“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” II Peter 3:13
Hope – I hope my day goes well. I hope my check arrives in the mail I hope there is snow for Christmas.
We all hope for things. Webster defines hope as: a desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it.
Hope is a good thing.
It provides a source of comfort as we anticipate good. Today I am thankful for the hope of heaven – the greatest hope there is!
We lost a good friend this month but he isn’t lost. We’ll see him again in Heaven. We have hope of being together again because we both know the Savior. He is our hope of Heaven.
This song was written by N.B. Vandall. What circumstances caused him to write this beautiful hymn? This is what he wrote after learning his son had been critically injured in a car accident.
“For one hour and fifteen minutes, I held on in prayer while they cleaned and sewed up the head wounds and set the broken bones. Wearily, I made my way back to my humble home. I tried to comfort my wife, when, in my own heart, I had no assurance. I fell on my knees and tried to pray saying only “O God!”
Hardly had those words been uttered when God came. It seemed to me that Jesus knelt by my side and I could feel His arms around me as He said, “Never mind, my child. Your home will be visited with tribulation and sorrow, but in the afterwards to come, these things shall not be. Your home is in heaven, where all tears shall be wiped away!
Brushing aside my tears, I made my way to the piano and wrote the song “After.” Paul did recover from the accident. He is still very nervous and his eyesight is impaired, but I thank God for His goodness in giving him back to us. God in His wisdom, through heartache, gave a song that has since been a comfort to a vast number of His people.”
So, what comes after this harsh life?
Jesus, our Hope! Heaven, our eternal resting place! God’s Throne, a welcome retreat. After the toil, the heat of the day—-Jesus my Savior I’ll meet.
See you soon, loved ones!!
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13
