Somewhere in the heavens a giant reservoir holds an ingredient essential to life: hope. In fact, heaven is saturated with hope and it rains down upon us. he hope of heaven overflows into the everyday atmosphere of our lives.
In the 21st century “hope” is simply the poetic version of wishful thinking. These days “hope” is the stuff of dreams: it’s thin as the air. It’s the currency of desperation. In the modern world hope is a counterfeit traded by losers. The simple word hope has come to mean something unsure and doubtful. Everyone hopes for the best, but prepares for the worst. When we talk about hope in everyday language we are really talking about our insecurities: who knows how things will really work out?
But last night I read these amazing words: “The faith and love that spring from hope that is stored up for you in heaven.” (Colossians 1:5) The Apostle Paul was writing to a community of believers he had never met. He had heard of their faith in Jesus. He had heard of their love for one another. Paul knew immediately that these people had tapped into an eternal source capable of funding such faith and love. They had tapped into hope.
The Hope of Heaven
This is a revelation: in heaven, where every need is met and there’s no more crying or sorrow, hope remains. Paul describes it as the stockpile of heaven, ready to energize faith and love in the here and now. Why would we love another person if there were no hope for them? Why would we have faith in the promises of God unless there is evidence that these promises are sure?
The hope of heaven is not a destination; it’s a resource available to us now. Even in the valley of despair, a door of hope remains open, because heaven is open to us now.
