Something to Look Forward To (AM)

Scripture Reading:  Romans 8:18

Introduction      

A.  What are you looking forward to in your life right now?

B.  Do you look forward to going to heaven? What will that be like?

C.  What things does God give His children to look forward to?

Discussion

I.  What we look forward to says a lot about who we are.

A.  Some have looked forward to the wrong sorts of things (Amos 8:4–6; 2 Samuel 13).

B.  Saul of Tarsus once looked forward to arresting Christians in Damascus (Acts 9:1–2), but God gave him greater things to anticipate (v 16; Acts 20:23; 2 Timothy 4:8).

C.  Even as an old man, Abraham looked forward to receiving God’s promises (Hebrews 11:13–16).

D.  Jesus was looking forward to “the joy that was set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2).

II.  What do we have to look forward to?

A.  We can expect tribulation (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12).

B.  We can anticipate a glorious reunion (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).

C.  We can look forward to rest (Hebrews 3:7–4:11).

D.  We can long for His coming and even the Judgment (Hebrews 4:12–13; 2 Peter 3:10–12; Revelation 22:20).

E.  We can anticipate the new heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:5–18).

Conclusion

A.  When you have nothing to look forward to, life loses its luster and its purpose.

B.  Jesus died to give us something to live for!