Rom 5:3-5 NLT
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident HOPE of salvation.5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Titus 2:11-13 NLT
11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with HOPE to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. 14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
The Christian Hope is not wishful thinking but confident expectation that God’s promises will definitely come true. As some incredible prophecies have been fulfilled beyond our imagination, we can trust future prophecies will be fulfilled just the same. It is rooted in faith in the salvation of Jesus Christ and culminates in His Second Coming. Because of this Hope, the Christian is zealous for good works for the love of his Lord. And it also brings peace and joy to him or her through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Christian looks forward to this heavenly city built by God and lives as an exile because nothing on this world can satisfy his deepest desire and he is sensible enough to give up all worldly pursuits in exchange for this greatest treasure of the Kingdom of Heaven. Heb 11:13-16.
The non believers can laugh at the “silly” belief of ours imagining heaven as a place where angels play harp or just whiling the time away flying around. We should ignore such detractors and not to take such imageries of Heaven literally. Otherwise when our Lord tells us to be like doves, we have to lay eggs (in CS Lewis’s words).
Heaven will realize our greatest aspirations and we can handle all such aspirations then as sin is no more. Science, art, culture and technology will be limitless because the new “kairos” earth is a resurrected glorified earth.
