When Hope Comes Back to Life

Genesis 45:25-28

²⁵So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. ²⁶And they told him, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. ²⁷But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. ²⁸And Israel said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

(ESV)

Thought:
Some things just seem unbelievable. That was the case for Jacob, he sat there expecting his sons, likely with news that would send him to the grave, that he had lost another child. But it is not so. Instead his dead son has been restored to him, and he can’t even believe it, his heart is numb.

How often do you think of heaven? How good it shall be there? There is something about heaven that just seems unbelievable. We like Jacob see the immense wagons of riches that are to be ours, and we almost can not imagine such a gift. It is too grand for our imaginations.

But yet it shall be ours. Do not let your heart grow numb to the great things of God. Don’t let eternal life become just another word of little significance in your mind. Don’t let seeing the Lord face-to-face seem like a trivial matter. It is everything, it is beyond words how sweet it shall be.

To finally taste of the fruit and see with eyes that which we have hoped in for so long. The thought of it should send shivers up our spine, should warm our hearts with excitement, and make the pleasures of this world seem dull in comparison.

It is found through faith in Jesus, that his sacrifice, taking our place on that cross has purchased for us peace with God, there is no other way and there never will be.

Spend time contemplating heaven, you have no idea what it will be like. Just imagine all the things it won’t be. No sickness, no pain, no evil, no division, no brokenness, no death. Christians were not saved so they might spend the rest of their days in despair and sorrow. We are the people with hope, the people with unshakable joy.

We get too comfortable here, we learn not to expect too much, or to ask for too much. Our hearts grow numb, my friends, stir yourselves up, despair of the pleasures here and long deeply for the pleasures of the age to come. Long to see your Lord face-to-face, be able to believe in your heart just like Paul.

Philippians 1:23

²³I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

(ESV)

Reflection:
As I go about my day, I need to guard my heart from becoming numb to the promises of God. It is easy to become so accustomed to speaking about heaven, eternal life, and seeing Christ that they lose their wonder. Today I need to apply this by deliberately reflecting on what awaits me in Christ and allowing that hope to shape how I view my present circumstances. The joys of this world are temporary, but the glory that awaits is eternal and beyond anything I can currently imagine.

Prayer:
Father, forgive me when I become indifferent to the hope You have given me. Stir my heart afresh with the reality of heaven, the promise of eternal life, and the joy of seeing Christ face to face. Help me live with anticipation and confidence, knowing that what You have prepared for Your people is far better than anything this world can offer. Amen.