The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
What Are You Looking For?
A New Year is, once again, upon us. It seems a time of reflection for many, in which the old year is reviewed for the purpose of recognizing what we need to change to make our lives better. But then those resolutions quickly depress us by their unattainability and the New Year begins just like all the others: in the same rut of compromising behaviors and habits. When we make resolutions, what is it that we are really looking for?
As Christians we are given clear direction about how we should believe and behave. Some of the Epistles in the New Testament hold passages directly related to what we should be looking for as Christians, the representatives of the Kingdom of God on earth. We are not left to our own devices to succeed or fail in the obedience God calls us to. He gives us what we need, as we need it, to carry out His purposes on earth.
First, we look for the blessed hope of the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ while living in the present world. We don’t know how much time we have on earth and so we need to live each day as if it were our last:
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
What a joyous life we live when our intentional focus is on serving God in righteous obedience to His Word. Traumatic events, like cancer, losses from hurricanes or wild fires, or false imprisonment because of our faith, may seem like interruptions to the way we plan our lives. But they become tools of God’s intervention in this world when we set our own agenda aside, keeping our hope on Him and His soon return for us.
Second, we boldly and faithfully look for Him, who is our high priest with God, in every aspect of our lives:
“Have therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he has consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is. But exhort one another and, so much the more, as you see the day [of his return] approaching” (Heb.10:19-25).
Note that good works do not save us. Belief in the grace and mercy of the shed blood of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is what saves us. The good works are an outcome of our faith and of our faithfully following our Lord Jesus Christ.
Third, we look to Jesus as our example of patient and holy living, even as we endure the difficulties of our human lives:
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds” (Heb. 12:1-3)
As Hebrews 4:15-16 tells us, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Fourth, we dishonor the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and need to look for judgment if we willfully sin:
“For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:26-27).
By the same token, our very salvation is in question if we willfully and persistently sin. A mark of God’s people is holiness and righteousness, not unrighteous habits and behaviors.
Fifth, we look for opportunity to live the gospel to those around us:
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Look diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled” (Heb. 12:14-15).
We are, after all, ambassadors of Christ. We are the visible representation of Christ to those around us. Our holiness shows the people around us who Jesus Christ is.
Sixth, we look for the new heaven and new earth, engaging in the biblical world view in all aspects of our lives:
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? [You ought to be] looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Pet. 3:11-14).
Finally, we look toward eternal life, keeping in mind that this world, bound by time and physical space, is only temporary and we see the prophesied signs that we are near the last times:
“But, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 17-25).
