Revelation 13: 8 ...whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
Nothing is more common today than assured hopes of attaining heaven. Everyone has their reasons for having this hope. Most people, it seems, would say that they are basically a good person and that they have not killed anyone. Assuredly, some of those who hope of heaven will find themselves disappointed. Maybe to distinguish ourselves from the world Christians should respond, when asked why they hope of heaven, that their "names are written in the Lamb's book of life" as the reason for their hope. A response like that might really puzzle some folks. Today I would like to briefly think of the purifying influence of Christian hope. A Christian hope rejoices in the glory of God. There is a desire to be in God's presence and feel His mercy, grace, love and peace. I think this was the struggle of Paul in Philippians 1: 21-25. He was hard-pressed both to stay and continue to enjoy fruitful labor, but, desired more to depart and be with Christ. He seems to have had a taste of the presence and power of God. Christian hope leads to a desire to be delivered from the bondage of sin. The more a Christian loves God the more sin will be hated. David says in Psalm 51- "I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me...Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which you have broken rejoice." Do Christians sin? Yes! It is the desire to be cleansed that is in mind here. A Christian is one who is willing to confess before God and the world that, yes, they do sin, even as their hearts long for deliverance from sins bondage. A Christian's hope will make him prayerful. The more we learn of, and from God, the more we see our need of help from God. A prayerless Christian is an absurdity. As Christians grow in grace, the also grow in prayerfulness. Prayer is a living testament to the purifying influence of their hope in Christ.
Nothing is more common today than assured hopes of attaining heaven. Everyone has their reasons for having this hope. Most people, it seems, would say that they are basically a good person and that they have not killed anyone. Assuredly, some of those who hope of heaven will find themselves disappointed. Maybe to distinguish ourselves from the world Christians should respond, when asked why they hope of heaven, that their "names are written in the Lamb's book of life" as the reason for their hope. A response like that might really puzzle some folks. Today I would like to briefly think of the purifying influence of Christian hope. A Christian hope rejoices in the glory of God. There is a desire to be in God's presence and feel His mercy, grace, love and peace. I think this was the struggle of Paul in Philippians 1: 21-25. He was hard-pressed both to stay and continue to enjoy fruitful labor, but, desired more to depart and be with Christ. He seems to have had a taste of the presence and power of God. Christian hope leads to a desire to be delivered from the bondage of sin. The more a Christian loves God the more sin will be hated. David says in Psalm 51- "I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me...Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean, wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which you have broken rejoice." Do Christians sin? Yes! It is the desire to be cleansed that is in mind here. A Christian is one who is willing to confess before God and the world that, yes, they do sin, even as their hearts long for deliverance from sins bondage. A Christian's hope will make him prayerful. The more we learn of, and from God, the more we see our need of help from God. A prayerless Christian is an absurdity. As Christians grow in grace, the also grow in prayerfulness. Prayer is a living testament to the purifying influence of their hope in Christ.
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