When Our Blessed Hope Arrives

Introduction

Today we close not just a sermon series but our liturgical church year. Today is what the Church calls “Christ the King” or “Reign of Christ” Sunday. The last day on the liturgical calendar before we begin it again with Advent starting next week. Like all things in the church year, we designate certain times to remember and look forward to the promises of God in scripture. Like our Jewish ancestors in faith in the Hebrew Bible, we commemorate important events and in the life of Christ and the life of the church. Today we focus on Christ as king.

We’ve been discussing this for the last 3 weeks as we have looked at Our Blessed Hope....of the appearing of the glory of our God and savior Jesus Christ.

Three Sundays ago we discussed what the blessed hope is (Jesus’ 2nd coming) and what it is designed to inspire in believers (looking for his return and being zealous for good works).

Two Sundays ago we talked about our Character and Conduct and how we cannot go in continuing in sin if we are truly God’s children. God has to change us and change our hearts.

Last week we talked about the signs of the times looking at the miraculous rebirth of Israel and the Hebrew language after almost 2,000 years and how God promised the prophet Ezekiel...that God would do wonderous things and replace hearts of stone with hearts of flesh...and put God’s own Spirit inside his children.

And today (on Christ the King Sunday) we read from Rev. 21 about the new heaven and the new earth and what it will be like “When Our Blessed Hope Arrives”

How Long?

With the Hebrew prophets in the Bible...we join our voices with them in asking God “How long?”

How long before restoration....redemption...and salvation comes?

Many of us are sick and tired...of being sick and tired. We long for that day...the “new heaven and new earth” and “the Holy City new Jerusalem comes down out of heaven from God.”

With ever heartbreak...disappointment...and new ache or pain in our bodies or minds...we say “how long”?

What will it be like for the Christian when our blessed hope arrives?

Revelation 21

Rev. 21 makes clear that all things will be new. New heaven/earth...new Jerusalem...

There would be transparency in our relationship with God. Revelation 21:3

Revelation 21:3 NLT

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “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.

God will be with us...among us...just like he did when Jesus came to us...only this time it will be forever. And like a loving parent...God will… Revelation 21:4

Revelation 21:4 NLT

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.”

Whatever you beef with God is about your life or life on earth...it will be squashed. You and I will be comforted...our tears will be no more. And all the things that break out hearts in this life...death...sorrow...crying...pain...gone forever! It’s too good to even imagine.

I spoke this week with one of our members...and our conversation turned to the eternal. We talked about how our finite human mind cannot begin to fathom eternity. Well, we can’t fathom the new heaven / earth / Jerusalem either. When our blessed hope appears...our longing will be fulfilled...our needs met...our eternity initiated.

Unimaginable Life Now

The blessed hope of Jesus' return...when it arrives...brings with it all that every human heart longs for.

The pain and sin in this world...which stems from humanity trying to be its own god...and seeking after the very things that Revelation 21 promises...only humans go after it in all the wrong ways. We don’t want to wait on it...so we seek it out in worldly pleasures...attempting to cease our pain and misery.

But there is an unimaginable life with God...promised to us here. And this fact of scripture...will come to pass. It is our sure and blessed hope.

So for the Christian, we need not bother with pursuing these things in our own way....we need only to trust and look forward to the inbreaking of eternity at Christ’s return.

Lest we forget...Jesus first words in the gospel of Mark… Mark 1:15

Mark 1:15 ESV

...“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The kingdom of God is already arrived...even if it is not yet fully realized.

Dr. Shirley Guthrie writes “The God in whom we hope...is a God who not only ‘will be’ but ‘is’ the (all) powerful, compassionate, ruler of the world. The crucified and risen Christ who ‘will’ come to overthrow all the powers of darkness and evil...that spoils God’s good creation and human life...has already triumphed over them and even now...is at work to complete the work he has begun.”

He adds “Christians do not believe in the perfectibility of humankind, but if we really believe in the sovereign power and love of a God who is the world’s creator and ruler...we can and must do what we can to achieve at least a little more justice and humanity in a world that not only will be but is God’s world. “

Dr. Gutherie’s point is that the blessed hope and the promise of heaven found in scripture...is not something we simply long for or wait for and then will enjoy...no...he is saying...the great promise and hope for the Christian (as found in scripture) should be a catalyst for our “good works”...our works of compassion and working toward God’s justice in the here and now.

Closing

On this Christ the King Sunday...we are celebrating and worshiping Christ as king...not just of heaven...but of earth. For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son...that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. God did not send his son into the world to condemn it....but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Whenever we read in scripture of the future God has prepared for those who believe in him... we should savor it like a perfectly cooked ribeye steak... that almost melts in your mouth (or fill in the blank with something you like to eat)...

We should savor it...enjoy it... look forward to it...even be watching out for it to happen at any moment.

But we should also let the Holy Spirit...use it...to produce in us a call to godly living and action...here and now.

The blessed hope for the Christian...the promise of heaven and the death of all sin, sorrow, and shame...is...by extension the blessed hope for the world...that God loves. Our lives should reflect the blessed hope we have in Christ...and our lives should produce fruit in keeping with repentance..and that demonstrates God’s sovereign rule...here and now...and forever!

Thanks be to God...AMEN.