Faith Part 3

Our faith is not one which finds its foundation here in this life (at least we had better hope it is not).  Because, if our faith is limited by the temporal, by time, or anything else in life, we have lost sight of the Truth.  The truth that is found in Christ who now reigns in Heaven, and will soon be acknowledged by all men and Creation.  We have faith in the coming City of God, the Heavenly realm that follows our life here on Earth.  Our lives must be lived in reflection of that.  Our lives must be dedicated to the furthering of His Kingdom as we wait:  

²²For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.  -Romans 8

Thus, as we look and long for the future life which Christ now prepares for us in Heaven, we are able to live a life overflowing with Joy, because our loss on Earth means gain in Heaven.  Because we have faith, we can hope in what is to come after this life:

¹³But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep,that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  -1 Thessalonians 4

When we look around at those who do not have Christ in their lives, we see how little they have to live for.  In our own lives objects matter little, but we are focused on love for our neighbor and Creator.  Our faith brings us the hope that our time invested into those things will reap rewards we cannot fathom.

Peace and Joy