During this distressful time in our world and the current events unfolding, I wanted to share an excerpt from “Mere Christianity” by C.S. Lewis that I found to bring hope and some enduring peace:
“Hope is one of the Theological virtues. This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is.
If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. The Apostles themselves, who set on foot the conversion of the Roman Empire, the great men who built up the Middle Ages, the English Evangelicals who abolished the Slave Trade, all left their mark on Earth, precisely because their minds were occupied with Heaven.
It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth “thrown in”: aim at earth and you will get neither.
It seems a strange rule, but something like it can be seen at work in other matters. Health is a great blessing, but the moment you make health one of your main, direct objects you start becoming a crank and imagining there is something wrong with you. You are only likely to get health provided you want other things more—food, games, work, fun, open air.
In the same way, we shall never save civilization as long as civilization is our main object. We must learn to want something else even more.”
I think hope is what so many are longing for. What if our heightened state of longing for things to be good again was more than a response to trauma, chronic disappointment, or soul deprivation? Most people feel that we were made for more than this world has to offer. Where does that feeling come from? Maybe our hearts are telling us to be expectant of something wonderful.
After Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation. – Hebrews 9:28 NET
Jesus Christ will appear a second time to bring salvation! Maybe you’ve never heard it this way but the gospel is the greatest love story the world has ever known. We the church are the the bride of Christ and he is coming for us. What could be more exciting!
The three primary writers of the New Testament; John, Peter, and Paul, talk so passionately and powerfully about the second advent of Christ. They were adamant with a hope filled expectation that as surely as Jesus had come the first time, he was coming again for us. They also shared one obvious commonality: they all had personally encountered Jesus. They knew him and they could not wait to see him again.
Knowing Jesus personally changes everything.
We’re supposed to be mindful that He who came is coming again. He is the only one who can redeem and restore our broken world and our aching hearts. He is the only one who can make our upside down world right. While everything that can be shaken will be shaken, we can hold fast to the glorious expectation that the One who came is coming again, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.
The gospel isn’t just the story of Jesus, the gospel is Jesus and I promise you there is no one like him. The good news is you get to know Jesus just as his disciples did.
If you haven’t given your life to Jesus, I would like to invite you to say this
Salvation Prayer:
“Lord, I confess that I am a sinner. I don’t have it all together and I need you, Jesus, in my life. Please forgive me of my sins.
Jesus, I believe that you died on the cross for me. Through your resurrection on the cross, I may have eternal life with you.
Would you come into my life now, as my Lord and Savior? I invite you into my heart. I surrender the leadership of my life to you. Thank you, Jesus.
Now Lord, would you please fill me with Your Holy Spirit who will guide me and show me your ways. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Guess what? Today is an exciting day! Today is the start of your new life in Christ! Your name is now written in the book of life in Heaven! Praise God!
If you prayed this prayer, I would love if you would contact me. I know it can be hard to know where to start so I would be happy to share some free resources and Christian mentors with you that I have found helpful and beneficial to growing in my faith and understanding the Bible.
Clay and I would love to recommend the free Wild At Heart app created by John Eledredge and his team. We look forward to the weekly Wild At Heart podcast and love every book written by John and Stasi Eledredge. The book Beautiful Outlaw is a great place to start.
I’ve included my She Reads Truth Bible and the referenced C.S. Lewis book below. Here is our church’s online services, if you would like to watch a sermon series click here.
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