Pearl by Spurgeon

For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Col 1:5 

This is

I. A very marvelous hope.

1. If we consider that it is a great act of grace that sinners should have a hope at all, there was a time when we were "without Christ, having no hope." We had many false hopes, little will-o'-the-wisps, which danced before us, deceived us, and led us into the bogs of presumption and error. Each time we tried to rely on good works, outward ceremonies, and good resolutions, we were disappointed anew. Now, sinners though we be, we have a hope.

2. More marvelous still that our hope should be associated with heaven. It seems almost presumptuous for a sinner who so richly deserves hell even to lift up his eyes towards heaven. He might have some hope of purgatory, if there were such a place, but is not the hope of heaven too much? Yet we have no fear of hell or purgatory. Heaven awaits all believers. Not that we shall have a glance at it; we shall have it and be in it.

3. Still more marvelous, it is so substantial. Paul seems hardly to be speaking of the grace of hope, since that dwells in our bosoms, but rather the object, but not exclusively, because that which is laid up in heaven is not a hope, except to those who hope for it. The hope, then, is so substantial that Paul speaks of it as though it were the thing itself. A man may have hope of wealth, but that is a very different thing from being wealthy; and of old age, and yet not reach middle life; but this Divine hope can never be disappointed.

4. Because it is the subject of Divine revelation. No man could have invented it. The prince of dreamers could not have imagined it, nor the master of logic inferred it. The word of the truth of the gospel has opened a window in heaven, and bidden us look on our own.

5. Inasmuch as it came to us by hearing, "Whereof ye heard," not by working, deserving, penance, and sacrifice. We heard that the pierced hand of Jesus had opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers, and we believed. Will we not prize to the uttermost the sacred word which has brought us such a hope?

6. Because the substance of it is most extraordinary.

(1) It is the hope of victory, for we shall overcome every foe;

(2) of perfection, for we shall be like Christ;

(3) of security from every danger, for no temporal evil shall come near us, no mental evil intrude upon us, no spiritual enemy assail us;

(4) of perfect rest, which shall be consistent with continual service, for, like the angels, we shall rest on the wing—no weary limb or fevered brain shall follow us;

(5) of happiness beyond compare;

(6) of everlasting fellowship with Christ.

 

II. A most secure hope.

1. Because it is laid up. Bank calamities make business men very careful where they lay up their treasures, but there is no room for anxiety for what God takes under His charge. "Laid up," hidden in a safe place. We find it hard to lay up our valuables safely.

2. Laid up "for you." There is a crown in heaven which will never be worn by any other head but yours.

3. Laid up "in heaven," where, as our Savior says—

(1) "Neither moth nor rust doth corrupt"—no process of decay will cause your treasure to become stale and worn out.

(2) "Nor do thieves break through and steal." We cannot imagine Satan undermining the bastions of heaven. If your hope lies in the bank, it may break; if in an empire, it may melt away; if in an estate, the deeds may be questioned; if in any human creature, death may bereave you; if in yourself, it is deceitful altogether.

4. We have one indisputable certificate and guarantee for it. Notice three emphatic words.

(1) "In the word." We take a good man's words freely; and will we not take God's word much more readily?

(2) "Of the truth." It is not a word of guess or probable inference, but of infallible truth. There may be other true things in the world, but God's word is the essence of truth.

(3) "Of the gospel." The sum and substance of the good news is this glorious hope.

 

III. A powerfully influential hope.

1. It is the parent and nurse of love. "The love which ye have to all saints for the hope," etc, That is no trifling fountain of action which leads believing hearts to love,

2. Love is part of its operation on ourselves, but it affects others also.

(1) It leads ministers and gracious people to give thanks to God;

(2) to pray (Col 1:9).

(C. H. Spurgeon.)