10/02/2019
What do you hope for in faith? Do you hope to be free of pain, have straight and strong limbs, to no longer stutter, hear and see perfectly, or maybe to be cured of some disease? Whatever your hope is, it is certainly awaiting you in heaven through Jesus Christ. Every tear will be dried there, and all hope, faith, and love will be perfectly realized.
“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;”
Colossians 1:5 KJV
We have trouble in this earthly life, and we suffer, yet God uses every ounce of our pain and hardship to produce good. He uses our infirmities to bring forth fountains of faith, hope, and love, in us. He cures us so that we will believe, and see Him clearly in that instant... being increased in these things through Jesus Christ...
“"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
John 14:12-13 ESV
Having Faith, asking of God as Jesus asked, and glorifying the Father as He did; all mysterious in their own way, and things that we seek to understand, and possess, in this world as we search out our faith in fear and trembling... yet even though they appear to be so simple on the surface, they will only be made perfectly known to us in Heaven through Jesus Christ. We realize now that we are imperfect, and yet we hear the call to perfection...
“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Matthew 5:48 ESV
How many times have we read this verse, and wondered what Jesus meant by it? Have you asked yourself... “Lord, How can I possibly be perfect as God is perfect?” Only through our faith, and hope, in Jesus Christ. Paul writes that we are not perfect yet, but he tells us how that will occur by referring to himself...
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:12-14 ESV
The upward call of God that brings us to Him through Jesus; that brings us to Heaven where we will find perfection in Christ. Peter speaks of this too, and tells us that though we suffer now, we will be made perfect there because we are meant to glorify God...
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 5:10-11 ESV
So we may be blessed by receiving our healing, deliverance, or provision, here on earth as an example intended to increase our faith, hope, love of God, and as a means of glorifying Him, but we will certainly be made whole, and perfect in heaven. Having a perfect body on this earth is not the ultimate goal of our existence... No, our perfection in Christ, and before God is His great desire, and should be our hope, so that we can spend eternity with our Heavenly Father... vibrant, alive, free of pain, and perfect in every way... our joy, and peace... all perfect.
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
John 20:30-31 ESV
Miracles have a purpose, so that we might believe, and have life in the name of Jesus... how is your faith? Are you in need of a miracle to believe, or are you ready to be perfected in Jesus before God, to shine like the New Jerusalem, and be written in Christ’s book of life?
“And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.”
Revelation 21:10-11, 27 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the miracles that bring us to believe, and increase our faith in you, and your Son Jesus. Thank you for not only healing us in those miraculous moments, but for allowing us to bear witness to such events so that our faith is magnified. You bring some to believe, and others to an increase in faith. Thank you for showing us that it is easy to believe when we have received your touch, but though it is easy to believe what we have seen, it is harder by faith alone. Help me in my unbelief, and strengthen my faith. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God of miracles and signs. Great are you who knows my heart, and understands when I need to feel a miracle to believe, or perhaps witness one to find new strength of faith in a moment of doubt. Praised be your name Father, for all your many blessings that fill us with hope, and for your miracles that bring us to believe. All glory is yours through your mercy, grace, and Sin Jesus Christ.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13 ESV
Rich Forbes