HOPE - the Gift of Heaven

THE GIFT OFHEAVEN

SharonPlatt-McDonald ChristianSalcianu

(Romans15:13 NLT)

AWORDTOBEGINWITH

www.reflectinghope.org

Thepublicationyouholdinyourhands, isonebornoutofasinceredesireto sharethepowerandimpactofhope. Thisisahopethatdoesnotcomefrom whatweseearoundus,aworldwhich istransientandsubjecttochange. Rather,itresidesinaGodwhois constantandtrustworthy.

Witharesolutebeliefthatthereis moretolifethanwhatweexperience hereinthepresent,webringyou HOPE–TheGiftofHeaven.

Thisbookletpointstoacaliberofhope thatislastingandfulfilling;andone thatexceedsthislife.It’sagiftbecause itcomeswrappedinlove.

InJanuary2023,attendinga

‘ReflectingHope’trainingeventonhow tobeimpactfulinourcommunities,we learntmanyaspectsofeffective outreachandhowtheseinterventions canbringpositivetransformationto individuallives.

‘IpraythatGod, thesourceofhope, willfillyou completelywithjoy andpeacebecause youtrustinhim. Thenyouwill overflowwith confidenthope.’

Duringhispresentation,oneofthe speakerschallengedourperspectives, tothinkoutsidetheboxinrelationto ourunderstandingoftheword‘hope’. Inanalysingthewordinthecontextof God’sloveforhumanity,PastorLouis Torresusedtheword‘hope’tocreatean acronymwhichexplainstheenormity andimpactofGod’sbenevolence.His acronymreads:

H =Heaven

O =Offers

P =People

E =Eternity

Encouragedbyhimtousethis HOPE acronym,wehavemadeourown analysisofit,andshareourreflections.

Asyoureadthestories,scripturesand reflectionsinthispublication,mayit igniteyouraspirations,fuelyourfaith andfulfilyouryearningsforabetter world,outsideofthisone,where perfectionwillbeexperiencedforever.

SharonPlatt-McDonald, HealthPractitionerandCoach, Author,andCommunityLeader

ChristianSalcianu, Pastor, leadingtheAdventistDiscovery Centre(UKandIreland)

CASEY’SSTORY

ISFORHEAVEN h o p e

Caseyhadneverconsideredherself religious. Pridingherselfonholding atheisticviews,shewasadeptat leadingdiscussionsontryingtoprove thenon-existenceofGod.Shewasso opposedtotheideaofadeitywho lovedusandcaredabouttheworld, thatshefoundeveryopportunityto discountChristians’viewpointsand ridiculetheirfaith.

Asastudent,shelovedtoread,andhad acollectionofpublicationsthatshe wouldrefertoonvariedlifeissues.

‘Myhomeisinheaven.I’mjust travellingthroughthisworld.’

BillyGraham

Onafewoccasions,oneof herdistantrelativeshad encouragedhertoaddthe Bibletohercollectionof ‘mustread’volumes,butshe wasquicktopointoutthat theBiblehadlittlerelevance in21st centurylife.

However,whenCasey’s familyencountereda numberoftraumaticevents inquicksuccession,shewas disappointedwhenshe turnedtoherphilosophical andself-helpbooks.She reallystruggledtofindthe answersshewaslookingfor.

ThenaChristianfriend challengedhertobegin readingtheBible.Casey decidedtogiveitatry.

Itwasthenthatshebegan toseelifefromadifferent perspective…

Ofparticularinteresttoher, weretheBibletextsthat paintedapictureofabetter lifethanthisearthcould offer.Thedescriptionsof heavenwerecaptivating.She becamecurioustoreadthat heavenwouldbeaplaceof perfection,voidofall trialsandtraumas,like thoseherfamilyhadbeen encountering.

SlowlyCaseybeguntowish forsomethingbetterthan hercurrentexperience.The dailynewsitemsfeaturing environmentaldisasters,

conflicts,wars,erraticeconomy,made herwonderwhetherthislifewasall therewastooffer.Thiswasfurther compoundedduringtheCOVID-19 pandemic.

Seeingtheimmensesufferingandthe escalatingdeathtoll,shedecidedto learnmoreaboutwhatheavenwaslike. Comingasasurprise,whenreading throughtheBible,shefoundthe answersshehadbeenlookingforall along.

Eventually,shecametotheconclusion thatheavenwasindeedarealplace, andonethatshewantedtoexperience. Heaven,atlast,wastheplacetobe.

APPLICATION

Takeamomenttothink ofepisodesinyourlife whichmadeyoulong forsomethingmore thanyouwerecurrently experiencing.

Apersonaltestimony

DuringtheCOVID-19 pandemic,ourfamilysadly losttwodearrelativestothe deadlyvirus.Itwasan immenselypainfulanddark timeforus.Haditnotbeen forourfaith,wewouldhave wallowedindespair. However,aswe contemplatedthehopeof heaven,theperfectionit offersinarealmvoidof sicknessanddeath,ourfaith inGodheldfirm.The wonderfulscripturesof assurancebroughtsolaceand strength.

Witheverythoughtof heavenandthejoysitwould bring,wewerecomforted andstrengthened.

Oneofthemostpowerfulandimpactful quotesIhaveeverreadistheclosing paragraphofEllenG.White’sbook titled TheGreatControversy.Itspeaksof abetterplace,abetterworld,unlike theoneweknownow.Atimeandplace thatisunimaginabletothefinitemind, becauseitspeaksofperfection.Here arethewordsthatasateenageropened myhearttothehopeofheaven,and gavemeayearningforaplacethatI amlookingforwardto:

‘Thegreatcontroversyisended.Sin andsinnersarenomore.Theentire universeisclean.Onepulseof harmonyandgladnessbeatsthrough thevastcreation.FromHimwho createdall,flowlifeandlightand gladness,throughouttherealmsof illimitablespace.Fromtheminutest atomtothegreatestworld,all things,animateandinanimate,in theirunshadowedbeautyand perfectjoy,declarethatGodislove.’

That’swhatheavenwillbelike!

SCRIPTURE

PastorChristian, whatdoestheBible sayaboutHeaven?

Evenachildknowsthe prayer,‘OurFatherin heaven…’(Matthew6:9). HeavenisasrealasGodis.

Isheavenabove,orbelow,or perhapssomebillionlight years beyond?TheBible doesn’tfocusoveraspecific locationofheaveninthe galacticimensityshownby starryskies.Instead,thefocus isonourrelationshipwiththe Onewhocreatedouruniverse.

Considerthis,Jesuscallingit ‘MyFather’shouse’(John 14:2).Yourturnnowto associatethisexpression (father’shouse)withwords andconceptssuchas:family, belonging,intimateconnections,safety,evenlife.

Whatwillheavenbelike?

REFLECTION

Dwarfedbythesufferings andthepressuresofthis earth,wemaystruggleat timeswiththeideaof anotherworld,abetterone. Yet,theBibleisclearabout it,apostlePaulaffirmingthat ‘ourcitizenshipisinheaven’ (Philippians3:20).Associate, oncemore, citizenship with: identity,certainty,empowerment,brotherhood.

Heavenwillbeforusthe breakthroughtosomenew beginnings.Godpromises, ‘Iammakingeverythingnew’ (Revelation21:5),asan angelproclaims,‘Look,God’s homeisnowamonghis people!Hewilllivewith them,andtheywillbehis people.Godhimselfwillbe withthem.

Hewillwipeeverytearfrom theireyes,andtherewillbe

nomoredeathorsorroworcryingor pain.Allthesethingsaregoneforever’ (Revelation21:3,4).

Thisisnotwishfulthinking,nor escapism,butratherafirmbeliefinthe powerofanamazingGod.ApostlePeter declares:‘wearelookingforwardtothe newheavensandnewearthhehas promised,aworldfilledwithGod’s righteousness’(2Peter3:13).

Surely,theBibletalksaboutaheavenly citybaskinginthegloryofGod,and aboutariveroflife,atreeoflifeand lifeeverlasting…Butcanweeven imagineallofthese?

TalkingaboutGod’sworks,thatwe keepondiscovering,apostlePaul, quotingprophetIsaiah,echoes: ‘Noeyehasseen,noearhasheard, andnomindhasimaginedwhatGod haspreparedforthosewholovehim.’ (1Corinthians2:9;Isaiah64:4)

Bynowyoumayhavenoticedagain theemphasisonrelationship–love.

h o p e

ISFOROFFERS

‘Heavenofferspeoplehope.’

LouisTorres

WHAT’SONOFFER?

Twins,SteveandSharonlovedsales shopping. Infacttheystudiedthe internetfor‘flashsales’andbargain promotions,diligentlyfollowingtheir favouriteproductsuntilthe opportunitiesaroseforapricedrop ontheir‘wishlist’items.

Aloverof‘retailtherapy’asSharon calledit,shewouldfindopportunities toincludeashoppingspreeondays outwithherfriends.Infact,Sharon wouldtellyouthatshelivedforthe sales,asthatwaswhenshecould affordtheitemsshehadbeen observingallyear.

Savingupforbargainpurchases whensaleswereonwasahigh pointofheryear,asshecarefully plannedforpotentialpurchases thatsheconsideredessential. Shewouldalsolookoutfor whatshecalled‘optionalextras’; thesesheconsideredatreat ifshehadtheadditional fundstoprocurethem.

Steve,ontheotherhand,approached thesalesalittledifferently.

Beingofacompetitivenature,he likedtotrackvarioussalepriceson eBayandofferthelowestbids.

Helovedthethrillofbarteringand gettingthebestproductsforthelowest prices!

Asa‘hightech’individual,wheneverhe wouldsurftheinternet,hewouldlook outtoseewhattheoffersofthemonth were.Thenhewouldtrackvarious productsundertakingacomparative analysistoascertainwhichwasthe mostcosteffectiveproductbasedon functionalityandpricing.

Hewasessentiallylookingfor thebestdeal.

AlthoughSharonandSteve approachedthesales differently,theirgoalwasthe same;toensurehighquality itemsatanaffordableprice.

It’saninnatedriveinmost humanstogetthebestout oflifeasmuchaspossible. Andwhowouldn’twantto getagood‘offer’,especially whenitiswithintheirreach?

Withsomanyoffersavailable, choosingthebestoneiskey.

APPLICATION

Areyoualoverofsales andbargainhunts?

Do‘specialoffers’catch youreyeandpiqueyour interest?

Ifso,letmeintroduceyoutowhatI believeisthebestofferever.Itisthe opportunityofalifetime,andit’soutof thisworld!Additionally,it’snotanoffer thatyoucanbarterdown,asitcomes atahighprice.Jesuswaswillingto leavethegloriesofheaven,tocometo theragsofthisearthonarescue missiontosavehumankind,inorder thatwecouldlivewithHiminheaven eternally.

Asforafindinga‘gooddeal’,heaven willbeaplacewherewefinallygetthe bestdealever,withoptionalextras! Godhashighvalueassetsonoffer,that arelifechangingandlifeaffirming. Withoutthese,wewillnothavelife eternal.Infact,insteadoflife,the alternativeoptionwouldbedeath.

Godoffersusthehopeofheavenand lifeforevermore.Itoffersmorethan ourhumancomprehensioncan conceive,anddeliverswayabove whatwecanimagine.

HowdoIknowthat?

Well,Iwillsimplyreflecton oneBibletextmentioned before,contemplating 1Corinthians2:9(NLT):

‘Noeyehasseen,noear hasheard,andnomind hasimaginedwhatGod haspreparedforthose wholovehim.’

Heavenwillbethebestgift wehaveeverexperienced. It’sadealyoucannotrefuse!

SCRIPTURE

Salesareintriguingandattractive becauseofwhattheyoffer.Akeyallure issecuringhighqualitygoodsatalower cost.So,essentially,yougetmorevalue forthemoneyyouhavepaid.

Butwhatifyouhavenomoney?Whatif you’redrowningindebt?Whatifthere isnochancetoredeemanythinginyour life?Andwhatifthepriceisultimately onyou,asdeathsparesnoone.

Jesusisthehighestqualitygiftgivento humankind(anancientprophetcalled him‘theDesireofAges’).Freeofcostto us,butatahighcosttoHimself,His deathonthecruelcrosswastosaveus fromoursins.Indeed, theultimatesacrifice. Sothatourlivescould besecuredeternally.

Suchlovefor humanity!

PastorChristian, whatdoestheBible sayabouttheOffer?

Sinnersaswewere,living emptylives,ouronlychance forredemptioncamethrough Jesus’sacrifice.ApostlePeter isremindingus,‘Foryouknow thatitwasnotwithperishable thingssuchassilverorgold thatyouwereredeemedfrom theemptywayoflifehanded downtoyoufromyour ancestors,butwiththe preciousbloodofChrist,a lambwithoutblemishor defect’(1Peter1:18,19).

WithoutadoubtPeter rememberedtheshoutof JohntheBaptist,onthebank oftheriverJordan,whenhe pointedtoJesussaying, ‘Look,theLambofGod,who takesawaythesinofthe world’(John1:29).

Thehighestqualitygift

REFLECTION

The‘sacrificial’Lambwas given,astheBible’sgolden verseclearlyoutlines the offer,‘ForGodsolovedthe worldthathegavehisone andonlySon,thatwhoever believesinhimshallnot perishbuthaveeternallife’ (John3:16).Andthe gave of thisverseisnotinexchange ofsomething,nora philanthropicdonation,spare change,clearanceoffer… Thinkof sacrificed!

Butmakenomistake,itwas notagift,oraransom,ora bribefromabenevolentSon toappeasethewrathofan angryFather.Notatall.

ApostlePaulaffirmsthat, ‘GodwasinChrist reconcilingtheworldto himself’(2Corinthians 5:19).Justthinkofit, Sharon, GodwasinChrist…

Readyforevenmore?TheSonwasnot forcedintoit.Heeventestified,‘Iamthe goodshepherd;Iknowmysheepandmy sheepknowme...andIlaydownmy lifeforthesheep...Thereasonmy FatherlovesmeisthatIlaydownmylife ...Noonetakesitfromme,butIlayit downofmyownaccord.Ihaveauthority tolayitdownandauthoritytotakeitup again’(John10:14-18).

Isn’tthisallamazing?ApostlePaulcalls ustoreflect,‘What,then,shallwesay inresponsetothesethings?IfGodis forus,whocanbeagainstus?Hewho didnotsparehisownSon,butgave himupforusall–howwillhenotalso, alongwithhim,graciouslygiveusall things?’(Romans8:31-32)

Mockedbyathiefononecross,prayed toinfaithbythethiefontheothercross, Jesusassuredthelatterone,‘Youwillbe withMeinparadise’(Luke23:43).

Nobetterplace,nobetteroffer.Guess who’satthereceivingend?YouandI.

h o p e

ISFORPEOPLE

‘Alifenotlivedforothers isnotalife.’

MotherTheresa

PEOPLEMATTER

Caringforpeoplecamenaturallyto Paul. Asachild,hewasalwaysknown forlookingoutforhisclassmatesand seekingtheirbestinterests.Whenever oneofthemwashurt,hewouldbethe onetocalltheteacher,ortrytohelp thewoundedpupilinsomeway.

Paulwouldspendmuchofhissummer holidaysathisgrandparents’home. Theyownedsubstantialfarmlandand livestock.

Helovedcaringfortheanimals andwasdiligentinhissummer chores,overseeingtheirwelfare. Whenhisgrandfatherwas seriouslyinjuredonthefarm andconfinedtobedfor severalweeks,Paulhelpedhis grandmothercareforhim.

Asanadult,Paul’scaring naturewasfurtherextended ashetookupacareer innursing.

Hesubsequentlywentontotrainasa counsellor,explainingthathewantedto helppeoplewiththehealthoftheir mind.Herealisedthataconsiderable percentageofpatientshehadnursed overtheyearssufferedfrom psychosomaticillnesses.

Moresignificantlyhowever,Paul realisedthataboveanythingelse, peopleneededhope.Hemadea conciouscommitmenttoreachout toothers.Hisgoalwasthateveryday ofhislifehewouldcontributeto helpingpeoplehaveamorepositive outlookandgivethemhope,inspiteof theircircumstances.

SomeoneonceaskedPaulwhyhe investedsomuchtimeincaringfor others.

Hisanswerwassimple–‘people matter.’

Theworldneedsmore peoplelikePaul.People likehimwhomakea positivedifferencetothe livesofothers.

Whilsttheremaynotbe manypeopleyouknowwho canprovideareliablesource ofhope,thereissomeone youcanturntowhohasthe answersforyourlife.Heisa trustworthysourceand,in fact,thebestresourceforany needthatyouhave.InHim, youwillfindtheanswersto anyquestionsinlife.

Haveyoueverbeenletdown bysomeonepromisingyou morethantheywereableto deliver?Ifso,itisa disappointingrealityisn’tit? Yet,thereissomeonewho hastotallycommittedHis attentionandserviceto yourwellbeingandoptimum happiness.Heisourloving andtrustworthyGodwho caresdeeplyforus.

‘Iwillnotforgetyou!

See,Ihaveengravedyou onthepalmsofmyhands.’

Isaiah49:15,16

APPLICATION

Doyouknowsomeone whoisinneedofhope rightnow?

Thinkofsomeonewhomay beencounteringchallenging lifecircumstances,feeling unabletocopewiththe pressuresoflife.Howcan youofferthemhope?

Doyoufeelcompelled,like Paul,toreachouttothose whoarestrugglingwiththe stressorsoflife,brightening theirpathwithraysofhope?

REFLECTION

Prioritisingpeople

GodprioritisedhumankindwhenHe offeredupHisonlybelovedSonJesus, astheultimatesacrificialgift,sothat wecouldhaveabetterlife.Notjust thistemporallife,butlifeeternal.

Youaresoimportantthatheavenfights foryou.Didyouknowthat?Well,it’s true.Inthebook TheGreatControversy youwillreadaboutacosmicbattle betweengoodandevil,whereGod’s loveforthehumanraceultimately triumphs.

Inthisbookyouwilldiscoverthatevil hasaface,goodhasaChampion,and sinhasanend.Ifyouwanttoprepare fortheendofthis worldandtheglorious worldtocome,you mustreadthisbook.

Heavenwins!

SCRIPTURE

PastorChristian, whatdoestheBible sayaboutPeople?

Firstofall,manandwoman alike reflectthegloryofGod. Wereadthisrightonthefirst pageoftheBible,‘SoGod createdmankindinhisown image,intheimageofGod hecreatedthem;maleand femalehecreatedthem.’ (Genesis1:27)

Mankindisthecrownof God’screation.ThePsalmist wonderedtoGod,‘whatis mankindthatyouaremindful ofthem,humanbeingsthat youcareforthem?Youhave madethemalittlelowerthan theangelsandcrownedthem withgloryandhonour.You madethemrulersoverthe worksofyourhands;youput everythingundertheirfeet’ (Psalms8:4-6).

Estrangedbysin,and sometimesveryfarfrom theirCreator,throughthick andthin,humanswerestill ‘theappleofGod’seye’(see thisimageinDeuteronomy 32:10,Psalms17:8or Zechariah2:8).

ProphetIsaiahvoicesGod’s careforus,‘Listentome... youwhomIhaveupheld sinceyourbirth,andhave carriedsinceyouwereborn. Eventoyouroldageandgrey hairsIamhe,Iamhewho willsustainyou.Ihavemade youandIwillcarryyou;I willsustainyouandIwill rescueyou’(Isaiah46:3,4).

‘ForIknowthethoughtsthat Ithinktowardyou,saysthe Lord,thoughtsofpeaceand notofevil,togiveyoua futureandahope’(Jeremiah 29:11,seealso31:3).

Doyouneedmore?Justthinkwithme aboutJesus–cominginhumanflesh, justlikeus(John1:14),answeringto thecallforthelowestposition (Philippians2:5-8andJohn13:6-8), beingresurrectedinfleshandmost probablykeepingHishuman appearanceforever(Acts1:11).No wonderHewas‘theSonofman’ (Matthew16:13-17).

ButSharon,itwillalsobetheother wayaround.WhatdoImean?‘See whatgreatlovetheFatherhaslavished onus,thatweshouldbecalledchildren ofGod!Andthatiswhatweare!The reasontheworlddoesnotknowusis thatitdidnotknowhim.Dearfriends, nowwearechildrenofGod,andwhat wewillbehasnotyetbeenmade known.ButweknowthatwhenChrist appears,weshallbelikehim,forwe shallseehimasheis.Allwhohavethis hopeinhimpurifythemselves,justas heispure’(1John3:1-3).

WeshallbelikeHim!

h o p e

‘Thehopeofeternallifeisnotto betakenupuponslightgrounds. Itisasubjecttobesettled betweenGodandyourownsoul; settledforeternity.’

EllenG.White

ISFORETERNITY

ETERNALLIFE

Imustadmitthat,asateenager, thethoughtofeternityusedto frightenme.Inmyyouthfulmind, Iwonderedwhatcouldbeso captivatingthatitwouldtakean eternitytofill.Ialsowondered aboutthevarietyofthingstodo foraneternallifetime.

ThenasImatured,Irealisedthat theworld–asweknowit–has littletoofferforoureternal happinessincomparisontowhat heavenoffers.Whowouldwantto liveforeverinaworldthatlooks likethisonewithendlesswars, crimes,environmentaldisasters, sicknessanddeath?

Yet,it’seasytobecome complacentaboutand desensitisedtoeventhemost negativeenvironments.

Wecangetsousedtothat wayoflife,thatourliving adjuststothe‘abnormal,’to theextentthatitbecomes normalised.

However,whenpeoplehave experiencedsignificant trauma,itoftenchanges theirperspectivesandeven thetrajectoryoftheirlives.

Sometimesittakesa tragedytoshiftour focusfromtheearthly totheheavenly.

Thefollowingisone suchstorywhich depictsthatreality:

Earthlylife–eternallife

TheWaltonfamily consideredthemselves nominalChristians,with occasionalvisitstochurch forEaster,Christmas,baby dedications,baptismsanda fewspecialeventsinthe

churchescalendar.Itwasmorean ‘event’drivenreligiousobservance,as opposedtoalifestyleofdaily commitmentandpractice.Life, however,hasawayofshapingone’s outlookandchangingitstrajectory whentheunexpectedhappens.

WhenMrsWaltonattended herdoctor’ssurgeryona routinevisitforanannual check-up,thedoctor discoveredasuspicious lump.

Shewassentforfurther investigationsandwas subsequentlydiagnosedwith anaggressiveformofbreast cancer.Overtime,invasive treatmentprovedineffective andthemedical professionalsstatedthere wasnothingfurtherthey coulddo.Withthissudden

onsetofaterminalillnessthefamily soughtrefugeintheirlocalchurch. Thepastorprovidedthemuch neededsupportashecounselled themonaregularbasis.Duringthe courseofundertakingpalliativecare, MrsWaltonbeganaskingquestions aboutdeathandwhatcamenext. Thechurch’sBibleworkerwas invitedtostudywithheronthedays whenshefeltabletoreceivevisitors.

Then,whenMrsWaltonwasfinally admittedtohospicecare,MrWalton andhischildrensoughtsolacein scripture,astheytooreachedoutto thechurchtohelpthempreparefor theprospectoftheirbeloved matriarchpassingaway.

Sometimelater,herfamily,relatives andcommunitydeeplymournedher passing.Thesadness,although immense,carriedwithitthepeaceof mindthatthiswasnottheend.From theirBiblestudiesthefamilyrealised thateveniftimeonthisearthhad endedforthiswonderfulwoman whomtheyloveddearly,theywould onedaybereunitedwithheragain, whenJesusreturnedtotakethemall toheaven.Theymadeacommitment tohavingalastingrelationshipwith Jesus,justasMrsWaltonhaddone beforeshedied.Indoingso,theirhope continuestothriveintheknowledge thattheytoowillhaveaneternitywith her,intheworldtocome.

APPLICATION

Istheresomeoneyou lovedwhohaspassed away,whomyouare lookingtospend eternitywith?

Whatgivesyou thathope?

Thinkofallthepeopleyou wouldliketoseeinheaven. Thosewhomyouwouldlove tospendaneternitywith. Whatinvestmentareyou makingintheirlivesto ensurethatwillbeareality?

Doyouknowsomeonewho isnotawareofthehopethat heavenoffers?Whatwillyou dotoshareheaven’shope withthem,sothattheytoo canexperiencelifeeternal?

FREERESOURCES

Howtoovercomedepression, anxiety,guiltandstressinthe modernworld?Experienced authorsteachhowonecan experienceameaningful, successfullifebydiscoveringthe answerstoapathofpeace, restoration,andhealing.

Thestressesofmodernlifemakehealthy relationshipsmoredifficulttoachieveand sustain.Theideasandsolutionsofthisbook willhelpyoubuildstrongrelationshipswith thosearoundyou;giveyounewskillstohelp buildyourchildren’scharacters;sharetimeprovenprinciplesthatwillfacilitatea meaningfulandhappylife.

www.reflectinghope.org

Fearisanemotion.Faithisan attitude,andfocusisachoice. Fearmustgivewaytofaithas weadjustourfocus. PastorMarkFinleyshowsthat wehaveOnewhoislargerthan ourfears,biggerthanour worries,andgreaterthanour anxietiesbyourside.

Threecelestialheraldscometoplanet Earth,asdepictedinRevelation14. Couldtheseangelsbesharingthehope thattheworldsodesperatelyneeds?

CliffordGoldsteinexplainsthemeaning oftheseangels’messages. Storiesspreadthroughoutthe bookprovideencouragementand offerhopeforthefuture.

Scanfortheseand otherfreeresources

REFLECTION

Eternity?What’sthepoint?

Interestingly,Ihavespokenwith peoplewhoaskthequestion‘what’sthe pointofeternity?’or‘whowantstolive forever?’Fairquestionsandyet…

Thinkingthroughthesequestionswe canseethatanyoneaskingisinfact undertakingacomparativeanalysisof whatweknow now,whatwe experience now,andthuscontemplatingtheunknownfuture.Some peoplemayevenfeareternity, projectingontoitdifferentelementsof afarfrompleasantlifeonthisearth.

Don’tforget,‘Noeyehasseen,noear hasheard…’.Factis,wecannever measureheavenandlifeeternalwith whatwecurrentlyknow.

Forastart,wewillbecompletely differentindividualswithdifferent mindsets.HeavenandtheNewEarth, willfaroutweighwhatwehaveever experiencedhereonearth.Hereare somescripturestoprovethatpoint:

SCRIPTURE

PastorChristian, whatdoestheBible sayaboutEternity?

Thewisestmanonearth,king Solomonwrotethisabout God:‘Hehasalsoseteternity inthehumanheart;yetno onecanfathomwhatGodhas donefrombeginningtoend’ (Ecclesiastes3:11).

It’snotourinvention,can yousee?Andweareunable tofullyexplainit. Accordingly,Iwillletthe Biblespeakforitself,trusting thatHewhoplacedeternity inyourheartwillanswer youryearningforit.

AnyBiblestudentturningthe pagesofscripturewillsoon discoverthateternityisnota philosophicalconcept,buta relationship –eternallife, givenbyGod,livedinfull.

RememberJohn3:16?‘For Godsolovedtheworldthat hegavehisoneandonly Son,thatwhoeverbelievesin himshallnotperishbuthave eternallife.’

Thequestionof‘when’one mayhaveeternallifeis answeredrightaway– now. Jesussaid,‘VerytrulyItell you,whoeverhearsmyword andbelieveshimwhosent mehaseternallifeandwill notbejudgedbuthas crossedoverfromdeathto life’(John5:24).

Goodnews,Sharon,eternal lifestartsnow,notinan afterlife!Anditdevelopsinto anevergrowingrelationship.

Jesusaffirmedinhisprayer, ‘Nowthisiseternallife:that they[apostles,meandyou, thereaders]knowyou,the

onlytrueGod,andJesusChrist,whom youhavesent’(John17:3).Thisisnot anintellectualknowledgeaboutGod, thisisknowingGod.

Thealternativeisclear,asPaulreminds us,‘thewagesofsinisdeath,butthe giftofGodiseternallifeinChristJesus ourLord’(Romans6:23).Eternityisa gift,anoffer,apromise.Bytheway,are youlookingforpromisesintheBible? Matchthisone,ifyoucan,‘Thisiswhat hepromisedus–eternallife’(1John 2:25).

KnowingGod,butstillonaspiritual discoveryjourney,whatifyoudie tonight?TalkingtoMartha,asisterof soon-to-be-resurrectedLazarus,Jesus said,‘Iamtheresurrectionandthelife. Theonewhobelievesinmewilllive, eventhoughtheydie;andwhoever livesbybelievinginmewillneverdie. Do you believethis?’(John11:25,26).

Nootherquestionismore straightforwardthanthis.

h o p e

CONCLUDINGTHOUGHTS

‘Hopeisbeingabletoseethat thereislightdespiteofallthe darkness.’

DesmondTutu

Lookingatourworldasitis, itseemsshroudedin darkness, withitsturmoil, dailydoseofbadnews,costof-livingcrisis,economic unpredictability,political instability,environmental decline,escalatingcrime, unendingwars.Somuchevil!

Yetamidstthenegativeand darkbackdropoflifeaswe knowit,theappealofheaven shinesitsbrightlightintothe darkness,illuminatingevery conceivablespacewithhope.

Thislightofhopeisonethat keepsthepathaheadlitwith theexpectationofaglorious futureforallofus,ifwe acceptthelovegiftthatGod offersus.

Takeamomenttopauseand thinkaboutwhatbringsyou hope.Closeyoureyesand thinkofthemostwonderful things,circumstances,or experiencesthatprovidesthe

mostoptimaloutlookyoucouldever imagine.

Haveyoudonethat?OK.

Nowreadonceagainthefollowingwords thatyoureadbackinthesectionon His forHeaven, andimagineyouareapartof theenvironmentbeingdepictedthere:

‘Thegreatcontroversyisended.Sin andsinnersarenomore.Theentire universeisclean.Onepulseof harmonyandgladnessbeatsthrough thevastcreation.FromHimwho createdall,flowlifeandlightand gladness,throughouttherealmsof illimitablespace.Fromtheminutest atomtothegreatestworld,allthings, animateandinanimate,intheir unshadowedbeautyandperfectjoy, declarethatGodislove.’

Whenthisearthlylifetransitionsinto eternallife,thegiftofheavenawaits.

Maythehopeofheaven,thebeauty, peace,perfectionandtheeternitythat itpromises,enrichyourhopeofabetter worldtocome,thatwewillenjoy forever,withGod.