Erica looks up at the ceiling from her hospital bed in total despair with no hope. Her body hurts so bad that if someone just touches her arm with their finger it causes excruciating pain. The medical professionals have run multiple tests but are having trouble diagnosing the source of the problem. After several days they discover Erica has a complete vitamin D deficiency as well as some other issues. They give her steroids, vitamin injections, etc. and within a few days Erica is back home, feisty as ever.
Some Christians are like Erica in a spiritual sort of way. Instead of looking up at the ceiling in physical and emotional despair they’re looking down at the ground in spiritual hopelessness with no view of heaven in their mind’s eye. It shouldn’t be that way for Christians; however, we all neglect to focus on heaven sometimes and instead give too much attention to this world. It can leave us depleted of vitamin H (hope). The good news is there is a cure.
I know many Christians need to spend more time in prayer. Some Christians are sloppy in attendance to Bible class and worship services at the church building (or online during this pandemic), and it hurts them spiritually. And certainly we all need to do better in the category of agape love. But there’s another biblical topic that is regularly neglected: HOPE (Heaven Offering People Eternity).
By the way, do you know why people have a lack of vitamin D and therefore live in pain? It’s because they don’t get enough sun – that’s the best place to get vitamin D. Do you know why some Christians have a lack of vitamin H and therefore live in spiritual pain? It’s because they don’t get enough Son (Jesus) – that’s the best place to get vitamin H.
Read II Timothy 4:6-8 and Revelation 21:1-5. Then listen to There Will Be a Day by Jeremy Camp.
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Revelation 21:1-5
And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”