Our Hope

The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master's Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even have to say anything anymore—you're the message! People come up and tell us how you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom.
(1Th 1:8-10 MSG)

A couple of observations on this text.

1.  The best witness is the one where others are telling your story and giving praise to your faith.

2.  Even at this early stage in the church people were being taught to expect the return of Christ.  This is the observation I want to focus on.

This is our hope!

Peter said, "We look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13).

Ultimately friends this is where we should anchor our hope.

Just as Jesus came the first time in fulfillment of prophecy He will just as surely come the second time in fulfillment of other prophecies and we are connected by hope to His return because our destiny is tied to that return.

Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
(Mat 5:5 NKJV)

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

(John 14:3 NKJV)

If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

(2Ti. 2:12 NKJV)

And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

(Rev. 5:10 NKJV)

There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

(Rev. 22:5 NKJV)

The world was in chaos when Jesus arrived the first time and it is in chaos once again.  Trust me, He will come again to set the world right only this time it will be for good and we will be a part of that.

The first time Christ came was to establish His kingdom in our hearts.  The next time will be to establish His rule on the earth.

I believe that day is not far away and I am crying out, "Even so come!"  We need the king and His kingdom.