Hope – The Gift of Heaven

This article is one born out of a sincere desire to share the power and impact of hope. This is a hope that does not come from what we see around us, a world which is transient and subject to change. Rather, it resides in a God who is constant and trustworthy. With a resolute belief that there is more to life than what we experience here in the present, we bring you HOPE – The Gift of Heaven.

This article points to a points to a calibre of hope that is lasting and fulfilling; and one that exceeds this life. It’s a gift because it comes wrapped in love.

In January 2023, attending a ‘Reflecting Hope’ training event on how to be impactful in our communities, we learnt many aspects of effective outreach and how these interventions can bring positive transformation to individual lives.

During his presentation, one of the speakers challenged our perspectives, encouraging us to think outside the box in relation to our understanding of the word ‘hope’. In analysing the word in the context of God’s love for humanity, Pastor Louis Torres used the word ‘hope’ to create an acronym which explains the enormity and impact of God’s benevolence. His acronym reads:

H = Heaven
O = Offers
P = People
E = Eternity

Encouraged by him to use this HOPE acronym, we have made our own analysis of it, and share our reflections.

As you read the stories, scriptures and reflections in this publication, may it ignite your aspirations, fuel your faith and fulfil your yearnings for a better world, one that will follow this one, where perfection will be experienced forever.

'H' IS FOR HEAVEN

Casey’s Story

Casey had never considered herself religious. Priding herself on holding atheistic views, she was adept at leading discussions on trying to prove the non-existence of God. She was so opposed to the idea of a deity who loved us and cared about the world that she found every opportunity to discount Christians’ viewpoints and ridicule their faith.

As a student, she loved to read, and had a collection of publications that she would refer to on various life issues.

On a few occasions, one of her distant relatives had encouraged her to add the Bible to her collection of ‘must read’ volumes, but she was quick to point out that the Bible had little relevance in 21st-century life.

However, when Casey’s family encountered a number of traumatic events in quick succession, she was disappointed when she turned to her philosophical and self-help books. She really struggled to find the answers she was looking for.

Then a Christian friend challenged her to begin reading the Bible. Casey decided to give it a try.

It was then that she began to see life from a different perspective . . .

Of particular interest to her were the Bible texts that painted a picture of a better life than this earth could offer. The descriptions of heaven were captivating. She became curious to read that heaven would be a place of perfection, void of all trials and traumas, like those her family had been encountering.

Slowly, Casey began to wish for something better than her current experience. The daily news items featuring environmental disasters, conflicts, wars, and an erratic economy made her wonder whether this life was all there was to offer. This was further compounded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seeing the immense suffering and the escalating death toll, she decided to learn more about what heaven is like. Surprisingly, when reading through the Bible, she found the answers she had been looking for all along.

Eventually, she came to the conclusion that heaven is indeed a real place, and one that she wanted to experience.

Heaven, at last, was the place to be.

APPLICATION

Take a moment to think of episodes in your life which made you long for something more than you were currently experiencing.

A personal testimony

During the COVID-19 pandemic, our family sadly lost two dear relatives to the deadly virus. It was an immensely painful and dark time for us. Had it not been for our faith, we would have wallowed in despair.

However, as we contemplated the hope of heaven, the perfection it offers in a realm void of sickness and death, our faith in God held firm. The wonderful scriptures of assurance brought solace and strength.

With every thought of heaven and the joys it would bring, we were comforted and strengthened.

REFLECTION - What will heaven be like?

One of the most powerful and impactful quotes I have ever read is the closing paragraph of Ellen G. White’s book titled The Great Controversy. It speaks of a better place, a better world, unlike the one we know now; a time and place that is unimaginable to the finite mind, because it speaks of perfection. Here are the words that opened my teenage heart to the hope of heaven, and gave me a yearning for a place that I am looking forward to:

That’s what heaven will be like!

SCRIPTURE

Pastor Christian, what does the Bible say about Heaven?

Even a child knows the prayer, ‘Our Father in heaven . . .’ (Matthew 6:9). Heaven is as real as God is.

Is heaven above, or below, or perhaps some billion light years beyond? The Bible doesn’t focus on a specific location of heaven in the galactic immensity shown by starry skies. Instead, the focus is on our relationship with the One who created our universe.

Consider this: Jesus called it ‘My Father’s house’ (John 14:2). It’s your turn now to associate this expression (father’s house) with words and concepts such as: family, belonging, intimate connections, safety, even life.

Dwarfed by the sufferings and the pressures of this earth, we may struggle at times with the idea of another world, a better one. Yet, the Bible is clear about it, the apostle Paul affirming that ‘our citizenship is in heaven’ (Philippians 3:20). Associate, once more, citizenship with: identity, certainty, empowerment, brotherhood.

Heaven will be for us the breakthrough to some new beginnings. God promises, ‘I am making everything new’ (Revelation 21:5), as an angel proclaims, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever’ (Revelation 21:3, 4, NLT).

This is not wishful thinking, nor escapism, but rather a firm belief in the power of an amazing God. The apostle Peter declares: ‘We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness’ (2 Peter 3:13, NLT).

Surely, the Bible talks about a heavenly city basking in the glory of God, and about a river of life, a tree of life and life everlasting . . . but can we even imagine all of these?

Talking about God’s works, which we keep on discovering, the apostle Paul, quoting the prophet Isaiah, echoes: ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’ (1 Corinthians 2:9; Isaiah 64:4, NLT)

By now you may have noticed again the emphasis on relationship – love.

'O' IS FOR OFFERS

What’s on offer?

Twins Steve and Sharon loved sales shopping. In fact they studied the internet for ‘flash sales’ and bargain promotions, diligently following their favourite products until the opportunities arose for a price drop on their ‘wish list’ items.

A lover of ‘retail therapy’ as Sharon called it, she would find opportunities to include a shopping spree on days out with her friends. In fact, Sharon would tell you that she lived for the sales, as that was when she could afford the items she had been observing all year.

Saving up for bargain purchases when sales were on was a high point of her year, as she carefully planned for potential purchases that she considered essential. She would also look out for what she called ‘optional extras’; these she considered a treat if she had the additional funds to procure them.

Steve, on the other hand, approached the sales a little differently.

Being of a competitive nature, he liked to track various sale prices on eBay and offer low bids to get the best deals.

He loved the thrill of bartering and getting the best products for the lowest prices!

As a ‘high tech’ individual, whenever he would surf the internet, he would look out to see what the offers of the month were. Then he would track various products, undertaking a comparative analysis to ascertain which was the most cost-effective product based on functionality and pricing.

He was essentially looking for the best deal.

Although Sharon and Steve approached the sales differently, their goal was the same: to acquire high-quality items at an affordable price.

It’s an innate drive in most humans to get the best out of life as much as possible. And who wouldn’t want to get a good offer, especially when it is within their reach?

With so many offers available, choosing the best one is key.

APPLICATION

Are you a lover of sales and bargain hunts?

Do ‘special offers’ catch your eye and pique your interest?

If so, let me introduce you to what I believe is the best offer ever. It is the opportunity of a lifetime, and it’s out of this world! Additionally, it’s not an offer that you can barter down, as it comes at a high price. Jesus was willing to leave the glories of heaven, to come to the rags of this earth on a rescue mission to save humankind, in order that we could live with Him in heaven eternally.

As for a finding a ‘good deal’, heaven will be a place where we finally get the best deal ever, with optional extras! God has high-value assets on offer that are life-changing and life-affirming. Without these, we will not have life eternal. In fact, instead of life, the alternative option would be death.

God offers us the hope of heaven and life forevermore. He offers more than our human comprehension can conceive, and delivers way above what we can imagine.

How do I know that?

Well, I will simply reflect on one Bible text mentioned before, contemplating 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT):

Heaven will be the best gift we have ever experienced. It’s a deal you cannot refuse!

REFLECTION - The highest-quality gift

Sales are intriguing and attractive because of what they offer. A key allure is securing high-quality goods at a lower cost. So, essentially, you get more value for the money you have paid.

But what if you have no money? What if you’re drowning in debt? What if there is no chance to redeem anything in your life? And what if the price is ultimately on you, as death spares no one.

Jesus is the highest-quality gift given to humankind (an ancient prophet called him ‘the Desire of Ages’). Free of cost to us, but at a high cost to Himself, His death on the cruel cross was to save us from our sins – indeed, the ultimate sacrifice – so that our lives could be secured eternally.

Such love for humanity!

SCRIPTURE

Pastor Christian, what does the Bible say about the Offer?

Sinners as we were, living empty lives, our only chance for redemption came through Jesus’ sacrifice. The apostle Peter reminds us, ‘For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect’ (1 Peter 1:18, 19).

Without a doubt Peter remembered the shout of John the Baptist, on the bank of the River Jordan, when he pointed to Jesus, saying, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’ (John 1:29).

The ‘sacrificial’ Lamb was given, as the Bible’s golden verse clearly outlines the offer: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3:16). And the gave of this verse is not in exchange for something, nor a philanthropic donation, spare change, a clearance offer . . . Think of sacrificed!

But make no mistake, it was not a gift, or a ransom, or a bribe from a benevolent Son to appease the wrath of an angry Father. Not at all. The apostle Paul affirms that ‘God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself’ (2 Corinthians 5:19, NLT). Just think of it, Sharon: God was in Christ . . .

Ready for even more? The Son was not forced into it. He even testified, ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me . . . and I lay down my life for the sheep. . . . The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life. . . . No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again’ (John 10:14-18).

Isn’t this all amazing? The apostle Paul calls us to reflect: ‘What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’ (Romans 8:31, 32).

Mocked by a thief on one cross, prayed to in faith by the thief on the other cross, Jesus assured the latter one, ‘You will be with me in paradise’ (Luke 23:43).

No better place, no better offer. Guess who’s at the receiving end? You and I.

'P' IS FOR PEOPLE

PEOPLE MATTER

Caring for people came naturally to Paul. As a child, he was always known for looking out for his classmates and seeking their best interests. Whenever one of them was hurt, he would be the one to call the teacher, or try to help the wounded pupil in some way.

Paul would spend much of his summer holidays at his grandparents’ home. They owned substantial farmland and livestock.

He loved caring for the animals and was diligent in his summer chores, overseeing their welfare.

When his grandfather was seriously injured on the farm and confined to bed for several weeks, Paul helped his grandmother care for him.

As an adult, Paul’s caring nature was further extended as he took up a career in nursing.

He subsequently went on to train as a counsellor, explaining that he wanted to help people with the health of their mind. He realised that a considerable percentage of patients he had nursed over the years suffered from psychosomatic illnesses.

More significantly, however, Paul realised that, above anything else, people needed hope. He made a concious commitment to reach out to others. His goal was that every day of his life he would contribute to helping people have a more positive outlook and give them hope, in spite of their circumstances.

Someone once asked Paul why he invested so much time in caring for others.

His answer was simple: 'People matter.'

The world needs more people like Paul. People like him make a positive difference to the lives of others.

Whilst there may not be many people you know who can provide a reliable source of hope, there is Someone you can turn to who has the answers for your life. He is a trustworthy source, and, in fact, the best resource for any need that you have. In Him, you will find the answers to any questions in life.

Have you ever been let down by someone promising you more than they were able to deliver? If so, it is a disappointing reality, isn’t it? Yet, there is Someone who has totally committed His attention and service to your wellbeing and optimum happiness. He is our loving and trustworthy God, who cares deeply for us.

APPLICATION

Do you know someone who is in need of hope right now?

Think of someone who may be encountering challenging life circumstances, feeling unable to cope with the pressures of life. How can you offer them hope?

Do you feel compelled, like Paul, to reach out to those who are struggling with the stressors of life, brightening their path with rays of hope?

REFLECTION - Prioritising people

God prioritised humankind when He offered up His only beloved Son, Jesus, as the ultimate sacrificial gift, so that we could have a better life: not just this temporal life, but life eternal.

You are so important that heaven fights for you. Did you know that? Well, it’s true. In the book The Great Controversy you will read about a cosmic battle between good and evil, where God’s love for the human race ultimately triumphs.

In this book you will discover that evil has a face, good has a Champion, and sin has an end. If you want to prepare for the end of this world and the glorious world to come, you must read this book.

Heaven wins!

SCRIPTURE

Pastor Christian, what does the Bible say about People?

First of all, man and woman alike reflect the glory of God. We read this right on the first page of the Bible: ‘So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.’ (Genesis 1:27)

Mankind is the crown of God’s creation. The psalmist wondered to God, ‘What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honour. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet’ (Psalm 8:4-6).

Estranged by sin, and sometimes very far from their Creator, through thick and thin, humans were still ‘the apple of God’s eye’ (see this image in Deuteronomy 32:10; Psalm 17:8; or Zechariah 2:8).

The prophet Isaiah voices God’s care for us; ‘Listen to me . . . you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you’ (Isaiah 46:3, 4).

‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV, see also 31:3).

Do you need more? Just think with me about Jesus – coming in human flesh, just like us (John 1:14), answering to the call for the lowest position (Philippians 2:5-8 and John 13:6-8), being resurrected in flesh and most probably keeping His human appearance forever (Acts 1:11). No wonder He was ‘the Son of man’ (Matthew 16:13-17).

But Sharon, it will also be the other way around. What do I mean? ‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 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. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure’ (1 John 3:1-3).

We shall be like Him!

'E' IS FOR ETERNITY

ETERNAL LIFE

I must admit that, as a teenager, the thought of eternity used to frighten me. In my youthful mind, I wondered what could be so captivating that it would take an eternity to fill. I also wondered about the variety of things to do for an eternal lifetime.

Then, as I matured, I realised that the world – as we know it – has little to offer for our eternal happiness in comparison to what heaven offers. Who would want to live forever in a world that looks like this one with endless wars, crimes, environmental disasters, sickness and death?

Yet, it’s easy to become complacent about and desensitised to even the most negative environments.

We can get so used to that way of life that our living adjusts to the 'abnormal’, to the extent that it becomes normalised.

However, when people have experienced significant trauma, it often changes their perspectives and even the trajectory of their lives.

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to shift our focus from the earthly to the heavenly.

The following is one such story which depicts that reality:

Earthly life – eternal life

The Walton family considered themselves nominal Christians, with occasional visits to church for Easter, Christmas, baby dedications, baptisms and a few special events in the church’s calendar. It was more an ‘event-driven’ religious observance, as opposed to a lifestyle of daily commitment and practice. Life, however, has a way of shaping one’s outlook and changing its trajectory when the unexpected happens.

When Mrs Walton attended her doctor's surgery on a routine visit for an annual check-up, the doctor discovered a suspicious lump.

She was sent for further investigations and was subsequently diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Over time, invasive treatment proved ineffective and the medical professionals stated there was nothing further they could do. With this sudden onset of a terminal illness the family sought refuge in their local church. The pastor provided much-needed support as he counselled them on a regular basis. During the course of undertaking palliative care, Mrs Walton began asking questions about death and what came next. The church’s Bible worker was invited to study with her on the days when she felt able to receive visitors.

Then, when Mrs Walton was finally admitted to hospice care, Mr Walton and his children sought solace in scripture, as they too reached out to the church to help them prepare for the prospect of their beloved matriarch passing away.

Some time later, her family, relatives and community deeply mourned her passing. The sadness, although immense, carried with it the peace of mind that this was not the end. From their Bible studies the family realised that even if time on this earth had ended for this wonderful woman whom they loved dearly, they would one day be reunited with her again, when Jesus returned to take them all to heaven. They made a commitment to having a lasting relationship with Jesus, just as Mrs Walton had done before she died. In doing so, their hope continues to thrive in the knowledge that they too will have an eternity with her, in the world to come.

APPLICATION

Is there someone you loved who has passed away, whom you are looking to spend eternity with?

What gives you that hope?

Think of all the people you would like to see in heaven: those whom you would love to spend an eternity with. What investment are you making in their lives to ensure that will be a reality?

Do you know someone who is not aware of the hope that heaven offers? What will you do to share heaven’s hope with them, so that they too can experience life eternal?

REFLECTION - Eternity? What’s the point?

Interestingly, I have spoken with people who ask the question, ‘What’s the point of eternity?’, or ‘Who wants to live forever?’ Fair questions, and yet . . .

Thinking through these questions we can see that anyone asking is in fact undertaking a comparative analysis of what we know now, what we experience now, and thus contem-plating the unknown future. Some people may even fear eternity, projecting onto it different elements of a far-from-pleasant life on this earth.

Don’t forget, ‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard. . . .’ The fact is, we can never measure heaven and life eternal with what we currently know.

For a start, we will be completely different individuals with different mindsets. Heaven and the New Earth will far outweigh what we have ever experienced here on earth. Here are some scriptures to prove that point:

SCRIPTURE

Pastor Christian, what does the Bible say about Eternity?

The wisest man on earth, King Solomon, wrote this about God: ‘He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end’ (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

It’s not our invention – can you see? And we are unable to fully explain it.

Accordingly, I will let the Bible speak for itself, trusting that He who placed eternity in your heart will answer your yearning for it.

Any Bible student turning the pages of scripture will soon discover that eternity is not a philosophical concept, but a relationship – eternal life, given by God, lived in full.

Remember John 3:16? ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’

The question of ‘when’ one may have eternal life is answered right away – now. Jesus said, ‘Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life’ (John 5:24).

Good news, Sharon: eternal life starts now, not in an afterlife! And it develops into an ever-growing relationship.

Jesus affirmed in his prayer, ‘Now this is eternal life: that they [apostles, me and you, the readers] know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent’ (John 17:3). This is not an intellectual knowledge about God: this is knowing God.

The alternative is clear, as Paul reminds us, ‘The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 6:23). Eternity is a gift, an offer, a promise. By the way, are you looking for promises in the Bible? Match this one, if you can: ‘This is what he promised us – eternal life’ (1 John 2:25).

Knowing God, but still on a spiritual discovery journey, what if you die tonight? Talking to Martha, a sister of soon-to-be-resurrected Lazarus, Jesus said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ (John 11:25, 26).

No other question is more straightforward than this.

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Looking at our world as it is, it seems shrouded in darkness, with its turmoil, daily dose of bad news, the cost-of-living crisis, economic unpredictability, political instability, environmental decline, escalating crime, unending wars. So much evil!

Yet, amidst the negative and dark backdrop of life as we know it, the appeal of heaven shines its bright light into the darkness, illuminating every conceivable space with hope.

This light of hope is one that keeps the path ahead lit with the expectation of a glorious future for all of us, if we accept the love gift that God offers us.

Take a moment to pause and think about what brings you hope. Close your eyes and think of the most wonderful things, circumstances, or experiences that provide the most optimal outlook you could ever imagine.

Have you done that? OK.

Now read once again the following words that you read back in the section on H is for Heaven, and imagine you are a part of the environment being depicted there:

When this earthly life transitions into eternal life, the gift of heaven awaits.

May the hope of heaven, the beauty, peace, perfection and the eternity that it promises, enrich your hope of a better world to come, which we will enjoy forever, with God.