Romans 8:25
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.Just as pilots have a hope and expectation of finding an unseen runway through the use of navigation instruments, Christians have a hope and expectation of unseen heavenly things through faith in Jesus Christ.
Unbelievers have their attention and focus on the things of this world. All of their hopes and dreams are on the temporal things that they see, feel, and touch. Since they know that their window of time to achieve temporal riches, fame, and power is limited, they are usually impatient and in a bit of a hurry to acquire and enjoy the riches offered by this world. This worldview was popularized a decade or so ago with the advertising slogan that stated that you should go for the gusto since you only go around once. However, Christians have a different perspective and worldview. Our minds are on things above and not earthly things. Our hopes are not in the earthly things we see, but are in the heavenly things that we do not see. Since we know that what we do not see is eternal and solid, we wait with patience and a feeling of joy and peace. This is why Paul could say that he had learned to be content in any situation. Christians seek to glorify God and enjoy him forever rather than going for the gusto today.
Praise God that, by his grace, Christians are able to handle hardships and suffering better than unbelievers sometimes handle success and riches.
9 comments:
Wayne - You are some writer! I hope that you are currently teaching at your church. If not, you should be!
Mark,
Thanks for your encouragement and friendship.
Wayne
Wayne,
I love these thoughts! What a temptation it is to be attracted to the shining things of this world! I wonder at the glories that await us who have been redeemed! You see, I can imagine a lot of wonderful things on this earth and when I am reminded that I cannot imagine what awaits us in glory I must stop and put my hand over my mouth in awe!
Dave
Yeah, Jazz. Me too. I assume you are teaching at your church.
Dave and Craver,
Thanks. I have taught youth in my church, but no adult classes. I like blogging, writing devotionals and posts with photos, doing my church's website and various photography assigments with brochures etc. Although I am not afraid to talk in front of groups, I like writing a whole lot better than talking. My wife is a huge help in her editing of my grammer.
Wayne
"Praise God that, by his grace, Christians are able to handle hardships and suffering better than unbelievers sometimes handle success and riches."
Good stuff.
Jonathan,
Thanks. Glad your conference went well. Man those boys look like a full time job.
Great analogy.
sista cala,
Thanks for stopping by....
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