God’s presence. Ephesians 2:8 emphasizes the role of grace in our salvation, and that knowledge should put us at the ready, preparing ourselves in the truth of God’s word. We are separated from God, but God’s grace should give us hope – not in ourselves, but upon Him.

This leads us to change how we are molded. We are no longer in the image of this world and the corruption thereof. Instead, we become children of obedience, modeling ourselves after God. I Corinthians 6:11 reminds us that we are washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ, separated from the lives we once led. Peter, in I Peter 1:15-16, calls us to pattern ourselves after the One who gave us hope. Every aspect of our lives should attempt to reflect our Father who purchased us with the ultimate price. I Corinthians 6:19-20 reinforces this idea that we are no longer our own because God purchased us, body and soul. Peter says our purchase is not by monetary means but with the blood of Christ, the spotless lamb.

The Blood of the Lamb

Exodus 13:11 begins stipulations regarding the firstborn offerings to commence after the entrance into Canaan. When it comes to unclean beasts of labor, they could be redeemed by the offering on a clean lamb. The clean stood in substitute for those animals that are unclean and useless in God’s eyes. Likewise, we make ourselves unclean when we sin. We separate ourselves from God, and we deserve death. However, God in His grace and mercy sent a clean lamb without spot or blemish to redeem all who would come to Him, fashioning themselves after holiness in all facets of their lives.

I cannot come to God on my terms. I cannot make myself worthy of His salvation. I cannot pay off my debt of sin in ay way. All I can do is place my hope and trust in the Christ that came as a sacrifice for my sins. His sacrifice is our reason for obedience and worship, but this life of servitude takes preparation. Our hope in Christ should drive us to gird ourselves in His truth and pattern ourselves after Him.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: grace and mercy, parallels, hope

During this time of year, it’s common for congregations to talk about the resurrection and the meaning it has for us. This topic is central to our Christian theology. Romans 4:17 calls this power of resurrection as unique to deity, and, if we say we believe in the message and life of Christ, then we accept the resurrection of Christ by faith. It is proof of God’s power, and it is offered as proof of our own future resurrection in I Thessalonians 4:17-18 and I Corinthians 15:16 and on.

Life from Death

For the resurrection to happen, Jesus first had to die and spend those three days in the tomb. You cannot separate the revival of Christ from his death. In Romans 4:25 treats these as inseparable subjects. His blood atones for our trespasses, and the resurrection seals our justification. In Matthew 16:21, Jesus begins teaching of His future sufferings after Peter’s confession of His deity. He continues this in Matthew 17:22-23 and in Matthew 20:17-19.

This fits the pattern of blood sacrifice for redemption. Exodus 12:5 begins this pattern with the introduction of the Passover sheep. Leviticus 16:7 begins instructions for the atonement day sacrifice. Isaiah 53 ties this type of sacrifice to a servant Messiah. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who bears our iniquities in death. In John 1:36, John the Baptist calls Jesus the Lamb of God.

Hebrews 9:13-14 as well as I John 1:7 tell us that His blood cleanses. Romans 5:8-9 says the blood justifies us. Ephesians 1:6-7 records that we have redemption in His death. I Peter 1:18-19 states that Christ’s blood redeems (or repurchases) us, and Colossians 1:20 concludes that Jesus reconciles us to God in His death.

Conclusion: From Death to Life

For Christ to rise again, He first had to die. In this, He opened our way to God, but sin makes us dead to God. However, we also can rise again. Romans 6:2-3 likens our baptism to a death that is resurrected into a new life. It is a spiritual reenactment of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. This theme carries through much of the rest of chapter, reinforcing this separation from sin and unifying with Christ. Our sinful selves are buried in a grave of water, and we are raised to a new life – preparing for another resurrection coming with Christ’s return.

By Tim Smelser

Tags: conversion, christmas, jesus, salvation, hope

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In 1991, Eric Clapton wrote and recorded “Tears in Heaven,” expressing grief for the then-recent death of his 4-year-old son, Conor. Now, it is probably one of the songs he is best known for, and I want to take two statements and one question posed by the song to guide us in a quick lesson about the place the Bible calls Heaven.

Life in Heaven

Would You Know My Name? In I Corinthians 15:51-53 (as well as many preceding verses), Paul emphasizes how we will be changed when the resurrection comes. Our natures will be altered, and we will take a form completely unlike our current selves. The question is valid. If we have been changed, will we know each other?

In the parable of the rich man & Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), the rich man can recognize Lazarus and Abraham across the gulf in Paradise. Additionally, in Matthew 17:1-5, the apostles with Jesus on the mountain recognize Moses and Elijah for who they are – despite these two having died centuries prior.

These are only two examples, but I think they support the fact that we will know each other in Heaven. When we reach that shore, we will have the joy of being reunited with loved ones and have the opportunity to meet heroes of ours from the Bible. Heaven will be a homecoming.

I Don’t Belong. Two very familiar passage illustrate the fact that we, in no way, deserve Heaven. Romans 6:23 tells us sin is worthy of death. Exactly three chapters prior (Romans 3:23), it is stated, in no uncertain terms, that each and every individual is guilty of that sin deserving of punishment. If this is true, how can any of us hope to attain Heaven?

If we continue reading around Romans 3:24-26, Paul explains that we have been redeemed by grace and that those who have faith are justified, their sins passed over by God. Ephesians 2:4-10 reinforces the roles of mercy and grace in our salvation. We cannot earn Heaven. God grants us Heaven.

No, we do not belong in Heaven in that there is no way we can earn salvation. There is no way we can atone for our sins all by ourselves. However, God grants those who believe and obey Him the mercy and grace sufficient to allow our entrance into Heaven.

There Will Be No More Tears. Revelation 7:16-17 & Revelation 21:4 state that every tear will be wiped away. Sorrow will be absent in Heaven. There will be no longing for somewhere else. There will be no depression or disease. Furthermore, Revelation 22:1-5 imagines Heaven as a place similar to Eden – that place where man once had a perfect relationship with God.

There will be no tears in Heaven. Whatever sorrows and heartaches we may have suffered in this life will be erased when we go to be home with our Lord.

Conclusion

In John 14:1-6, Jesus tells his apostles and us that He is preparing a place for His followers. He goes on to say that we can make it to this place through Him alone. Both Romans 6:1-6 and Galatians 3:26-29 emphasize the role of baptism in entering into Christ, and that is the first step toward Heaven. Will you put your faith into action and begin the journey home?

By Robert Smelser

Tags: my thoughts, salvation, heaven, hope