LOOKING FORWARD TO IT
READING: HEBREWS 12:1-11
The most remarkable feat of endurance that has ever occurred was Jesus on the cross. We are informed by this verse that the joy that was set before Him at that time, served powerfully to inspire His endurance. The promise of a joy that was to come, sustained Him! The source of that joy was His anticipation of returning to the Father to sit down at the right hand of God’s throne. You may know a shadow of this feeling. You have just completed some hot, hard and demanding work. Now you can sit down with a cold drink, relax and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done. That feeling, infinitely multiplied, must be like the joy that was before Jesus. How good it is to know that this experience of Jesus is a prelude to what we can expect. We too have eternal joy before us! We are promised to be able to sit in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. Can you picture the scene? He is there at the Father’s right hand and we are there in place with them. Some would call this “pie in the sky bye and bye.” It is so much more! The actual truth is that this forward looking provision strengthened our Savior during the agony of the cross. Therefore, as we need it, it will also empower you and me! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.
RESPONSE
2. In what way has your expectation of heaven helped you in this life?
