A Promise On The Other Side

I know that we have much hope in the things of this world. I am aware that most of us have got big dreams; we have many things we want and wish to archive. Indeed, some of us are already living relatively good lives; topped by big and well-deserved achievements. All these are not bad, in fact, all good things come from above as a gift for our enjoyment (Jam 1:17). At the same time, I know that “good living” is not for everyone – there are still some of us who are struggling to make ends meet despite doing everything we can to work hard. As a matter of fact, I have been to some places where I questioned God for allowing those people to live in such terrible conditions. Some are they whose earthly bodies are not so good, health-wise. I have lived long enough on this planet to learn that this earth is sometimes a cruel place to live in. It has all kinds of heartbreaks and heartaches; pains and sorrows. My short message to all of us is that there is another hope. A hope that is based neither on the political current affairs, nor on the shifting climate patterns, but it’s a hope that is fixed on the other side of death, where the Almighty King has set His promise, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you” (Joh 14:1-2).

When He says, “let not your hearts be troubled”, He doesn’t intend us to ignore our present troubles (which can never be ignored) but to look beyond them – towards another world where the Lord Himself has promised to “wipe every tear from our eyes.” Notice that He goes on to give us the method of calming our hearts, that is, through believing in God who works all things for good and in Jesus Himself who is that perfect High Priest who always lives to make intercession for us.

You see friend, as I have hinted that being a human is sometimes so hard such that if it was up to me, I would not choose to be born. Even more, being Christian has proven itself an impossible hill to climb, it would be foolish to decide to travel this road if there was no hope of a better reward on the other side. Why do you think we believers spend much of our lives trying to pursue that which pleases the Lord, to risk our lives, our time, and even our money – for what? What’s the point, what’s there to gain? The answer is that we have died to this world because we have seen that everything here is nothing but vanity. It will all be left on our tombstones. Therefore, we are that kind that “eagerly wait for His appearing.” This was Paul’s point when he said, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied (1 Cor 15:19). In other words, if our Christianity is all about getting worldly comforts and earthly pleasures, then we are no different from unbelievers; we are still without hope because not only is this world unsatisfying, but it will also be left behind as we all hasten to the grave. This is the reason why I pity those ministers who preach the success gospel to their followers. They are causing them to pin their hopes on the sad affairs of this world. I find it shocking that throughout my Christian life I have never heard a prepared sermon about heaven. A great number of “Christians” nowadays are just uninterested in anything beyond this world. For them, faith in Christ is just a means for getting all the prosperity desires of their hearts, today and now. It’s heart-breaking to see the kind of a false “gospel” that many have come to believe. Whatever you do, my dear Christian friend, do not ignore that blessed hope; the glorious coming of our Saviour (Tit 2:13). Be not ashamed of joining Paul and sing “I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil 1:23). Let me pause as I meditate upon the beauties of this passage.

Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children - Revelation 21:3-7

Conclusion

My little worry is that we are too absorbed and too busy with this present life until we have all lost or perhaps some have never heard that our Saviour has promised that there are many mansions in our Father’s house that He has gone to prepare for us. I don’t know about you, but I know that I will not be here forever, hence I am living my life with a heavenly hope, regardless of all these troubles I am facing in this life. My afflictions seem so heavy at this present moment yet they are light compared to that glory that shall be revealed one day when I put off this earthly tabernacle. Such a hope is what keeps my faith going, especially during these dark times. That is the promise on the other side!

Sinothi Ncube