“Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” [1]
Hope is anticipating a future that is better than the present. Hope is good for us.
Christian hope is different than optimism. Optimism can amount to a baseless belief that somehow things will always get better. Christian hope is based on a person: Jesus Christ.
Paul believed that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay our sin debt. Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day. Paul’s hope was based in the victory of Messiah over death and in His promise to resurrect all who believe in Him.
Jesus will transform our lowly bodies to conform to His glorious body. Our miracle working Savior does this miracle. This is the prize. This is the hope He has given to us. Our heavenly citizenship that is not based on our works, race, social class, or gender, but based on what Jesus Christ did for us. He is our blessed hope!
[1] Philippians 3:13-14, 20-21
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