Sunday Sermonettes #029
What Is this Glorious Hope
If you ask me, what is the glorious hope ahead, without doubt I can answer that it is the hope of seeing you and me in the likeness of Jesus. It is the most awaited and anticipated event in God’s timeline for the end of human history.
It will also be the beginning of the glorious and never-ending companionship of Jesus with his brothers and sisters; for Jesus shared in our humanity having flesh and blood.
For then we shall see God face to face and he will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
When and How Is this Glorious Hope Going to Happen
Resurrection of the dead is what happens in the twinkling of an eye sometime soon. It will happen when God makes a trumpet call and those who are dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, Jesus. Instantly they will live and be changed.
This mortal body will be clothed with immortality, what is perishable will be transformed to what is imperishable, what has no honour now will be crowned with glory and honour.
For Whom Is this Glorious Hope
This promise and certainty of faith is for those who have put their trust and hope in Jesus and his shed blood on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins.
This promise reassures us that we who have borne the likeness of the first man, Adam , who was of the dust of the earth, will one day soon bear the likeness of the man from heaven, Jesus.
Each one of us will bear our own individuality and personality; but at the same time when God looks at each one of us, he will see Jesus in us.
Your body will be released from all its earthly limitations; its weakness changed to power; and it will be glorified like the resurrected body of Jesus.
Why this Glorious Hope of Jesus’ Likeness
The truth is God created men and women in his image and likeness (Genesis 1:26, 27). But that likeness was marred and smudged and blurred by sin, disobedience and rebellion against God.
And there came an immediate separation that prevented God from having friendship with us anymore.
But Jesus restored that friendship through satisfying God’s demand for an appropriate sacrifice through his blood on the cross. It was innocent blood shed for the sins of the whole world.
Where this Glorious Hope of Jesus’ Likeness Becomes Reality
This resurrection of the dead will be sudden and universal. Out of tombs and graves, out of ashes, out of the depths of the earth and the oceans; God will bring back to life all those who have put their hope in him.
And they all will be caught up in the air to be with God forever.
All those who are alive and have put their trust in Jesus will also be caught up to God in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye.
What a glorious and joyful gathering it shall be. Hope to see each one of you then. Changed. Transformed. Made brand new in his likeness.
“And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven .” (1 Corinthians 15:49 Bible)
But What About Those Who Say No to this Glorious Hope
Then what about those who say No to Jesus now? Hope is lost for them for ever.
For even God cannot offer any hope to those who deliberately walk away from his love that sacrificed his Son Jesus on the cross.
But they too will rise from the dead. This is called the second resurrection at a later time and date.
It is for judgement and hell and unquenchable fire, where there will be darkness and weeping, gnashing of teeth and worms which never die and agony and never-ending torment. Jesus while on earth had warned people of this sad reality.
Those who go there are separated from God for ever. There is absolutely no second chance.
“If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).
What About You Who Have This Glorious Hope
Know that God never created hell for man. It was originally meant for the devil and his angels (see Matthew 25:41). It is only because men and women reject God’s love that they go there.
For this is the heart of God:
“For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, ‘declares the Sovereign LORD.’ Repent and live (Ezekiel 18:30)!”
For the Bible says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).”
So, do not reject this hope and promise given to you.
Who Is Present and What Is Absent in this Glorious Hope
The glorious hope is that you will see God face to face and you will be in the likeness of Jesus.
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is (1 John 3:2 Bible).
The Spirit of God will complete this transforming work. And we will live with God for ever in a place where there will be no more sin, no evil, no disobedience or rebellion, no sorrow, no suffering, no sickness; no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Heaven!
What a glorious hope of being in Jesus’ likeness for ever and ever!
Featured image courtesy: Photo by Joëlle Moreau on Pixabay | Pixir Fotor
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