The Hope of a Glorious Future

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Test: Joel 3:17-21

Joel 3:20

But Judah shall be inhabited forever,
    and Jerusalem to all generations.

(ESV)

While it is easy to become discouraged looking at the state of affairs in our world, the Bible provides a vision of a glorious future for those choosing to believe and follow God.  In our study of Joel, we have seen the people of Judah experience the devastating destruction of an attack of locust (Joel 1:1-12).  Joel’s prophecy is a call for Israel to repent after this attack (Joel 1:13-20).  Joel’s prophecy continues by telling of the Day of the Lord, a day of darkness and gloom (Joel 2:2).  However, Joel does not leave Judah in a day of doom and gloom and in this text promises a glorious future (Joel 3:17-21).  This promise of a glorious future is not limited to the people of Judah with God promising eternity with God in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 to all who believe in Christ. 

Therefore, it is not necessary for God’s people to live in despair over the events occurring in the world, but to find comfort in knowing there is a glorious future in store for God’s people.  However, times of despair will come and when they do, we must,

1)      Turn off the negative – The news is mostly negative and carries thoughts of hopelessness and despair.  Any hope in the news is the promotion of a politician or political ideology that has all the answers, which is setting up an idol that will disappoint us.  Part of the transformation in Romans 12:2 is a transformation from thinking the answers to society’s problems come from the political system created by man and flawed human politicians and seeking answers from God. 

2)      Turn to the promises of God – To experience transformation to a godly worldview we must have an encounter with God through His Word.  God’s people must become spiritually disciplined through study and meditation of the Bible, prayer, and unity of the fellowship of Christians. 

3)      Turn on the light of Christ in our lives – A spiritually disciplined church is a powerful transformative force in the world as it shines bright with the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

While there is a glorious future in store for the people of God, many may not experience this future due to not turning their lives over to God by accepting His gift of salvation.  God loves all people so much He sent His Son Jesus who knew no sin to die for sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).  This is because God is just and since we have all sinned and the penalty of sin is death, someone had to die (Romans 3:23; 6:23a).  This substitute for the death penalty we all deserve is Jesus, God’s gift of grace to humanity (Romans 6:23b).  However, just like a gift we receive for our birthday or at Christmas, one must open it to enjoy it.  Therefore, I invite anyone that has not opened this gift of God’s salvation to do so now by praying with me,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Congratulations, you now share in the glorious future God has for humanity.  However, this does not mean life will be easy or free from struggle for Jesus Himself told us that life would have struggles, something He can relate to due to the struggles He endured while on earth (John 16:13).  While these struggles can be painful, they prepare us for the glorious future God has in store for all that choose to make Jesus their savior (Romans 5:1-11).  This hope of a glorious future with God is what gives strength as we endure the struggles of life.

In this study of the Book of Joel, we have seen the grace of God at work in Judah as God brings an attack of Locust to bring Israel to repentance and restoration with God.  Through the path of struggle, Judah receives God’s mercy and grace with God promising them a glorious future.  Our lives can too have a happy ending just like the Book of Joel by repenting of the sin that separates us from God and accepting God’s merciful gift of salvation through Jesus.  Next Saturday, we will begin a topical study of verses in the Bible that define our new identity as believers in Jesus as our savior.  Please invite your friends to follow the teaching by sharing the link to this blog.  May God bless all reading this post.