The snow and extreme cold temperatures, this week, have us all looking forward to warmer weather. For my part, it can’t come too soon! Cold weather doesn’t bother most of us, but freezing weather is more than we can stand. Snow is pretty, but it messes up a lot of things as it is melting. In addition to the way it feels, this cold weather creates problems for our health, driving and even the household plumbing.

But we have hope! The local weatherman has been forecasting warmer temperatures and drier weather for the next week. I can’t wait! I’ll tell you something else…I’m looking forward to warmer weather and drier ground so that I can get started on my garden! But, by harvest-time, it will be so hot, I’ll be wanting cooler weather. Too bad everyday can’t be sunshine, consistently pleasing temperatures and rain as needed!

Hope is the eager anticipation of good things to come. In spiritual terms, we wait for the time when we can be with God in heaven. To that end, we are always waiting, longing and looking for the second coming of Jesus. In anticipation of that, we live in preparation so that we can be ready for his arrival.

Let me illustrate. Most of us are ready for the warm weather. It feels good, we feel more alive, and we look forward to the things we can do once that warmer weather arrives. So, while we are waiting, we make preparations for the things we are going to do. When that warm weather comes, we are not caught by surprise. We are prepared for it and enjoy the things we have thought about all winter.

 So, it is with our hope of heaven. Tired of the bad weather, we look for a better day when the climate is more agreeable to our senses. We, as the saints of God, tired of the environment of sin around us, look for a better day where sin will have no more effect on us. We are looking for heaven, a place where righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13); the place where the glory of God and Jesus is the light (Rev. 21:23); where the former things like pain, sorrow, death and tears are passed away (Rev. 21:4) and where nothing fades away or is destroyed due to the decay of age (1 Pet. 1:4).

On earth, the weatherman can be wrong about what the weather is going to do and what preparations we need to make. But the Bible is true and promises a new day coming when everything will be better, and we will dwell in happiness forever- more! What does the weather have to do with hope? Everything!!!

 

-Gary Knuckles lives in Briensburg, KY and preaches at the Briensburg Church of Christ