Tuesday: Long-Term Prospects
Read Titus 2:13. What great hope do we have, and why?
Describing his beliefs about the origins of our universe, a lecturer explained that about 13 billion years ago “an infinitely dense tiny mass popped out of nothing, and that mass exploded and from that explosion our universe came into existence”.
Image © Kevin Carden Goodsalt.com
Just how this “infinitely dense tiny mass” could just pop out of nothing, the lecturer didn’t say. He just assumed, by faith, that it did.
Now, as we noted in the introduction to this week’s lesson, in our origins we find our endings. This is why, according to this lecturer, our endings aren’t too hopeful, at least in the long run. The universe, created from this “infinitely dense tiny mass”, was doomed to eventual extinction, along with all that was in it, which includes humanity of course.
In contrast, the biblical concept of our origins is not only much more logical than this view but also much more hopeful. Thanks to the God of origins, our long-term prospects are very good. We have so much to be hopeful for in the future, and this hope rests on the promise of Jesus’ second coming.
Read 2 Timothy 4:6-8. What is Paul talking about here, and in what is he putting his hope?
Though Paul is soon to be executed, he lives in assurance of salvation and the hope of Christ’s return, what Paul calls “His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8, NKJV) . A “crown of righteousness” awaits him, certainly not his own righteousness (1 Tim. 1:15) but the righteousness of Jesus, upon which Paul knows his hope in the promise of the Second Coming rests. Regardless of his immediate circumstances, which were dismal at best (in jail, waiting to be executed), Paul knows his long-term prospects are very good. And that is because he was looking at the big picture, not focusing only on the immediate situation.
| Regardless of your own immediate circumstances, how can you have the same hope as did Paul? How can we learn to look at the big picture and the hope it offers us? |
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people are craving immediacy and instant gratification. we expect to find the services, products, and information that we want quickly and easily – and we don’t want to wait for anything.
Buy it now, Find it now, Deliver it now, Watch it now, Call me now, Send it now.
The very nature of digital content is its immediacy
How quickly and conveniently products can be delivered or collected can be a big deciding factor in which brand to purchase from.
The rise of overnight shipping, instant downloads, and one-click ordering
These things feed into our instant gratification.
earth -
Hundred plus or minus life
Pain and suffering
Time - our life revolves around time
Sin - Slaves us
heaven -
Eternity
Absence of pain and suffering
Absence of Time - There shall be no more time
Presence of God
A man died and his body was not buried and the children fought about their inheritance not realizing they would one day have to leave everything behind for others.
Isaiah 40:31-1 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint
The eternal prospect is much greater for us.
This lesson brought to mind the news that the last male Northern White Rino has died. This is not good news for Northern White Rinos. For those that love the things that God has created, the news was very saddening. BUT, we can look forward to the time when Jesus will return and make all things new. This is the hope that keeps me going when I see what our world is devolving into, all caused by sin.
The only way for us to have a hope like Paul is to be connected to the vine (Jesus). Being with Jesus must be more important than anything else! This love/relationship must be cherished. That's our only chance in this fallen world, which in exchange gives us either false or no hope at all.
And I pray not to have this hope alone. May this connection with Jesus also bind me to my family and friends!
The same hope can also get us all close, even though we do not see each other! May we get together at this great Sabbath School in Heaven too!
We can have the same faith as Paul by keeping our eyes on the Cross. We must constantly remember what Jesus has done for us by His death and resurrection. Also, it is by constantly claiming the promises of Christ and living out our faith in Jesus, moment by moment that we can learn to look at the big picture.
How can we have the same hope as Paul, by believing in the promise as he did. The promise is to all who believe and the blessed hope for "all them which are sanctified"(Acts 20:32).
If we cease looking at the wrong things, and make the Word of God our counselor, we will always have the big picture in view. This requires a purposeful effort on a continual basis. This is "abiding" in Christ through His word. Occasional visits are not abiding.
There are blessings that we can experience in the here and now before Jesus returns in power and great glory: we can have his peace, joy, and ever abiding presence via his holy spirit, Philippians 4:6,7
We must have hope and fear of God.