Kingdom Consummated Part 7
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Consummated,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
Our series is called Kingdom Consummated. As we look at all that God has done and all that He will yet do, it should fill our hearts with what Peter calls a living hope.
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
This hope is not wishful thinking. It is rooted in the unshakable truth of the resurrection. When our hope is rightly placed in God’s plan for the renewal of all things, we begin to experience the full and abundant life that we have been called to. It guards our hearts from the disappointments that come from hoping in things that cannot last.
Not all hopes are equal. There are casual hopes, precious hopes, and ultimate hopes.
Casual hopes are the small, everyday kind: “I hope it does not rain this weekend.” “I hope the meeting goes well.” These are normal and healthy. They remind us that our hearts are still alive and looking toward the future.
Precious hopes go deeper. They touch the heart and often bring us to prayer: “I hope the doctor’s report is good.” “I hope my child finds peace.” These are sacred desires that draw us into faith and dependence on God.
Then there are ultimate hopes. These are the ones that define our lives and give us direction. They are the foundation upon which all other hopes rest. Only one thing belongs in this category, the hope of the renewal of all things that God has promised.
Many people confuse these levels of hope. They elevate casual hopes to precious ones and precious hopes to ultimate ones. When that happens, heartbreak is sure to follow. Our souls were never meant to carry ultimate hope in anything less than the eternal promises of God.
Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
When a casual hope is delayed, we might feel frustrated for a moment. When a precious hope is broken, it can wound deeply. But when an ultimate hope fails, it shakes the core of who we are.
That is why our greatest hope must be anchored in Christ and in the restoration He will bring. Only then will every other hope find its rightful place and our hearts remain steady, alive, and full of peace.
This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.