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Calling and Hope
Sometimes it isn’t enough to see our lives in our time-bound, sin-bound, glory-bound, battle-bound life on earth. We need a far-reaching hope and heaven’s perspective to see our lives in light of eternity. We need this especially when we encounter life’s brutalities and injustices and receive news of events from friends and strangers that are horrifyingly cruel and unfair. We need a place to turn to and a prayer on our lips that whispers, “Come, Lord Jesus.” We need a more expansive horizon, one that reminds us that there is more than what we see around us and that, above the noise of distress, hope shouts defiantly and courageously. We need a summons that calls us upwards and announces that one day everything will be well.
Heaven’s perspective on our calling changes everything. Billy Graham talked and wrote a lot about heaven, and one of his famous quotes is, “Life is hard, but God is with us and heaven is real.” It is a short sentence that packs a punch. Life is hard and is full of adversity, much of which is too great for us to handle alone. Yet we have the most faithful companion—the Spirit of God is with us and tenderly gives us all we need. Our hope, then, is not in our circumstances, but in the hope we have in Jesus. The risen Christ is in heaven, standing, praying, and preparing a home for us.
“Set your sights on the realities of heaven” and “think about the things of heaven” is how Paul exhorted the Christians in Colossae. Heaven has a perspective on our calling and has very different metrics to use for determining if it is successful; thankfully only God does the measuring. Like the list of heroes in Hebrews 11, we are commended not because we are successful in the eyes of others, but faithful in the eyes of God.
Questions
What do you think about when you think about heaven? How do you set your sights on heaven? Heaven has a different perspective on our current circumstances and our calling. What are you currently dealing with that could be seen differently from heaven’s perspective?
Prayer
Lord God, there are times when the glass I am looking through is especially dark. Help me to understand my circumstances and live out my calling from your perspective. Amen
About this Plan
How can I be confident in taking the next steps in my calling? As we move forward in our calling, it will be tested, and even though our circumstances will change, our calling in God remains the same. These five days will apply God’s word to help you understand how God is calling you.
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