Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that I wanted to tell you a little story.
How many of you have prepared to go on a long vacation somewhere? Maybe you were going to visit some relatives that you hadn’t seen in a long time. Maybe you decided to take a week off and drive around the country to look at the national parks. But more than likely, you probably packed a few bags full of clothes and necessities that you were going to need for the trip. Back in the 18th century, young women would do the same type of thing, but rather than packing a few bags, they would place items into something known as a hope chest. At times it resembled a large trunk or cedar chest, which they would fill with items in anticipation of their future married life. It would include things such as kitchen items, heirlooms and quilts, which were oftentimes gifted by close family members.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
The church is the bride of Christ, and someday His faithful will be joined together with Him in the Kingdom of heaven. That day hasn’t arrived as of yet, but with great anticipation of being able to be with Him forever, we must patiently wait and continually prepare ourselves for that coming day. Just like filling up a hope chest, we must fill up our hearts with Spiritual things, so that someday we will be ready to enter into our new Heavenly home.
Matthew 25:1-13 (KJB) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Just like the wise virgins, those who possess biblical hope will prepare themselves beforehand by doing what is necessary to be ready for future events. Certain dictionaries define “hope” as to expect or desire something with confidence and anticipation. Another definition describes it as an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes; with respect to events and circumstances in one’s own life. What that means is that possessing hope is relative to certain actions that you have taken in your life. For example, your dad might promise to purchase your first home as long as you complete college with honors, but if you choose to slack off, begin to skip your classes, and persist in failing grades, any hope of obtaining that future home will be lost. So you see, possessing good hope is intertwined with one’s actions.
Hope is kind of like a piggy bank. Everyday when we are involved with good works and obedient lives towards the teachings of Christ, these activities are being deposited inside of our hearts, and they continually add up. The greater the amount in the bank, the more hope that you will possess in your heart! So you see, biblical hope is relative to how we live our lives towards the gospel of Christ Jesus. People might be very optimistic and have great hope for what is coming in their future, but what they do today can greatly affect what happens tomorrow. For example, if somebody chooses to do wicked and evil things, then they might be sent to prison, and any hope for a peaceful and pleasant year will be quickly lost.
So again, in the Christian life, possessing great hope or good expectation hinges upon one’s faithfulness and obedience to the teachings of Christ! Those who choose to rebel and sin willfully against God can lose any hope of eternal life. After all, this is what happened to Judas, and Esau, examples of men who tried to repent of what they did but they couldn’t get forgiven by God. Those who rebel and refuse to repent are going to be damned, and at that point, all hope of obtaining heaven will be lost.
Job 8:13 (KJB) So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:
On the other hand, the Apostle Paul had great hope that the Lord Jesus was going to reward Him with the prize of eternal life, but He possessed that hope because he knew that he had been obedient and faithful to the will of God. He had kept the faith, and had great hope of being able to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Like a hope chest, he had stored up good works and deeds, along with faithful and obedient living, and because of this he knew that the Lord was going to reward him according to his works!
2 Timothy 4:6-8 (KJB) For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
2 Timothy 1:12 (KJB) …….for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
When you do good things don’t you expect that good things are going to happen? Likewise when people do what is evil, any hope of good consequences is going to quickly fade away. Through the incredible mercy that is found in our precious Lord Jesus, we can have great hope of being able to enter into heaven, but that will obviously require turning from sin, walking in God’s will, and doing works that are meet for repentance. To obtain eternal life will require our diligent efforts, because Jesus taught that we must strive to enter in!
Just like the five virgins, we must be ready and prepared to enter into the marriage. With great anticipation of that day, we must continue to fill our hearts with good deeds and works of obedience towards his name. It is through these activities that we are laying a good foundation for what is coming in the future. Do you have great expectations of being able to be with Jesus someday? What are some of the things that you have been storing up, deep inside of….
……..The Hope Chest
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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