Hope Eternal

1 Thessalonians 2:19 – After all, when the Lord Jesus appears, who else but you will give us hope and joy and be like a glorious crown for us? (CEV)

Morning light is just visible — but the birds are way ahead of it; their song is already erupting into the skies and into my ears. Oh, what absolute joy their voices bring to my heart! I have to open my windows in order to hear them more clearly — I do not want to miss any of their exuberant songs.

Although it is such a small thing, I do tolerate the winters here in Canada in expectation of the annual arrival of the beautiful sight and welcome sound of the birds that return to my garden. The cacophony of song that they bring is a tonic to my entire being.

By comparison then, try to imagine, if you will, the joy to be experienced after death, when our eyes and ears are awakened and we will look upon the sight of Jesus and hear His voice!

Isaiah 32:3 – Then everyone who has eyes will open them and see, and those who have ears will pay attention. (CEV)

We will no longer have to tolerate the pains of physical life on earth, after we have hoped and trusted and been changed, because we have believed Jesus' promise that there is more to life than this. Seeing that this is true, what kind of lives do we need to live here and now?

We need to trust in God's Word — it tells us all that we need to know! We need to believe in Jesus and all that He did for us! We need turn from all that we are doing that is wrong and anything that causes us unnecessary worry, pain, or fear. We need to trust completely the advice for right-living found only in the Bible. Change can be hard, but if we persist, faithful to the end, and don't give up, all the joys of heaven will be ours. The beautiful sight of Jesus and the sound of His voice will bring joy that even songbirds cannot match. Eternal life will be blissfully pain-free, trouble-free, and filled with the constant song of heavenly choirs. That sounds to me like joy beyond compare!

Prayer: Father, we are so thankful for Your creations. Their beauty elevates our spirit each time we choose to focus on You. We live for the hope of spending eternity basking in the beauty of Your heavenly home and Your presence. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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