This hope you have?

Numerous times in the New Testament, Paul would use the word "hope" to signify the life to come (Romans 8:25; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; Titus 1:2). This word is fitting for more than one reason, not the least of which is due to the fact that none of us have ever seen the place that is to come. It is something longed for, desired, and expected to come after the pain of this life is over. Moses, with a similar mind as Paul, desired only to be able to see the land that he labored so long for.

However, God had something far better for His servant than a physical Canaan, not allowing him to enter because of his unfaithfulness at the waters of Meribah. But these men would not have been able to have this expectation of a better life had they not worked in this life. Hebrews 4:1 calls this hope a "rest." Now tell me this: how can one rest from something for which they have not worked? Rather, the rest is our reward for the labor that we do in this life. While denominationalism will teach that faith is all you need to be saved, or that once you are baptized you can take it easy (e.g., "once saved, always saved"), this is clearly not what the Bible teaches. God wants a worker in this life so he can have a restful soul in the life to come. The only question left is: have you been working?

Brady Cook