We know from 1 Corinthians 15:19 that our hope does not lie in this life, so where does our hope lie and what does it lead us to in this life?
Jesus after rebuking James and John in Luke 9 for wanting to bring immediate judgement on the Samaritan village stated what his purpose was and wasn't in this life: not to settle for this life but to call people to the gospel and future glory. He says "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no where to lay his head" and then "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.", he had unwavering focus set on the task at hand. Jesus then sends out seventy-two people to take the gospel message out "the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few". And finally at the conclusion of the book of Luke Jesus just prior to his ascension says "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father (Holy Spirit ) upon you."
As the life of Christ produced much suffering, as he called people to himself, we also must count the cost being prepared at all time with the gospel. We see here that our hope is tied to our suffering. Paul writes in Romans 5 1-5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been put into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Taking the Gospel to our community, our neighbors, the globe will cost us suffering but we can count that suffering all joy.
In Christ, Matt
