1st Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
This passage of scripture vividly describes the joyful hope of the Christian, as we sojourn in our pilgrimage through this world, looking for a brighter day and a better tomorrow. The fact that we will be granted the gift of immortality at Christ's second coming, gives impetus to our ongoing relationship with The Lord, which is not to be based on rewards, but nevertheless carries with it the blessed hope. The children of God through all ages have been the subject of persecutions, ridicule, contempt and scorn, by a world that is opposed to the principles and laws of God's kingdom, so then it is with joyful hope that we should look forward to the day when God will make all things new, and the days of toil and care will be a thing of the past.
The hope of the resurrection is what energized the heart and mind of Job, as he sat in the ashes scraping his boils, which were the direct result of the affliction of the enemy of souls. As he looked for the light at the end of the tunnel, he remembered that our redeemer will one day stand up for all those, who like himself, had been afflicted and severely tried, and it was because of the joy to be revealed at Christ's coming that he received impetus and strength to keep moving on, even though friends and family had deserted him in his darkest hours. Let's read:
Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
It was the very same joyful hope which animated Abraham and His descendents who pitched their tents in several different places, and who never thought of a permanent dwelling down here on this earth. As day after day passed, with their burden of care and perplexities, the faith of Abraham was energized and renewed by the thought that one day God is going to intervene permanently in the human experience, by which the faithful of all ages will be receive a crown of life in exchange for the trials and temptations to which they were often subjected. Let's read:
Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
This same hope is what we as Christians in our day should cherish, for no one wants to live in a world where bloodshed, strife, war, and crime are a daily routine, and therefore we should not expend all our energies on that which is but for the moment, but like faithful Job, Abraham, and Isaac, let us keep the blessed hope of Christ's soon return, ever vivid in our minds, for it will shape our thoughts, aspirations and actions, bringing them into harmony with what we believe. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which revives the joyful hope of the Christian in our minds, and it is the will of God that we be found faithful to the end. Let's read:
Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!