Focus: Desirable Destiny

Text: Col.1:5

"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel."

Paul makes bold to say that God has stored or laid up hope in heaven for His people. God is holding out hope for His children. It is hope that cannot disappoint. It is hope that cannot bring us shame and sorrow. This hope deals only with divine certainties, not shams or unrealities. It deals with possibilities, not probabilities. It is a sure hope and a solid future. For those of us who are in Christ Jesus, our future is secure. God is laying up and holding out hope for us.

While on earth, our Lord Jesus Christ was faced with the challenge of the cross, which included all the crises associated with it; but beyond the cross was the joy set before Him by the Father, and also, beyond the cross was the crown of glory. For that joy ahead of Him, he "endured the cross…" (Heb.12:2).

Paul declares, "Henceforth there is LAID UP for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2Tim.4:8). The writer of Hebrews says, "That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope SET before us" (Heb.6:18).

The psalmist exclaims, "Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast LAID UP for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" (Ps.31:19).

James declares, "For when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath PROMISED to them that love him" (Jam.1:12). He says again, "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath PROMISED to them that love him?" (Jan.2:5).

The psalmist declares, "Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast PREPARED of thy GOODNESS for the poor" (Ps.68:10). Isaiah says, "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath PREPARED for him that WAITETH for him" (Isa.64:4). Paul quotes Isaiah, and says, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath PREPARED for them that LOVE him" (1Cor.2:9). David says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…" (Ps.23:5). The psalmist says, "Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land" (Ps.80:9). Paul writes, "And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore PREPARED unto glory" (Rom.9:23). The author of Hebrews says, "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" (Heb.11:16).

In our future there is hope laid up for us in heaven, there is joy set before us, there are promises to be realized, there are crowns to be won, there are prepared things, prepared rooms, prepared tables to enjoy, prepared city, prepared riches, and prepared glories; and as the poor in spirit, there is goodness prepared for us by our God.

Our future destiny with God is a desirable one. Crowns are waiting for us in the future. Truly, our future is looking good.

The Lord Jesus Christ says to His church, "I know thy works: behold, I have SET BEFORE THEE an open door, and no man can shut it" (Rev.3:8). John tells us, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Rev.21:2).

In front of us are open doors, not closed doors. Our future begins from where we are now to where we are going to be next. Our future and our divinely opened doors are forever related and connected. In our future, there is a city prepared for God's dwelling. God will finally reside with us and preside over us.

We read of our own obligation toward God in the Song of Solomon. The fair lady says, "The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have LAID UP for thee, O my beloved" (Song of Sol.7:13). As the Lord has laid up hope for us in heaven, we also need to lay up our fruits for Him. 

We need to be faithful and fruitful to Christ. Christ has chosen us to bear fruits for Him. We should be ready to bring to the door step of heaven our fragrant fruits and spices.

God has given us a desirable destiny and a glorious future. Our future is sure, solid and secure. Even in our earthly sojourn, God has promised to be with us, protecting and providing for us for as long as we are here. John writes, "And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days" (Rev.12:6). 

In this wilderness of a world where we frequently face persecutions, God has not left us alone to sort ourselves out. He guards and guides us; He feeds us and fends off our fiends. No weapon formed against us shall at any time prosper. In Christ, our destiny is desirable, and our future, preferable.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter