Thirdly, the new life is a life of anticipation. When you see the word ‘hope’, you should know that it translates the Greek word which means anticipation.
Does hope fade away? You say, ‘I have been a Christian so many years; the hope of heaven has faded, hope of glory does not move me as it should.’ Well that is because I have left off contemplating, reflecting, thinking about it, praising God for it, enjoying the reading of it in the word. I have lost my sense of indebtedness and I need to restore it speedily for I should be living constantly under the glory of heaven.
This reliance on the word of truth is being changed today. People are trying to build churches on music which bombards the senses, giving emotional delight in rhythmic music and other sensory experiences. Hearing, says the apostle, and dependence on prayer in the power of the Spirit – that is what brings people to salvation. Oh no, say some, you have got to do friendship evangelism, you have got to smother people with friendship. Just have lots of little meetings (and that would be a good idea for simply introducing people but they go further), if you get people into a little cell and you smother them with friendship, then you ‘friendship’ them in. Signs and wonders, says another. Knock them over with signs and wonders and then they will believe. Healing, says another, it’s got to be healing, that’s the only way we can win people these days. Hearing, says the apostle Paul, not all kinds of human devices and techniques.