Scripture: 1st Peter 1:3-4 (the Message)
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven – and the future starts now!
Thought for the Day: Edward Wood was the creator of some of Hollywood’s worst movies, including, Planet 9 From Outer Space. Though it has become a cult classic, it was a motion picture train wreck from beginning to end. Ed Wood opened the movie Planet 9 with the words, “Greetings, my friends. We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember, my friends, future events such as these will affect you in the future.” If you are left scratching your head after reading those words, then you are like most folks who were left scratching their heads after watching the movie. Of course, the author of 1st Peter left his audience a bit confused when he spoke of a future in heaven that was to start today. The confusion comes from thinking of heaven as a place. Heaven is less about a destination and more about a relationship. Or as we read in John’s Gospel, “…this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God…” (17:3). Ed Wood’s stated the obvious when he wrote, “…the future…is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives,” but what 1st Peter seemed to indicate was that the future we all look toward is what can be known today through the life of faith.
Prayer: God of today and each day, encourage us to make our heavenly hope a earthly reality today and each day. Amen.
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AND TOMORROW
