7 Ways Anticipation of Eternity Encourages Hope

As God’s redeemed children, we do not need to fear eternity with God. Because we are reconciled and forgiven in Christ (Colossians 2:13-14), we have great hope at the future judgment seat of Christ where our works after salvation are examined (for reward or loss). Ours is not a “hope so” reconciliation; it’s a fact! When God looks at us, He sees the righteousness of His perfect Son, Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Anticipation of Christ’s return is one reason believers want to purify themselves. God’s grace that brings our spirit’s reconciliation with Him teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and to be “eager to do what is good” as we await His appearing (Titus 2:11-14).

Holiness is restored in us as new creatures in Christ. We are rescued from the dominion of darkness and declared righteous in Him. This is positional righteousness. God sees us as already seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6).

That said, while still living on earth, we will want to pursue practical righteousness in light of eternity. Our striving for purity in daily living confirms that we are God’s people (2 Peter 1:10). And a great blessing is ahead: someday, with the Lord, we will no longer live in the presence of sin.

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Trials will never feel good in themselves, and God never meant for us to have a grin-and-bear-it approach to our struggles. But we can’t wait until life is perfect to decide to practice the joy of the redeemed. We have every reason to do so. God, in His wisdom and love, redeems all of our struggles. We can count each one as an opportunity for expanded joy.

God redeems our struggles in many ways. He redeems them in the here and now and uses them to transform us. Great saints have said they considered their trials gifts from God because each one shaped their character and made them more like Jesus. That’s always a great cause for joy! God indeed works all things together for our good.

God purposefully develops our character, builds our spiritual strength, teaches us greater compassion, and shows us how to rely on His grace. This is why James encourages believers to consider it nothing but joy — “a sheer gift” — when tests and challenges come at us from all sides (James 1:2).

Life is hard, but God will achieve for us an eternal glory that vastly outweighs every struggle, and that lavish celebration will last forever (2 Corinthians 4:17). We will see and praise God’s goodness throughout eternity.

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Our thoughts and ways do not always align with God’s. Still, when we thoughtfully and diligently consider eternity — learning to see life from God’s perspective — that wisdom can define and refine our choices about everything.

For instance, our choice to have courage is renewed when we remember that every challenge will be worth it all in God’s presence. We do not fear but rather fix our gaze on God and things that are not yet seen. Our choice to live with purpose is realized when we understand that God has given us a mission in life. He will give us rewards for faithful service. Our priorities are relocated as our thoughts and focus shift toward eternal, biblical values. We learn to love what God loves and to “hate” (actively reject and oppose) what He hates.

God notices those who delight in Him. He steadies their steps so that even though they may stumble, they will not permanently fall because God upholds His children (Psalm 37:23-24).

Sometimes, as we make choices and decisions, we may lose heart because the things of this world can get chaotic and confusing. Yet we are to dwell in hope and not lose heart because inwardly, we are “being renewed day by day.” That process will continue until God ushers us into His eternal presence.

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There’s nothing hopeful, humanly speaking, about standing next to a casket carrying the body of a loved one or friend. Hope might come hard after experiencing the loss of anyone or anything, whether that loss is sudden or painfully gradual. 

But in light of our lives in eternity with Christ, grief and loss can be reassessed and reframed. They can be radically transformed. Feel the tension of 2 Corinthians 6:10: “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing . . . having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” With an eternal perspective, joy and contentment can thrive amid sorrow and loss. 

Paul did not want early Christians to “grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Jesus told His followers, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home” (John 14:1-3). 

Grief in death is reframed when we understand that, when everything is ready, Jesus will come and snatch us away, and we will live forever with Him.

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Joy increases with increased blessings. God blesses His children with good things now (Matthew 7:11) but imagine the incredible blessing of living throughout eternity without the burdensome destructiveness of sin. Imagine when God banishes it forever and restores Eden’s joy. 

While hope in God produces overflowing joy and peace in believers now, there’s coming a day when God will bless His redeemed children to be in His presence forever. “Eternal pleasures” are at God’s right hand (Psalm 16:11).

In the parable of the talents (possibly bags of gold), the master of three servants took a journey, and when he returned, he weighed their stewardship (Matthew 25:14-23). Two of the servants were fruitful — in varying degrees — in their service to the master. To each one, he said, “Well done, good and faithful servant! . . . Come and share your master’s happiness.” Other versions say, “Enter into the joy of your master.” The underlying truth is that Jesus is our Master. While it is right to focus on whether we are fruitful for Him, let’s not miss the element of joy for all who know and serve Him! In eternity, the faithful Christian will find joy beyond measure with Jesus. 

We simply cannot fathom the blessings in store for us in eternity. We cannot see, hear, or imagine what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).

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The word “anticipation” is a beautiful word. God created us with the desire to look forward with excitement and enjoy thinking about what is ahead. Thinking about eternity with God enlarges our hope as we anticipate things that will bring us even greater blessings. 

Ponder the wonder of eternity. Our Savior and our citizenship are in heaven (Philippians 3:20-21; Hebrews 9:24). Our saved loved ones are in heaven — those whose names are written there (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Hebrews 12:23a). Our inheritance in Christ is in heaven (Ephesians 1:18; 1 Peter 1:3-4). Our treasures are in heaven — those things we have sent ahead as investments in God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:19-21). Who would not anticipate all of that?

Perhaps the corruption in the world drives us to pray, “O Lord Jesus, come. Come soon!” However, due to the busyness of this life, many Christians do not continually look for His return. 

Consider this: Paul said that a crown of righteousness is set aside in heaven for all who have “longed for his (Jesus’) appearance” (2 Timothy 4:8). In that regard, we would be wise to proactively cultivate our anticipation of Jesus’ return and our life with Him. Peter wrote about “waiting for and hastening” the coming of Christ’s return (2 Peter 3:12). He meant that we should eagerly, earnestly look for its arrival. 

Eager anticipation of our eternal home opens the door to increased hope!

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