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 Ellen has a complete vitamin D deficiency as well as some other issues. They give her steroids, vitamin injections, etc. and within a few days Ellen 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 but 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. After that, make a concerted effort to focus on your home in heaven.

2 Timothy 4:6-8

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Revelation 21:1-5

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”