There Is HopeSample

Hope for the Hopeless: We’re Getting Really Close to Being in Heaven

When I was a little kid, my folks would close off the doors to the living room where the Christmas tree was in mid-December. We could peek but weren’t allowed in there until Christmas Eve. The tree was fully decorated but unlit. In the shadows we could see growing piles of presents. You can only imagine the tension we felt. So close, but yet so far. Time seemed to crawl until Christmas Eve.

Do you dread getting old? Does time crawl for you? Yeah, I know. Some things are hard-the loss of clear vision and hearing, daily pills, and arthritis are not treats. But you know what? Nearing the end of your earthly life only means that you are that much closer to living with Christ in heaven, where it is Christmas all the time.

St. Paul wrote, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (Philippians 1:23). Did you get that? Your future with Christ is better by far than whatever is going on in your life right now.

Don’t think of your senior years as failing years. Listen to the Bibles’ splendid promises of heavenly life. Pretend you’re a little kid peeking at the Christmas tree, knowing that your ultimate Christmas is almost here.