Our future hope...

What a great time we had last Sunday. Don’t let anyone tell you that church is boring! Jonathan Conrathe was speaking and he provoked my faith with his expectation for God to change lives and heal people. God has certainly used Jon over the years and he has some wonderful accounts to recall of missions in various parts of the world where he has seen many come to Christ and witnessed some wonderful healings. The Gospel IS good news to the poor. Jesus DID come to set captives free and give recovery of sight to the blind and our broken world stands in need of this life-changing gospel.(Luke ch4)

So if that’s true that Jesus came not only to die for our sins but also, as the Suffering Servant, to bear our pains and sickness – by his stripes we are healed Isaiah 53 – how come Christians don’t always enjoy perfect health and still die?
Well, theologians talk about us presently living in the overlap of two ages, the present age and the age to come. The Kingdom reign of Christ has, with His death and resurrection begun! My sin has been dealt with on the cross! Death has been defeated, guaranteeing me life beyond the grave! I have been made new in Christ! Now although we rightly speak of the ‘finished work of Christ’, meaning that we don’t have to add anything, in fact can’t add anything to what Christ has done, nevertheless we don’t yet see the full realisation of what He has accomplished for us. We are still living in a world where evil exists. Every day we have to contend for our faith, and sometimes suffer injustice and endure suffering. The New Testament writers wrote in terms of us enjoying the first down payment of an inheritance that is stored up for us in the future (1Peter ch1). We have a great future hope!

Meanwhile, we are urged to pray “Your Kingdom come!” And that means engaging in the proclaiming of the Gospel and praying for the healing of the sick and the setting free of people held captive to all sorts of enslavements.
So thank you Jon for provoking me to pray and believe God to heal, bless and set people free. The Kingdom is here! Your Kingdom come!

Goff