A Future Full of Hope!... because of the cross
Just waking up after an incredible time of celebrating what Jesus did on the cross with my C3 Church family! Last night we reflected on the death of Jesus and the power that was released on humanity because of it!I titled this article "Hope & Future", because the cross is what unlocked our future and hope!
The Bible says in Jeremiah, that God has plans for us. Good plans! That even in itself could be a question for many. They'd assume that God has plans, but most likely plans to punish and reprimand us for all of our wrongs, but rather the focus of the plans of God are for good, and for a future full of hope!
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Today, I wanted to encourage us to call our attention not to the grief of the loss that happened on the cross, but to the hope that the cross produced for us. The Bible even says that it was the "joy set before him" that caused Jesus to endure the cross. And what was that Joy?? I suppose there could be many facets to that joy, but certainly at the forefront of it was you and me. The joy was that our future would be full of hope again. The joy was that the cassam of sin could be bridged and we could be brought close to Himself again!
The Joy Of The Cross was that you and I could now have access to a future full of hope!All throughout God's Word we are called to put our HOPE in God. Maybe you've heard that you shouldn't get your "Hopes up". But, it depends on what your hope is in. Hope is a joyful expectation. And you can put a joyful expectation in Jesus. He is firm, constant and eternal.
He is the same yesterday, today and forever, so we can confidently and joyfully fix our attention on Jesus!Are you feeling shaky, worried or uncertain today? I want to call your attention back to the cross. It was at the cross that Jesus redeemed humanity from the curse of sin and death and it is through Jesus that we now have victory and hope!
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Featured image is from Pastor Phil Pringle
