04.04 Hope with a Future
CHAPTER IV
HOPE WITH A FUTURE "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Corinthians 15:19).
It is a lesson hard to learn that the material and physical blessings of this life are not part of our salvation. These blessings, involving wealth and health, come to men indiscriminately; to the lost and saved alike. They come in the general providence of God. "For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matthew 5:45). Jesus Christ did not die to save us from the temporary effects of sin, but only from its eternal consequences. He did not die to keep us from being poor in the material things of earth. He did not die to guarantee us good health. Physical healing is no more in the atonement than is economic security. The writer believes in an atonement that actually atones, and if physical healing is in the atonement, the believers would never so much as have a headache. Bodily redemption is indeed in the atonement, but for the redemption of the body we must await our Lord’s return. Believers may pray for health and for material blessings; not on the ground of the death of Christ, but according to the sovereign pleasure of God. John says that if we ask anything according to His will He heareth us. Paul felt that he had a very poor salvation if he got all of it in this life, which ended by his head being chopped off by a Roman soldier. The martyrs had a sorry salvation if their hope ended with this present life. And we ourselves, who have suffered little for the sake of Christ, have a short and sorry salvation if it is limited to this present life. Our Father’s plan is for us to bear the cross here and wear the crown yonder. If we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him.
Paul is arguing the necessity of the resurrection to justify our salvation. If there is no resurrection, those fallen asleep in Christ are perished. Christ’s resurrection was necessary in order to save us, and our own resurrection is essential to our salvation.
One of the chief errors of God’s people is that they are not willing to wait for their inheritance; not willing to wait for the hope laid up for us in heaven. We put too much emphasis on physical and material things here and now. Esau could not wait for his birthright; he despised it because it was something future, and bartered it for a mess of pottage. He satisfied his stomach at the expense of his soul. He traded his glorious inheritance for a temporary snack.
CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT To be content does not mean that the believer should do nothing to improve his lot on earth. This would preclude any effort of any sort for any purpose. This would paralyze all industry. But when the Christian has regulated his life by the word of God, in any or every business undertaking, he should be content with the results and not murmur or complain. Paul said, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Php 4:11). It was something he had learned, not a natural virtue. "Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). "And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content" (1 Timothy 6:8).
CHRISTIAN JOY The believer is to be happy in this life, but this happiness is not be based upon physical and material blessings. Here is one reason why the saints are not happier: they are trying to find happiness in the things of earth - in the things that would make the world happy - in such things as wealth and health and worldly amusements. But Christian joy is a fruit of the Spirit and is based upon spiritual and eternal blessings. The believer is to rejoice in the Lord. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe" (Php 3:1). He is to be happy that he has Christ. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). But none of these is material or physical. They are spiritual and far more valuable than anything material or physical. In one of the Chapman-Alexander meetings, a poor paralytic was wheeled down the aisle and placed in front of the platform. The song leader looked down at him and asked for his favorite number. As quick as a flash, the helpless man replied, "Count Your Blessings" The believer is to "rejoice, because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). To have our name in the Lamb’s book of life is so much better than to have it make the headlines or appear in the social column or Who’ s Who’s.
We are to rejoice in hope. To rejoice in hope is not to rejoice in the possession of something, but in anticipation of something good. "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation" (Romans 12:12). If we will rejoice in hope of future good in heaven, we will be patient in times of trouble and adversity. We are to rejoice in hope of the glory of God. In our present conflict with sin we can be happy that the warfare will soon be over and we will reflect the glory of God in our very person.
We are to rejoice in tribulation and persecution, not because they are good in themselves. "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven" (Matthew 5:12). A mother and little daughter stood near the tracks watching the train go by. "That train goes so fast," said the child. "Yes, that is the Lightning Express," replied the mother. "Does that train go to heaven, too?" inquired the child. Life is much like the Lightning Express. Is the train of your life on the way to heaven and eternal glory? NOT A BED OF ROSES The Christian life here on earth is not an easy life. Many are the afflictions of the righteous. As a general rule the Lord’s people do not have the carefree and easy life men of the world enjoy. The Lord’s people have conscious obligations that do not bother the world. Men of the world are free and easy - they have no church to support with its constant calls for money and time. They do not have to be pestered with a pastor who wants them to honor God with their lives and with the firstfruits of their increase. The Christian life is no bed of roses. The lost man does not have to endure chastening from a heavenly Father. He knows nothing of the discipline that is necessary to a heavenly character. Every Christian ought to thank God for being more concerned about his character than his comfort. "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous" (Hebrews 12:11). The prosperity of the wicked puzzled David, and was about to make a skeptic of him; but when he went to God’s house and learned about their latter end, he understood. " When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end" (Psalms 73:16-17).
PAUL’S EXPERIENCE
Paul was not only speaking of the saints in general, but of himself in particular, when he said, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (1 Corinthians 15:19). These words are far more significant in the light of his experiences than ours. What did Paul get in this life? From his heavenly Father he got a thorn in the flesh, and other disciplinary experiences, to keep him humble. From the churches he received little, and from the Corinthians not a penny; he even robbed other churches to serve them. From false apostles he received slander and bitter opposition to the truth he preached. From weak-kneed brethren he met with neglect and lack of appreciation. From Demas, his fair weather friend, he got a cold shoulder. Demas forsook him in a pinch. From the Jews he received five beatings of thirty-nine stripes. Paul was a Roman citizen, but what did he get from the Roman government? He got free board in a dungeon for awhile and then the headman’s ax. Paul faced perils everywhere: "In perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:26-28).
Paul triumphed over all the grievous and painful ills of life because of his hope of a better day. He had pinned his faith and hope to One who would not disappoint him, but after the ills and sorrows of life were over, would receive him into glory. How miserable he would have been apart from the good hope through grace.
Theodore Roosevelt and an humble preacher came home from a trip abroad on the same ship. A great, cheering crowd was on hand to greet the president, but nobody to welcome the preacher. For a moment he was resentful, and then he said to himself, "I am not home yet." Let the humble servant of God remember this when he feels tempted to envy the world’s heroes. He may be assured of a welcome when he is received into the everlasting habitations.