SNEAK PRWIEWS

Of A Snapshot” Of Things To Come (Romans 8:18-25) "Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:23-25) As a believer in Christ I get"foretastes" of things to come, small snap shots or "sneak previews" of what heaven might be like and what it might be like once I enter eternity, yes, even during my present life, little bits of joy that keeps my hopes alive. I see them as little promises and guarantees of the future glory, peace, and restoration, completness I will have when I recieve my heavenly inheritance, I believe in the near future. So you may ask, what are these snap shots? What have you foretasted? Well, along the way in my christian walk, there are things I have experienced that bring hope to my heart and a happy tear to my eyes. In (1 Corinthians 13:12) says, one day we’ll see clearly when we see Jesus “face to face.” I can hardly wait, for the grand march and glorious reveal when we enter the gateds of heaven, into that glorious city of God. As I said a little while ago in one of my studies, "For me to love is Christ and to die is gain" for believers at death and or at the return of Christ we have much to wait for, but listen, we do not have to wait for all of it, because God has provided real joy while we are still alive. Some of those good things are ours to experience now. These snap shots come through encouragement of Scripture, through the life we have with other believers in Jesus, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, rhrough these we get “snap shots” and a “foretaste” of things to come. For me, when I am facing struggles and am undergoing a tough trial, these thing become very meaningful. Peter encourages me when he says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). Today, we can look for glimpses of joy around us as a reminder of the fullness of joy that’s yet to come. That is why we wait with anticipation The first thing that brings mt joy is that I do not fight the enemy alone, I have the Holy Spirit residing in a me, as it is often described in the Bible as a "deposit" or "down payment" (Ephesians 1:13-14). The joy, love, and supernatural peace experienced through the Spirit are direct tastes of God’s presence. Oh this one I have to tell you about, I have experienced it, Fellowship and worship with the Saints, We had been in the Yukon, with a little church plant and I only make a joyful noise when I sing, we had a piano, and we worshiped and fellowshiped. It was great. Then we came home for the first NCEM Conference at the Bible School in Briercrest Sask. It was a gathering of missionaries from acriss Canada It was a time to fellowship, worship and pray, for mt it was my first snap shot of heaven, as we all sang it was like a heavenly choir. For me it was a rehersal for the real thing. As I got that foretaste of the eternal fellowship, believers will share in heaven, I had tears of JOY rollong down my face, that I couldn't stop, and the joy of the Lord filled my soul. Friends, when you take communion, The Lord’s Supper, as a believer following Jesus articipate, it is just a snap shot of spending eternity resting and eating and communing at Jesus feet, its a foretaste of the ultimate heavenly banquet that awaits Christians. When I experience acts of Love and justice here on earth, it encourages me to actively work to bring about peace, show compassion, and stand up for justice, as a part of bring the new Kindom of God to all. To bring about God's new creation, in so doing I am offering to the world around me just a taste of what life will be like in His coming kingdom. Also as I see God's answers to prayer, in my life and in others lives, such as miraculous healing, answered prayers, or spiritual breakthroughs these are just snnapshots of God's coming kingdom and the ultimate restoration of creation. For us, as believers, this should be the "already/not yet" experiences we as Christians should already be injoying, the Holy Spirit and these tastes of heaven are ours, are we enjoying them now, as we aait the fullness of our salvation and eternal home promised to us, that is still coming, it is going to get better than this for those who remain faithful. I can't explain it any better than C..S Lewis did here, C. S. Lewis longed for joy. He wrote, “Our longing to be reunited with something in the universe from which we now feel cut off, to be on the inside of some door which we have always seen from the outside, is . . . the truest index of our real situation. And to be at last summoned inside would be . . . the healing of that old ache. . . . The whole man is to drink joy from the fountain of joy.” it is somewhat sad that our joy is simmered down by sin and physical death, and that we must with God's help fight the forces of evil, and have to see and of the world’s heart aches and pains. Here is Paul encouragement, “Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). In verse 10, Paul talks of the coming “completeness.” This is when we’ll know and experience joy fully because we’re with Jesus. Si, until then, we wait patiently and expectantly for that day,that one day, when our earthly life will come to a close and we will enter eternity. And until then He will continue to give us a small foretaste, small snapshots of the overflowing, unhindered joy of heaven! I don't know about you, but I can only imagine what it will be like to see Jesus face to face. Heavenly Father, thank You for the moments of joy you allow me to experience. Until you come to take me home through death or your return I will anticipate the day when I can know it in full. In your name I pray AMEN