21 LET US ENDURE IN FAITH – Heaven awaits

 

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LET US ENDURE IN FAITH – Heaven awaits

Romans chapter 8:

V 24 FOR BY THIS HOPE WE ARE SAVED BUT HOPE THAT IS SEEN IS NOT HOPE; FOR WHO HOPES FOR WHAT IS SEEN?

We are saved and will reach Heaven one day if we endure in FAITH. That is our great hope. We have not seen the heavenly glory yet, but we have often had a foretaste, and that has only increased our hope and expectation. v 25 BUT IF WE HOPE FOR WHAT WE DO NOT SEE, WE WAIT FOR IT WITH ENDURANCE.

We do not intend to give up, even though we have not yet seen the goal. We endure in trials because we do not want to miss out on the heavenly glory. We hold fast to the confession of hope. We do not speak negatively and give up, but in faith we continue despite everything we encounter.

V 26 AND THE SPIRIT ALSO HELPS US IN OUR WEAKNESSES. FOR WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PRAY AS WE SHOULD, OR WHAT WE SHOULD PRAY FOR AS WE SHOULD. BUT THE SPIRIT

HIMSELF MAKES INTERCESSION FOR US WITH GRIEVINGS THAT CANNOT BE SPEAKED,

Jesus is our helper in daily life. He lives by faith in our hearts, and he prays for us. But in addition, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid when we put our trust in the cross of Christ.

The Holy Spirit does for us and in us what we cannot do for ourselves. This is done by the Holy Spirit helping us to pray in a way that is beyond our understanding. Yes, not only that. The Holy Spirit himself intercedes for us here below, while Jesus is our advocate with the Father. And we know that if we ask anything according to God's will, we will receive it. v 27 AND HE THAT SEARCHES THE HEARTS KNOWETH WHAT THE WILL OF THE SPIRIT WILL BE, BECAUSE IT MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR THE SAINTS ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD.

God searcheth our hearts, and knoweth our needs, much more than we do. He letteth his Holy Spirit work in us, and pray for us. The Holy Spirit worketh only according to the will and plan of God, and according to our faith in the finished work of Calvary.

THINK WHEN I SEE MY SAVIOR, AND HIS EYE MEET ME, WHEN WITH JOY I SHALL SEE HIM WHO FOR ALL MY SIN HAS SUFFERED. THEN I SHALL SEE HIM MYSELF

BEHIND THE GLOSSY OF THE STARS OF HEAVEN, WHERE EYE EYE MEET EYE SEE HIM IN HIS KINGDOM WHAT JOY IN HIS NEARNESS ALL OUR NEED AND PAIN EVEN EVERY DARK WAY LIGHTED

Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

BY HIS GREAT MERCY WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN TO LIVE WITH HOPE, BECAUSE OF JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. OUR HOPE CONSISTS IN THAT WE HAVE BECOME HEIRS OF A KINGDOM THAT CAN NEVER PERISH, AND THAT WILL NEVER DEFINE OR FADE AWAY, THIS INHERITANCE IS NOW KEPT FOR US IN HEAVEN.

GOD HIMSELF WILL BY HIS POWER MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE PRESERVED IN THE FAITH SO THAT YOU WILL REACH SAFELY UNTIL THAT SALVATION WHICH IS ALREADY NOW DESTINED TO REACH YOU AT THE END OF TIMES.

1. PETER 1:3-5

It is strange how we can succeed in all our ordinary busyness and enlightenment and openness, to keep death at bay; but it still appears, at the loss of a relative, close friend, colleague. Or when we talk to a colleague who is seriously ill.

Perhaps we have heard the words before "Eternal life - yes - yes - that time - that sorrow" that is how we think - and it may be basically quite healthy - but one thing is certain, - that it will come - that time and that sorrow.

IT IS WHILE WE LIVE THAT WE DECIDE WHERE WE WILL SPEND ETERNITY

The words about eternal hope, and the power of death being broken, take on a different ring when they sound at a coffin; and we are gathered because death has robbed us of one of our loved ones.

With those words, a crack opens from the world of death and into the pain and sorrow; the death we may fear and dread is the entrance door to the kingdom of God!

When everything seems to be farewell and loss to us, there is still a continuation on the other side of death; a continuation, - admittedly - which we cannot see, and do not understand, - but which is built on Jesus' own words and promises and Paul also writes about it in the above.

When we gather around a coffin to say goodbye to one of our loved ones, we can turn to hope, to Jesus' promises that we have a future on the other side of death:

ETERNAL LIFE

1. amen