… the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven …
Summary: Paul’s discussion about the source of “faith and love” causes us to wonder about this place called heaven.
Do you believe in heaven?
Do you know where heaven is?
Paul doesn’t know. Oh, I know that he was there once (2 Corinthians 12:2-5), but that doesn’t mean he knows where it is.
Have you ever seen one of those adventure movies where the hero or heroine has a bag thrown over their head, and they are hustled into a waiting windowless van? They are driven to a secret location to meet “Mr. Big,” and then, if they survive, they are returned the same way. The hero knows that they were somewhere, but they don’t know where.
It is the same way with heaven, only without the bag over the head.
The Bible tells us that God is spirit (John 4:24). If God is spirit, it makes sense that heaven, the place where God lives, is a spiritual place.
Do you remember the story of Jesus putting the Sadducees in their place when they asked him about the woman who had been married to seven brothers? (Matthew 22:23-33) The Sadducees didn’t believe in an afterlife, but they knew that Jesus did, so they tried to trap him. The problem with their trap was that they assumed people who go to heaven will be like people on earth — that is, they expected us to have physical bodies in heaven. Jesus sets them straight by telling them people “will be like the angels in heaven” (Matthew 22:30).
What does that mean?
What does that tell us about the place where our hope is “stored up?”
Perhaps the closest we get to an answer is found in our Lord Jesus. After his resurrection from the dead, he appeared to many people. When we say “appeared,” that is literally what he did. He stepped from the spiritual realm into our physical world. When he disappeared, he stepped back into the spiritual realm.
So which is more real?
The answer to that is found in verse one of Genesis, Chapter One. It says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The “heavens” he is talking about is the sky above the earth. The “heaven” Paul refers to is the place where God is. The place where God was when he made the earthly heavens.
God’s heaven is real. It is probably more “real” than anything we have ever experienced here on earth. We are like a fish in water who cannot visualize what life is like for a bird. The bird flies through the air, and the fish swims through the sea.
When it comes to reality, we are just fish in an endless sea. Above us are the “heavens,” and above that is THE heaven, the source of faith and love and the place where our hope is stored.
Application: Know that heaven is a real place.
Food for Thought: Why does faith and love spring from hope? What is the connection?
Why does faith and love spring from hope? What is the connection?
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
When I read that verse I think about the underlying hope in it. That I heard the word of Christ, understood that I had sinned, and that I was separated from God. The message of hope through Christ is that we can be resorted to God, despite sin.
So we hear the word of Christ, and instead of condemnation, it gave us hope, and from that hope comes faith.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
In the continual assurance of our hope, our faith grows. As our faith grows, our gratitude grows.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
As our gratitude grows, our ability to receive and to give love grows. We become more Christ-like in our love, and love lives through us.
Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Thank you, Chris!
This is very well said:
“So we hear the word of Christ, and instead of condemnation, it gave us hope, and from that hope comes faith.”
Contrasting our expectation of condemnation (what we deserve) with the love of the Gospel message paints a beautiful portrait of why we have hope.
Good stuff CH.
Another passage that is helpful is Romans 5: 1 – 5: Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we havea peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoiceb in the hope of the glory of God.
3Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.
As for Heaven, I personally do believe it is a real physical place. I know this is debated and the Catholic Catechism says that it is not a physical place but only a spiritual reality. But I am not sure I buy that. It is described with streets and dimensions and material objects such as gold and jewels. The New Heaven and Earth replace our current earth. Jesus did appear in physical form and will return that way riding on a horse. We will receive new bodies. Anyway, I don’t doubt that the current paradise and the eventual new Heaven and earth are places of great spiritual significance, but I personally do think the biblical description reveals a physical reality.
I agree with RC Sproul on this (although I don’t agree with him on everything). Here is how he put it: “Acts 1:6–11 tells us that Jesus ascended to heaven, indicating His movement from one place (earth) to another (heaven). Furthermore, we know that Jesus continues to have a physical human body after His resurrection, albeit one that is glorified by the Holy Spirit (John 20:24–29; 1 Cor. 15). Physical objects are located in space and time; in other words, they are localized in a particular place. On the last day, Jesus will descend from heaven to bring the final resurrection and judgment (1 Thess. 4:16). His physical, glorified body will move from one place (heaven) to another (earth).”
Again, I know this is highly debated and debatable. And I realize the current paradise is different than what we experience just as Jesus’ glorified body is different. But I do think the evidence is strong that it isn’t only a state of mind.
BTW: I am not intentionally trying to argue with your devotional. I think your devotional was very good. Just another perspective.
Thanks, Brother!
Your perspective is welcome and highly respected here. Arguments are considered “iron sharpening iron.” 🙂
In this case, I don’t see any conflict at all.
Thank you, Rich!
I completely agree that heaven is not a “state of mind.” (Although we can experience states of mind in this life we characterize as ‘heavenly.’)
I think the term that describes these topics is “adiaphora.” Not essential to the faith but very interesting to discuss. 🙂
Lare to the party, but great comments!
Why does faith and love spring from hope? What is the connection?
Our hope is not in or from man. Our hope is a supernatural hope, the result of our response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit of God which is given to all mankind.
John 16:8, “ When He comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.”
Our hope is by the power of God, founded on our response to this conviction, as we place our trust and faith in the only One we can trust for eternal life, Jesus Christ. His demonstration of His love for us, His promise of life for us, has given us this foundation of hope through Him, in a world that offers none.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4:9, This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
1 Thessalonians 1:3-4, We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you.
Thank you, Ron.
What I hear in your words is the importance of relationship. We have hope because we have a relationship with God. Everything else stems from that.
Exactly!
Great Job Jeff!
Ron