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As a church as well, we have been going through the Bible and today we come to Daniel chapter 12. And if you have your Bibles today, please turn with me to this wonderful book and we’re coming to the very last chapter in the book of Daniel. This will not be the last sermon, however next week will be. We’ll be looking at just 3 verses in Daniel chapter 12 today. But today we come to a very exciting and encouraging theme in the Bible and that is the theme of hope. I’d like us to look at Daniel 12, verses 1 and 3 and see biblical hope.

 

There is a…an experiment conducted by some researchers in Berkeley University. I shared this with my son and immediately he said, “Wah, this is such a cruel experiment.” Well, it goes like this: A group of scientists got a batch of rats and threw them into a tub of water to test them on endurance. So the rats would swim and swim and swim and the researchers would want to see how long they could last before they die. And on the average, the rats would swim for 7 hours before they were so exhausted that they drowned to death. Very cruel. Then they got another batch of rats. Threw them exactly the same way into the tub of water. Let them swim until they are about to give up, but this time they would pick the rats out and let them breath out there for a few seconds before throwing them back again and this time the rats lasted for a total of 20 hours. The researchers subsequently concluded that what kept the 2nd batch going for so much longer is…hope. Because they have been rescued once, they continue to strive and struggle because they retain the hope that they will be rescued again. It is wisely said that where there is hope, there is life. Hope is essential to life.

 

We had a story of hope, not an experiment but a real one. Back in Chile…ar… not back in Chile, in Chile back in 2010. (Picture shown) You’ll remember the incident when the mine absolutely collapsed and there were miners – people, men who were working, trapped underground. They were trapped 650 metres underground for a very long time. It was like a prison to them, it was way down and it was… it was like a prison in that they could not get out of the trap by themselves. So they had to survive based on whatever that was given to them, whatever they had, still in the mine. They used their vehicle to charge their electrical appliances; they made routines; they exercise; they had fun; they work, whatever they could do, but they kept believing that they will get out because external contact was made when people drilled some boreholes down to where they were and sent food and camera and er… stuff like that to them.

 

And after 69 long days. The newspaper reports: Day 70 is the dawn of hope. Shafts were built right underground or right to the underground - 650 m down and one by one, every one of the 33 Chilean miners were saved. None lost, none gave up because all along they had hope that they would emerged out of their underground prison. 03:46.5

 

Today, we’re looking at a subject of hope. Hope is vital to living. It’s a powerful motivation to life. Where there is hope, there is life. Think about it: where there is no hope, there is no life. Why do people give up on their lives? Why do people commit suicide? Is it because circumstances are difficult. Not necessarily. They gave up on their lives because they see no hope. The problem is not so much difficult circumstances, but that they see that their difficult circumstance won’t change. They give up on their lives. That's why people gave up on their marriages. Marriage is difficult, but people give up when they see no hope, no prospect for change. And therefore one of the most cruel and painful things you could say to your kid is that: “You are a hopeless child.” Have you been said that before? Your mom says to you, “You’re hopeless lah! I give birth to “Char Siew” (Dialect words meaning Barbeque Pork) better than give up… give birth to you.” This is the statement I always remember from my parents. Should have given birth to a piece of “Char Siew”, at least it’s useful. But when you tell someone he’s hopeless, it’s…it's like killing that person, because where there is hope, there is life. When you say there is no hope, there is no life.

 

But the God we worship, the God of the Bible is a God of hope. He specialises in hope. The Bible is written so that you and I who have believed in Jesus Christ would thrive and have hope, in a very difficult world. And today in Daniel 12, we’re going to see an example of hope.

 

So I’m going to spend some time, explaining and sharing with you the examples found in Scripture and then the 2nd half of the sermon will be application to all of us. The example in the Bible is that Israel is a people who desperately needed hope. They needed to see their light at the end of the tunnel for them. We all understand and remember the story of Daniel so far. The book of Daniel is like a big, long, deep, dark tunnel. God is saying to Israel. “You have suffered in Babylon but just as you thought you’re going back and you're going out into the light. I'm telling you this tunnel is longer than you think. You’re going to go through the Persians; you’re going to go through the Greeks; you’re going to go through the Romans, and you’ll go through the last kingdom - the end times, the antichrist. It’s a long tunnel. It’s dark; it’s difficult, but I want to tell you there is light at the end of it all. 06:24.6

 

So, the first thing we’re going to look at is the illustration or the example given in Scripture, on how God deals with Israel. Now we are not Israel, except one of you…haha…who is a Jew. The rest of us, we are not Israelites but you see, the key thing is that we all worship the same God. And the God of Hope to Israel is the God of Hope to the Christian church today as well.

 

So, let's look at Daniel chapter 12, about how they could have light at the end of the tunnel. First of all, in this passage we see a distress amongst the people and this is what God said to Daniel: “And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.” So God is saying there will be an unparalleled time of distress, trouble and tribulation. The people of Israel actually has been a suffering people. Back in the days of Moses, they were slaves in Egypt (picture shown) and even after they got their own sovereignty - they were their own people, it was not long before the Babylonians came and caught them away. First, the Assyrians took the northern part and then the Babylonians completed the job by bringing the southern part away. And so they now become slaves again to the Babylonians. The Persians took over but they were still slaves to the Persians and then to the Greeks and then during the Roman times, the Roman Empire will come and lay siege on their city - Jerusalem and…and trampled down their possessions, their buildings, torn down the temple which they venerated and treasured. They never had an easy time.

 

In modern history, we…we know of how the Nazis will commit tremendous or horrendous Holocaust and killed 6 million Jews (picture shown). I mean the history of Israel is a deep, dark, difficult tunnel, not like Singapore. Yes, we have a difficult beginning, but as we are about to celebrate our 50th anniversary or birthday, we…we know our nation has been a nation that is so blessed, in a sense, as we compare ourselves to the nation of Israel. Such a difficult period. But then Daniel is saying, “If you thought this is bad, brace yourself for what is worse.” All these: Egypt, Babylon, Romans, Hitler - these things will look like child's play, when you come to the final and during the great tribulation, when the antichrist rules; when he is the pinnacle of the embodiment of the fury of Satan. That will be a time of distress like never before. So this is not a pretty picture at all. Before the hope is to come, the angel reveals to Daniel, you'll go through a very difficult time of distress and this is actually already prophesied in Scripture - “Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob” (Jeremiah 30:7 ESV). It’s referring to the great tribulation.

 

The book of Revelation tells you the great tribulation in greater detail. Revelation 6 to 19 - the 14 chapters there tells you about the 7 seals, the trumpets, the vials and all the horror that is to come. Jesus Himself said, “Don’t go back! If you are out there; if you are up there; if you are running away, just run, don't come.” This is such a terrible time. These are the words in Matthew 24, because He goes on to say, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved.” (Matthew 24:15-22 ESV) It would be a total extermination of the world. It is such a bad and difficult time. “How bad is it,” you say, “Eventually?” Well, the Bible tells us two thirds will perish, one third will be kept alive.

 

So, before we look at the hope, we look at the distress. We look at the extremely difficult period of time Israel will have to go through. But then, at the darkest point will shine the brightest light. Just before dawn will always be the darkest moment. So now we see the dawn break, we see the deliverance that is to come. 11:02.7

 

It is linked in Daniel 12 to a supernatural cause and angelic cause. “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people…” As we have looked at the last time, there are territorial or there’re kingdom angels where God assigns angels. Michael is responsible for the nation of Israel. So at that time, shall arise Michael - he is the defender of Israel. More details are given in Revelation 12 because Daniel and Revelation are very, very connected and we read of this battle, a glimpse of this supernatural battle in this chapter. “Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon.” You say, “Who’s the dragon?” The Dragon here is Satan - the devil. It's clear as you read on, “And the Dragon - the devil and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world - he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.” (Revelation 12:7-9 ESV)

 

So there is this spiritual battle. Notice God doesn't even need to do anything here, in a sense he doesn't even fight with Satan. It's Michael and he is more than sufficient already. But Michael will be the one who will stand up and defend Israel in the great times of tribulation. And therefore in verse 1, it goes on to say, “But at that time, your people shall be delivered.” This is a great hope for them. In fact this hope has always been in the Scripture. In Deuteronomy - this is Moses time. God has already said, “You will return to the Lord even though it’s going to be tough. When you are in tribulation, all these things shall come upon you in the latter days, but you will return. You will be preserved. You will be protected. You will be saved.” There is light at the end of the tunnel. It goes on, Jeremiah 30:7: “Yet you shall be saved out of it.” It is not the end of your nation, there is going to be hope. And he goes on to say, “…one third shall be left alive.” (Zechariah 13:8 ESV).

 

Now, for those of you who are a little bit sharper, you’ll say, “But this one not a good deal. What if I'm one of those who die? Then no hope for me. I know there is hope for the one third that is left but what if I die? This is no good, this is not good news. This is not light at the end of the tunnel.” But Daniel knows it. God knows it. And so he says, but what about those who die? Is there hope? There is. Because it goes on to say, “Many of those who sleep…” By the way, when the Bible uses the word “sleep”, it doesn't literally mean you slumber, it means you die. It’s a nice way of saying sleep for dying. So, “…many of those who die (sleep) in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2 ESV)

 

So even for those who die, it’s not the end. Because death is not a “full-stop”, death is a “comma”, it’s a transition. And so there is hope; there is light, even for those who die. There will be a resurrection and there will be a future. I thought a simple illustration of hope is seen this week in our evangelistic campaign. As you know, many of our brethren are in Philippines and they are preaching the Gospel and it is also during the campaign that this week that they hit…or they were hit with a typhoon. Typhoon Rammasun or… is it Rammasun? Typhoon Rammasun or typhoon Glenda, another name for it. And it was a…it was a difficult time because the typhoon really wiped out a lot of things, destroyed a lot of things and let’s hear Pastor Mike share with you how bad the typhoon was.

 

(Video played)

 

Er…if he was any lighter, he might be blown away. It cut off the power supplies, the water supply. The team was stranded there, no place to go. There was no hotel who would take them…some of them have flown back today. I’m thankful for that, but it was a difficult time. It was dark - people were praying, the church was praying. But the very next day, there was dawn and the darkness lasted for a short while because the very next day came, I saw… could drink the coconut water (laughter in the congregation)… whatever dropped, she benefited from it, and there was…there was not enough food by the way, there were no access to food because in disasters, people tend to hoard and keep for themselves. But they were very creative, they took this (picture shown) - which is from the stem of the coconut tree. You could see her looking like: “Are you sure you can eat this?” (Laughter in the congregation) But she’s so hungry that after a while she smiled and she began to eat it and enjoyed herself with the stem of the coconut. But then, there was a beautiful picture that wrapped it all up, when they took this (picture shown): it was after the storm, the sun has risen, the rays of hope shine once again. Because there is hope, there is light at the end of a dark day. 16:02.1

 

So for the people of Israel, they were given bad news. You are going through not just Babylon and Persia, you’ll go right up to the terrible end - the antichrist. But there is going to come a deliverance. Michael will arise. One third will be preserved and even for those who died, they will be resurrected. There is light and then thirdly, we see in this passage: The Destiny.

 

So what if I'm risen? So what will happen to me? Is it a good future? Is it a desirable one? What about that? And this is where Daniel continues to encourage them: “But at that time, your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

 

According to the Bible, we all will live forever. You believe that? We all will live forever. There is no such thing as annihilation or annihilate-ism. That is to say there's no such thing as all of us dying and then ceasing to exist anymore. You don't just disappear. You live forever. The only difference is where will you live forever and how will you live forever?

 

According to the Bible, there are 2 places to go. One place where you have everlasting life. Life in the Bible is described as knowing God and His Son, Jesus Christ, having a deep, loving relationship with Him. And there is another group who will go into a place where there is everlasting contempt, shame, scorn, suffering, pain, loneliness. There is these two places and all of us who will live forever will be found in either one of these.

 

The Bible doesn't teach that everybody will go to heaven. No, there are some people who say that, “Oh, God is love and therefore everyone goes to heaven.” The Bible doesn't teach anywhere like that at all. There will be some who would have everlasting life and some who have everlasting contempt. One in the heaven, one in hell. Where would you go? One certain thing about all of us, if not most of us, is that we all will die. Unless God comes before that, but what is not certain for you, maybe today is: where will you spend your eternity? In heaven or on earth…or on hell? Not earth. Now, who goes to heaven? Who goes to hell? How does God determine that? Where do you think you will go? 18:49.8

 

Interestingly in America, they did a survey, a poll - Gallup poll. And they asked, “How many of you believe you have a chance to go to heaven?” 78% of Americans says, “I think I have a good chance of going to heaven” and then they asked the Americans, “How many of you think that you have a chance to go to hell?” And the answer is 4% believe they will go to hell. Can you imagine the difference? It’s not whether they want to, it’s whether they can, alright? All want to go to heaven, but 78% believe they have a chance to go heaven, only 4% believe they will go to hell. But you say “Why?” I think because in all of us, we tend to think we are quite alright. We tend to think that we are better than someone out there - the crooks who are out there; the wicked people who are out there. I'm not that bad. Therefore, I've a good chance going to heaven. We find that comparison with others reassuring.

 

Have you heard of this story about two Mafia bosses? They are brothers, they are evil people. They are cruel people. They robbed, they steal, they killed, they murdered, they do all sorts of things - evil things just to enrich themselves. And one day, the older Mafia boss died. So the younger brother because he honours his brother, decides to have a glorious funeral for his “Koko” or his brother. And so he got a pastor and told the pastor, “Pastor, if you were to conduct this funeral and in your sermon say that he was a saint. I'll give you a million dollars.” The pastor, because he is to have a Punggol building project…ah…no, no… (laughter in the congregation) The pastor says, “Alright, I'll do it, but I’ve got to have the money beforehand.” And so a million dollars was given to his account and on the service itself, he preached. He said that this man who die is an evil man, is a wicked man - he killed, he robbed, he stole, he cheated, he did everything evil but compared to his brother, he is a saint (laughter in the congregation). 20:47.6

 

You know, you could always compare yourself with someone else and think you are a saint. Is that the way God determines who goes to heaven and who goes to hell? Is it by comparison? Is it like a bell curve & top 10% goes? Well, there is something very much…something much more objective than that here. And it is found when it says, “…whose name shall be found written in the book.” There is a book where everyone of us whose… if our names are there, we are resurrected to everlasting life. There's a book and I hope all of us are in this book.

 

Some of you today who are parents and your kids are 6 years old, next year going to P1, you will wish that your child’s name is in some school’s book, right? You hope that you are in Phase…what? Phase 1 or whatever… you wish that you are in that list. And there’s this book for eternal life. You say, “What is this book? Is this a book of good works, so that God is recording all my good works and if my good works are long enough, big enough, numerous enough, he lets me in?” Is it a book where got like er…siblings…my siblings are there, I can also go, like really P2…Phase 2A registration or phase 1 registration. Is it by family relationships that I can get into this book? It’s not a book of good works; it’s not a book of family history. The Bible tells us in Revelation - this is the Lamb's book of life.

 

This book belongs to the Lamb. If you want to be in this book, you've got to belong to the Lamb. Why? Because elsewhere in Revelation 13 verse 8, we’re taught that this book of life is: “…the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.” Why is it that you must be in this book? Because Jesus is the Lamb of God and He was killed, He was slain, He gave His life so that your sins may be forgiven and if you belong to Jesus, your sins are forgiven and now you can have everlasting life. It’s not because you did good; not because you are charitable; not because you came to church; not because you read your Bible but because Jesus is your Saviour! He died for your sins. It’s not because your father is a Christian or your brother is a born-again man. What about you? Do you belong to Jesus Christ? Have you repented of your sins? Have you trusted in Him? So that He may wash your sins, so that you are now in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. It’s a very, very objective book. And all of us will be judged, out of the book and I hope that in the last day, we will see each other and see our names all in that book, as we repent and believe on Jesus. 23:54.7

 

And so, God is saying to Israel: don't give up! I've a message of hope. Babylon. Persia, Greece, Rome, antichrist are tough, but I will preserve a third. Michael will arise and even for those who die, there will be a glorious resurrection and I want to tell you Israel, that in the last days, many will be included in the book of life; many will be saved; many will look at the Messiah; many will turn to Him. Because in Zechariah 12 we’re told: “In those days, I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace…” Today, Israel won’t turn to Jesus. By and large, via a nation, there are individuals coming to him but as a people, no. But in that day God will pour out the spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him... (Zechariah 12:10 ESV) At that last day, in the darkest of hours, in the most painful of time, God pours His Spirit, calls the nation of Israel to look at Jesus, the Lamb whom they have pierced, and great numbers will be saved. That's why it is a bright hope at the end of times. 25:17.1

 

By the way, you say, “How is this done?” Well, in the book of Revelation, there are 2 witnesses who will preach the Gospel. They are God's choice messengers and besides that, there will be 144,000 Jews, you read of them in Revelation 7, who goes out into the uttermost parts of the world, sharing the Gospel. And with the outpouring of the Spirit, there’s a great calling. There’s a great harvest of soul; there is a great salvation; a great light that would shine. And because of that, many will have their names found written in the book and they will have a bright hope of everlasting life.

 

More details are given when they say, “And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever (Daniel 12:3 ESV). This hope is forever. It's about everlasting brightness, everlasting glory because they have turned to Jesus Christ. The Bible calls them wise. There are 2 kinds of people in this world, wise and fools. You say, “Who are the wise ones?” Those whose PSLE's is 270 and above? No, the wise ones are those whose names are in the Book of Life and those whose names are in the Book of Life are those who have repented and trusted in Jesus Christ. I hope today we would turn from our folly and find tremendous wisdom in trusting Jesus.

 

So let's go back to the big picture. I say this is a message of hope, because this is a message about how God gives hope to Israel, as they trudged through a very difficult and dark tunnel. But at the end of it all, there will be a bright light. And this message, believe it or not, is the message that has galvanised, strengthen, held together the nation of Israel, right up till today. They are a nation that still looks to the coming God who will save and deliver them. They…they…this nation is amazing because they believe in the God of hope.

 

As I’ve mentioned, this same God is the God we worship. And this same God is a God who gives you hope. You see, in the Bible, we are included. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3 ESV) The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, gives us a living hope. As we sing in a song, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” And this is not just for the Jews. This is for those who are born again to this living hope.

 

And this hope is a powerful motivation. Where there is hope, there is life. And that's why you read the Bible. One of the great purpose is…that's why if we were to just say, God gives you hope, and we don't see the Bible, you don't really have a biblical basis for hope. But the Bible gives you a biblical basis for hope. It says here, “For whatsoever, or whatever was written in former days, (even the book of Daniel) was written for our instruction…” Why? “So that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4 ESV)

 

God gave us the Bible, gives us this time of preaching, so that as you go through the tough journey of life, as you go through the dark tunnels of life, you see the light at the end of the tunnel. Some of you today are stricken with diseases, illnesses that have incapacitated you. You are handicapped, you wish you’re well. You don't understand why this is happening. Some of you are diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Some of you have family relationship problems, your marriage is breaking up or is already broken up. Your child might have gone astray, he might have for all I know, die. And there are so many tragedies and disasters in life that God says, “I’m going to give you hope because I’m the God of hope.”

 

He says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace…” (Romans 15:13 ESV) This is a world that is starved of joy and peace. God wants to fill you with all joy and peace so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Hope is a work of the Holy Spirit, as we look at the Scripture. It gives rise to this confident expectation of all the good that is given in Jesus Christ and God wants you not just to have hope, He wants you to overflow with hope. He wants you to abound in hope. He wants you to have joy and peace as we go through a very difficult life. That’s why He says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation…” (Romans 12:12 ESV) The word “tribulation” is to crush; it's to have pressure; it’s to have stress and as you go through tribulations, you can be patient and you can indeed rejoice in hope. 30:39.8

 

Now, I want to clarify something. Sometimes, in churches and in preaching and because we… all of us need comfort, we might misunderstand and mis-preach hope - like saying, “You have stage 4 cancer? Don't worry, God is a God of hope. Tomorrow, you will be well.” You know that’s how people talk about hope. Er…I am sick today, I have the hope that tomorrow God with heal me. My husband has committed adultery, I have the hope that the adultery will be un-adulterated. Doesn’t work that way. My son has just died and because God is a God of hope, I believe He will raise my son from death. Usually doesn't happen, very rarely does it happen. It can happen, but rarely does it happen. Does this…is this the kind of hope that is referred to by these preachers, conform to the idea of hope in the Bible? Is this the hope that sustains you?

 

Well, I share with you my personal story. As many of you would know, my son was diagnosed with autism when he was young. One year or so. And it was a time of darkness for me. I mean, I was going through a dark tunnel. I just saw that this is going to be a journey for years, maybe decades, because I've been told that autistic boy may never gain independence; he may never be able to speak; he may never be able to take care of himself. So I'm bracing myself for…for Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome and so on…it’s a dark tunnel. And I was with Shawn one day in my house. This used to be where I stay (picture shown), It’s a nostalgic picture. And I was in the room, I was with him. Mummy was out - Winnie was out. And I was playing with Shawn and it was a very graphic picture, when… when as he plays, he just takes all the toys and he messes up the whole room. It’s not constructive play. It’s just messy play. He doesn't know what he's doing, he’s just lost and I was looking at him. He doesn't look at me. I was just looking at him and I was just crying because that was one of the early days when I just was coming to terms with his diagnosis. But at that point of time, it was also a time where I said I needed to worship the Lord, I needed to look to Him. And so I took out hymnals, song books, begin to sing and worship. There are complicated songs I could sing but there was a simple song that I sang that day and it is “In His Time”.

 

You know the words, right? In His time, in His time, He makes all things beautiful in His time. I ask myself, what does it mean - in His time? Does it mean that Shawn will recover from autism and therefore He makes all things beautiful in His time? Maybe, but I think most likely that's not what is meant by the author. I think what it means to say that He will make all things beautiful in His time is: even when we should live our entire life in this dark tunnel, even if God will not heal Shawn, even if he were to stay this way the rest of his life. When I die, when we die, when we see Jesus again, I will be able to say, “God in Your time, indeed it is beautiful.” 34:14:7

 

See, biblical hope is not wishful thinking that my cancer will be reversed, the adultery will be taken away, my son will come back to life. It is not short-term. It is not as we think. Biblical hope is long-term. It looks to the coming of Jesus Christ where indeed all the bad will be reversed and God will bring everything into beautiful restoration. That is what biblical hope is all about. 34:43.0

 

We're not here to say, because you came to church today, because you believe in Jesus, your cancer would immediately go. No, God can, but it doesn't…it’s not a guarantee at all. And I certainly think our hope is not based on a recovery. Our hope is based on the resurrection. It’s far more glorious and this is what the saints of old have always look forward to. The oldest book in the Bible, Job tells us: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth...” (Job 19:25-26 ESV) He’s looking to the time where his Redeemer will rule the earth. He’s looking real far ahead. He says, “And after my skin has been thus destroyed,” I mean Job was absolutely mangled, he lost his wife, children, his assets, everything was gone! He was covered from head to toe with boils. His wife even said to him, “Curse God and die.” But he says, “I have this hope. I have this hope, not that I will be healed of this boils, not that my house would come back, not that my wife will resurrect. No! I look to the day where He will stand - my Redeemer will stand upon the earth. And I shall see God. If Job were to sing “In His Time”, he doesn't sing “In this life”. He says, “In the next, He will make all things beautiful.” 36:12.2

 

The psalmist likewise says, “Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwell secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. (Psalm 16:9-10 ESV). Some of you would immediately recognise this is reference to Jesus Christ. It’s true, but at the very same time, this is also applicable for the psalmist. I would die but you will not leave me there. I will see my Saviour, I will see my God. My heart is glad, my whole being rejoices because death is not the ultimate thing. It’s not the end.

 

Look at Stephen! I mean, he was being stoned. As he preaches Jesus Christ, he was being stoned. He did not expect to get out alive. But it doesn't matter to Stephen, because he sees Jesus. He sees his glorified Lord and he says, “Lord, receive me.” Why? Because I believe there will be a life after this death. Why is it that throughout church history, there are people who are willing to die on the stakes for Jesus? Let me tell you why. Not because they believe that after burning for a while, they will be… they are still back to life. No, but they believe in the hope. That they will be resurrected. They will see Jesus. They will be with Him. They will be like stars that shine forever and ever. This hope keeps them going on. 37:44.8

 

That's what the Bible says, “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place…” (Hebrews 6:19 ESV) This hope is based on Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus and because Jesus rose again we know we will rise again and this gives us a steadfast confidence as we go through the storms of life. You know as if were your boat of life is tossed to and fro on the waves, but there's an anchor that roots you, that you will not sway or depart from your Saviour. That is the hope of the resurrection together with Jesus Christ.

 

This hope is so powerful that when you go through tribulations, people see the distinctiveness of your life and they ask you, “Why are you so strong?” They ask you because the Bible says you got to be prepared. When you go through sufferings, people will persecute you. Because you're a Christian, they will give you difficult things. But even as you go through this suffering for righteousness’ sake, always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you (1Peter 3:14-15 ESV). Wow! Why are you so strong? Why are you still able to rejoice? Why - they ask you for your hope.

 

I think sometimes the best evangelists are not those who are gifted with the gift of the gab, but those who are put through the greatest sufferings. It is said that the seed of the church is the blood of martyrs. Why? Because when they see them die, willing to die, they see a powerful force called hope and they asked, “What is the secret?” Jesus Christ who died and rose again.

 

As you go through your sufferings in this world, you sorrow because the present sufferings are difficult. That's natural. My friends, as I’ve always say, “Don't deny your pains.” Don’t in a sense, after your son met with an accident and died, the next day people ask you in church. “How are you?” “I'm okay.” “My son died but I'm okay.” No, no, no, no, you’re not okay. You’re weird if you say I’m okay. You’re sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. 2 Corinthians 6:10. How? Because you’re sorrowful about your circumstance, but you have hope for glory in the life that is to come. So sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. That sustains you because I know some of you, your families are in a mess. You’d be devastated, but believe in His time, He makes all things beautiful. There is a glorious hope.

 

This hope is a powerful consolation in times of distress, but it is also a powerful force and strength, and source of courage as you serve the Lord Jesus Christ. I like what C.S. Lewis has to say. He says, “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”

 

The world today wants to brainwash us to think life is all about the here and now. So live it up! Get the best property, best cars, best clothes, best bank accounts. Make yourself famous, live it up, because life is all about the here and now and that's why we become ineffective for Jesus Christ.

 

I think, Lewis is right! C.S. Lewis is right. He says, “It is because we have largely ceased to think of the other world that we become so ineffective in this.” Hope of the life that is to come is a powerful strength and force. The Bible says, these are the examples in Scripture. This is about Abraham, Sarah and the patriarchs. God said to Abraham…Abraham by the way is a rich man. He’s a rich man; he has lots of things. He has lots of servants, lots of cattle, lots of animals, and I think he’s a rich man back in Ur of the Chaldees. He probably lives in er…Orchard Rd, Patterson road or whatever, and has a one whole condo for himself. But one day God said to him, “Abraham, leave Ur of the Chaldees.” “Okay God. Where do you want me to go?” “Just leave.” “I'm not going to tell you where but just leave.” Abraham then says to his wife, “We’re going to leave.” Why? “Because God told me to leave.” Where are you going Abraham? “I don't know but I'm leaving. I'm leaving my condo; I'm leaving my riches; I'm leaving my fame; I’m leaving my…all the…all the relationships here, I’m going to leave.” You say why would he be willing to do that? Why would he be willing to give up a comfortable life in Ur of the Chaldees? Because they saw something.

 

He saw a heavenly city, as you go on to read in Hebrews. He saw that there is a life beyond this life and he says, “I'm willing to leave it all and live as strangers and exiles on this earth.” You know why so many Christians today are enriching themselves, building their careers, building their wealth portfolio in this life? Because they forget, they don't see it. They don’t remember that there is a better hope. So we put all our hopes in this life. How foolish! Abraham, Sarah. 43:50.4

 

What about Moses? He could easily be the most powerful man on planet Earth. The son of Pharaoh's daughter, who could take over the Pharaoh. But he didn't. The Bible says, “He chose rather to be mistreated with the people of God, then to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” “This life is so short,” he’s saying, “It’s not worth it!” And therefore he sees that the reproach of Christ as greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the future. He had hope.

 

“Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release…” They rather die. Why? “So that they might rise again to a better life.” (Hebrews 11:35 ESV). There is something consistent about all these men of faith, women of faith, they all have hope. They look to something beyond this world. “Therefore, my beloved brethren…” The word “therefore” is the linking word. It links us to verses 1 to 57 which describes the resurrection, the glorious resurrection for believers. And Paul is saying, because you will be gloriously resurrected, in the light of this wonderful, beautiful glorious future, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Do you know why we serve Jesus today? Because it is worth it. It is all worth it because we see the future, we see a hope. 45:37.3

 

18 years ago, 19 years ago, I was a youth. I'm still a youth but I was a youth then, in the youth ministry. And we went to Philippines for mission trip. I love mission trips in those days, they are so romantic. You don't just go to places to preach, you have to track, walk, climb mountains just to go to villages where people are. And er…we love those days. I enjoyed those days and I… and I saw how pastors – the mountain pastors serve. They were very simple people, they don't have much. Indeed, they can't even guarantee a meal the very next day. They live hand to mouth. They travel from place to place. They give what they have to the poor. They have no certain supply of water, food, electricity and… and I look at them and say, why would you give up your life to serve in this way? I mean I’m a city kid. I am raised in the city. I’m used to the comforts and amenities this world has to offer. And I look at them and I just can’t figure out why. I mean it’s not easy, somehow strange, people like to stay on top of mountains. You want to preach to a place, you’ve got to climb up, climb down. Why don’t we all stay at the bottom. But they all stay there and it’s a hard life. I very much wanted to ask them why? But I felt a bit “paiseh” (Dialect word meaning embarrass), as if I'm despising them.

 

But in any case, when we were traveling from one place to another, we were in a van and one of the pastors, his name is Pastor Glenn. Some of you may remember him. He began to sing this song. I think I still remember his words and so I sing to you today. It goes something like this:

 

Somewhere beyond the blue, there's a mansion for me.

Somewhere beyond the blue, I am longing to be.

To see my Saviour's face, and saying of saving grace.

Somewhere beyond the blue, someday.

 

He kept singing and singing and singing. I kept hearing and hearing, I didn't know what it was initially. And then suddenly it click. Why would he deal with the mess, the dirt, the insecurities, the sacrifices of this life? Why? Because somewhere beyond the blue, that's where he longs to be. It doesn't matter if it’s dirty now. It doesn't matter if he’s tired now. It doesn't matter if he is despised now. Somewhere beyond the blue, someday. There is a hope that burns within his heart. 48:28.5

 

I pray by the grace of God, there will be a hope that burns within your heart because it is God's desire that you will abound in hope, that you will through the Scriptures and by the power of the Holy Spirit, be a people of hope. Because He wants you to go through the difficulties of life rejoicing. He wants you to give Him your life this day, rejoicing. May God help us to have this hope that truly glorifies Him. Let's bow for a word of prayer together.

 

Somewhere beyond the blue, I am longing to be. I wonder if you have longed to stay in this world so much that you have forgotten the world that is to come? I wonder today if you have given up on life and you see no hope? Because situations, families, life is so cruel on you, you say. Can I encourage you that no matter how long and difficult your journey on life it will be, there is always a bright and glorious light at the end of the tunnel - when Jesus returns. The only way you and I today can live with that certain self-abandonment where I say, “I'm willing to lose my life for Jesus’ sake” is when you realise what Jesus promised you - you will gain back your life. The hope that burns within our hearts.

 

Brothers and sisters in Christ, I'm here to offer through the Scriptures – hope. I'm not giving you wishful thinking, whereby we blindly promise that your circumstance would immediately turn around; your son will be healed; your family will be restored, we do not know. But this we know, in His time, when Jesus comes, when eternity would be ushered in, it will be beautiful. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Look to Jesus - He is risen. It looked hopeless on Friday. It looked hopeless on Saturday but on Sunday as dawn breaks, hope truly arises. May that hope arise in your heart. 51:05.7

 

Father, we thank you today You are the God of hope. Thank you, You promise us everlasting life - to those who would believe in Jesus, Your Son. Our prayer today is that we would be a people whose eyes look to that blessed future, so that in this life we have a deep consolation as we go through the tribulations. So that there will be truly a supernatural courage and strength to serve you and give our lives to You. And this is our prayer, you will radically change the way we look at ourselves, our resources, our time, our talents, our treasures. And Father, we pray that as a church, people will be able to see the living hope in us - Christ risen again. Our prayers also is today, that for those who are gathered here, who do not know Jesus as yet, that you will bring them into this blessed hope. That they may see their sin and turn and believe in Jesus, Your Son. May Your Spirit continue to do Your work in all our hearts - draw us, call us. We thank you, we pray all this now in Jesus Name, Amen.

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