It is for life, hope, happiness and home that we work for.
We can use work as an excuse to distract from God; but in truth He gives
us all these things. Life. Hope. Happiness. Home.
His divine power has granted to us all
things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who
called us to his own glory and excellence. ~ 2 Peter 1:3(NKJV)
Life. God is the one who gave us life; He breathed it into us. He not only gave us an earthly life but an eternal one in His presence.
“The
Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” ~ Job 33:4(ESV)
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” ~ Genesis 2:7(NKJV)
Hope. God gives us so much to hope for; particularly the future blessings He will bestow on us and the inheritance of living eternally in heaven with Him. Not only that, but the Bible says that it is in Him that we have our hope. (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 15:13).
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar
off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on
the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a
homeland. And truly if they had called to mind
that country from
which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But
now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their
God, for He has prepared a city for them.” ~Hebrews 11: 13-16(NKJV)
And God will wipe away every tear from
their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall
be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” ~Revelation 21:4(NKJV)
Happiness. Nothing can make us quite as happy as communion with our maker and fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters. And yet, our connection to Christ offers us both things.
“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I
say, Rejoice.” ~Philippians 4:4 (NKJV)
“Therefore with joy you will draw water from
the wells of salvation.”
~Isaiah 12:3(NKJV)
“But rejoice to the extent that you
partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also
be glad with exceeding joy.” ~ 1 Peter 4:13(NKJV)
Home. God is our refuge, our home. Deuteronomy 33:27 says that "The eternal God is your refuge." Pay attention to three things in that sentence; eternal, God, and refuge. Not only is our God our refuge, but He is an eternal God offering eternal life.
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we
await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” ~
Philippians 3:20(ESV)
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend
with all the saints what is the
width and length and depth and height— to know the love
of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness
of God.” ~ Ephesians 3:17-19(NKJV)
“But Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house
we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the
end.” ~Hebrews 3:6(NKJV)
“Home, too, is the place of our truest and purest
happiness: and it is in God that our hearts find their deepest delight. We have joy in Him which far surpasses all
other joy. It is also for home that we work and labour.” – Charles Spurgeon
“In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.” - In Christ Alone, Keith and Kristyn Getty
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.” - In Christ Alone, Keith and Kristyn Getty
