Read

Philippians 3:20, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Think

The possibility of drawing near to end times is a scary thought, but if we have a personal relationship with Jesus, we don’t have to fear! Instead, we can face the future confidently, knowing who we are in Christ. This assurance is found in the third priority within our “signs” acrostic:

S — Shift our focus to Jesus and His church

I — Inspire us to pray for others

G — Give us hope for the future

N —

S —

A little boy at preschool stares out the window by the classroom door awaiting his parent’s arrival. Safe in the care of others, he still sulks because the place is okay, but it’s not home. The teacher tries to distract him with sock puppets and prompts him to join the other children playing a game. Finally, he succumbs to boredom and entertains himself with building blocks — but he can’t wait for his parents to take him home. As the day passes, he feels better because he has hope that in the near future, he’ll be on his way there.

Similarly, as Christ-followers, we are in this world but not of it — it is not our home. Like the preschool, it’s a temporary dwelling place that comes with joys and difficulties, good times and bad, but no matter the circumstances, we must not be consumed by worldly things. We don’t have to fret or worry over problems in this life because we put our hope in something far higher — an eternity in heaven face to face with our Savior, Jesus Christ. No bad diagnosis, betrayal, significant loss, or financial difficulty on earth can separate us from God’s love — our hope is in the Lord, our future secured, and we know where we are going when we leave this world behind. Right now, give God thanks for this sense of peace and knowledge of coming prosperity that allows you to keep putting one foot in front of the other until it’s time to go HOME!

Act

Today, when you get frustrated or feel overwhelmed and anxious, stop and recognize that today’s troubles are temporary and remember you have future hope. Keep your eyes fixed on Christ and read or say Matthew 6:33, “But seek first God’s kingdom, and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you.”

Pray

Lord Jesus, Help me remain steadfastly focused on you. Amid stressful moments, remind me that my hope is in you, that the trouble will pass. Let me be found faithful for placing my trust in You! Amen.