20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Your best days are in front of you. Life for them. If I believe a better day is coming, a day when all my desires will be overwhelmingly met and exceeded and I will know lasting joy, that frees me to live with disappointment today. It frees me to serve others today.

My day is coming, so it does not have to be today. It frees me to give up today’s comforts in order to make someone else comfortable. It frees you to love someone who continually lets you down.

As we feed our hope we can forget our needs and joyfully use the time we have to love others.

What is our hope?

Citizenship in heaven.

We will belong, we will have a family and never be lonely again.

a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ

He will finally and fully deliver us from every effect of sin on this earth.

What is so hard about this life? It is the continual bombardment of doubt, if God really loved me would I have to hurt like this? The beautiful description of heaven is this: God himself will be their shepherd and he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Some of you are going through very difficult times. Jobs are being lost, health is failing, friends are failing, and you are wondering, does it really have to be like this. When you see him, you will understand.

He is not going to send some undershepherd, he is not going to be too busy for us. He himself will come to you, and when you see him you will understand. He will say, I know it was hard, I am so sorry but we had to suffer together. There was simply no other way.

And then, not a second before then, but then you will know you can trust him fully. You will never doubt him, or weep again.

To know him is to share in the fellowship of his suffering. But it also to share his resurrection.

A glorious body

You will enjoy everything you were created to enjoy. The signs of aging will be rolled back, and all of your holy longings will be met. Your outer beauty will match your inner beauty.

You will feel good, you will run, and jump, and play, and laugh. You will feel good. You will look good, if you could see it now you would be tempted to worship. You will be good, you will walk without a hint of shame.