Hope Eternal
By: Bevan Greiner
Sometimes I pause to wonder…without hope of eternal life with Christ, where, who
and what would I be? The prospect of living
without this hope is nearly unimaginable. I believe with certainty that my life
would be perennially joyless and full of despair. It
would be completely antithetical to what it is today because, simply put, it
would be a life void of promise. And that would
offer little by way of lasting joy. It is only with hope of eternal life with
Christ, that I experience true joy. I rejoice in its reality, find
pleasure in its promise and savor its certainty. In Hebrews 11, we are told that
‘faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of
what we do not see’. The English scientist Michael Faraday is considered to have
been one of the greatest experimental physicists.
When Faraday was questioned on his speculations of a life after death, he replied: “Speculations? I know nothing about
speculations. I’m resting on certainties. I know that my Redeemer lives, and because He lives, I shall live also.”
Friend, don’t you love the fact that we can know?
To seek hope in what this present world offers can only lead to
despondency and disappointment. That is why Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:19,
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are
of all men most miserable.” It is the hope of eternal life with Christ that
grants us peace, comfort and joy in the present. The Psalmist
said “my flesh also shall rest in hope” (Psalm 16:9b). Are you resting in hope?
This hope of eternal life that is found and enjoyed only in Jesus
Christ is frequently articulated in Scripture with beautiful adjectives. It’s a
‘lively hope’, a ‘good hope’, a ‘better hope’, and
a ‘blessed hope’. And it can be ours to claim in Christ. Have you claimed it? Do
you possess it? Do you treasure it? And are you
‘ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the
hope that is in you?’ I pray it is so for you and for me.
“And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full
assurance of hope unto the end.” Hebrews 6:11
Hope In God
“Hope in God” (Psalm 43:5b). It has been said that man can live about forty days
without food, about three days without
water, and about eight minutes without air—but only one second without HOPE. “To
live without hope is to cease to live.
Hell is hopelessness. It is no accident that above the entrance to Dante’s Hell
is the inscription: Leave behind all hope, you who
enter here.” (Dostoevsky) Proverbs 11:7 tells us that “When a wicked man dieth,
his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust
men perisheth.” But the believer is “saved by hope” (Romans 8:24) and Proverbs
14:32 says “the righteous hath hope in his death.”
Some time ago, in Parade magazine, there was a story of selfmade millionaire
Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives
of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a
class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to
inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He wondered how
he could get these predominantly black and
Puerto Rican children even to look at him. Scrapping his notes, he decided to
speak to them from his heart. “Stay in school,” he
admonished, “and I’ll help pay the college tuition for every one of you.” At
that moment the lives of these students changed.
For the frst time they had hope. Said one student, “I had something to look
forward to, something waiting for me. It was
a golden feeling.” Nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate from high
school.
For the Christian, there is always hope for we have been given something far
greater to look forward to… there is something
far greater waiting for us. And one day upon graduation from life’s schoolhouse,
we will enter Heaven’s gates...our tuition
paid in full by the precious blood of Jesus, and we will worship and praise the
One in whom we have hoped.
We have “hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the
world began;” Titus 1:2
The First Face She Ever Saw
“And they shall see His face: and there shall be no more night there.”
(Revelation 22:4,5)
Fanny Crosby never held any bitterness in her heart because of her
being blinded at the age of six weeks. Once a preacher sympathetically
remarked, “I think it is a great pity that the Master did not
give you sight when He showered so many other gifts upon you.”
She replied quickly, “Do you know that if at birth I had been able
to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born
blind.” “Why?” asked the surprised clergyman. “Because when I
get to Heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will
be that of my Savior!”
One of her hymns, based on a combination of the thoughts in
Ecclesiastes 12:6 and Revelation 22:4, 5 was so personal that for
years she never let others see it. Professor Kenneth Osbeck says its
revelation to the public came about this way:
One day at a Bible conference in Northfeld, Massachusetts, Miss
Crosby was asked by Dwight L. Moody to give a personal testimony
concerning her faith and Christian experience. At first she
hesitated, then quietly rose and said, “There is one hymn I have
written which has never been published. I call it my soul’s poem.
Sometimes, when I’m troubled, I repeat it to myself, for it brings
comfort to my heart.”
She then recited while many wept: “Someday the silver cord will
break, and I no more as now shall sing; but O the joy when I shall
wake within the palace of the King! And I shall see Him face to
face, and tell the story—saved by grace!”
At the age of ninety-five, Fanny Crosby’s wish that the face of Jesus
would be the first she would ever see was realized.
If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world
can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I
was made for another world.
C.S. Lewis
Claire’s Corner
The Writings of our beloved Dad
LOOKING FOR A CITY
READ HEBREWS 11:8-16
“But now they desire a better country, that is, an
heavenly; wherefore,
God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a
city.” (Hebrews 11:16).
This old world is getting darker and darker, while the horizon
of eternity is becoming brighter and brighter. The lights of
Heaven beckon us. This world is not our home, “For our citizenship
is in Heaven, from which also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ”
(Philippians 3:20).
The Divine Architect, creator of resplendent sunsets, radiant
rainbows, and ravishing flowers, is building a city beyond
compare. All precious resources (gold, jasper, crystal, pearl,
emerald) are at His disposal. The city will explode with beauty.
No tears, sickness, or death will mar the ecstasy of the heavenly realm.
Look beyond the dark shadows of this world and gaze in
wonder at the One who is preparing a place for you. He is also preparing you for
that place.
Faithful pilgrim, rejoice! God will not be ashamed to be “called your God.”
“The crown of all hopes is the city of God. God in the most
glorious manner will dwell among His saints” (Heubner).
~William Claire Greiner~
Ruth’s Refections
The Writings of our beloved Mom
IMAGINE
(Written in honor of Helen E. Odenwelder who went to be
with the Lord 7/13/00)
What sounds of glory she has heard
And wonders she has seen,
She slipped inside the pearly gates,
The atmosphere, serene.
The loved ones who had gone before
Were lovely, whole and free,
But best of all, her Lord, she saw,
The One she’d longed to see.
“Well done, thou faithful servant,
You’ve come to your reward,
The seed you’ve sown in precious hearts,
Has drawn them to your Lord.”
“She’s here! She’s here!” some voices called;
“Because of her, we’re here,
Forever we will thank our Lord,
She made the story clear.”
And then the saints from every land,
Bowed low before God’s throne,
And praised the One who gave His life,
To make them all His own.
Hugs and
Tugs
By: Wendy Greiner Lefko
It is hard to believe it will be a year this month since my dear
mother went to be with the Lord. I distinctly remember a few
weeks before she passed away, I was sitting by her bedside
talking with my cousin and my daughter who were also in
the room. We were talking about things we were hoping and
dreaming for the future, and I was sharing with my cousin
a few things I was specifically wishing and praying for. My
mother was in and out of coherency at that point and at times
we never knew if or when she could understand or respond
to us. But right then and there, after I shared my dreams and
hopes, she turned and looked right at me and said with utter
conviction, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee
the desires of thine heart”! It touched my heart so deeply to hear
that from her frail lips. Even in her weakest days she was able to
freely quote God’s Word and that was one of her favorite verses.
But as often as I had heard her quote that verse it never meant
more to me than that day.
I’m still waiting for those hopes and dreams to come to pass,
but my mother’s words ring in my ears and bless my heart on
days when I find it hard to trust and believe. My parents lived
by faith in every area of their lives and they left a beautiful
example for us kids to follow. From before I was born, they
trusted the Lord to meet their needs and stepped out in faith
time and time again and the Lord never failed them. Now as I
see my own faith tested at times, I can look back and see how
God honored them when they trusted in Him, even when it
made no sense to human minds, and know that God can be
trusted and He is always faithful. He has been faithful to me as
I have seen His hand in my life every day.
I extend to you the words my mother gave to me that day and
I pray that you too might be encouraged and blessed by God’s
promise, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee
the desires of thine heart”! (Psalm 37:4).
“Hope is
like a bird that senses dawn and carefully
starts to sing while it is still dark.”
Author Unknown
The Prayer
and Praise
Giving thanks to the Lord everyday!
-Praise
for glorious hope of eternal life found in Jesus Christ.
-Praise for so many uplifting letters that have touched our hearts:
“Dear Bevan and family, Thank you for your continuing words
of spiritual inspiration from Him above. I look forward to
receiving your Hearthstone each month and am so uplifted by
your passages of hope, faith and love for our Lord Jesus. I am
so happy to see the beautiful artworks, poems, and stories from
your Mom and Dad who glorified God in all their beautiful
brush
strokes and poetic words. May the Lord continue to bless
your work and family. In Christ’s love, L.L.”
-Praise for faithful FCI friends and family whose prayers and
financial support enable us to continue our mission to families.
-Pray for continued guidance and wisdom as we move forward,
by
grace, with the various facets of FCI.
-Pray for spiritual growth in those who have received Christ
in recent meetings.
-Pray that the lost in our land will see the hope that is in us,
and that they would respond in faith to obtain it.
Thank you,
beloved intercessor, for joining us in these days of
opportunity. Your prayers and support are appreciated more
than words could say.
Rejoicing in hope,
The Greiners
FAMILY CHRISTIAN INSPIRATION,
INC.
P.O. Box 258 • Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004-0258
(610) 337-2952
Web:
www.famci.com;
E-mail: FAMCI@aol.com
IN CANADA:
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