READ: ROMANS 8:18, 23-25; REVELATION 21

If you were a character in a book, it would be nice to know that your story has a happy ending. When we’re the ones reading a book, usually we try to avoid spoilers, but sometimes we can’t help ourselves. As a kid, I can remember the suspense surrounding the fate of favorite characters. Unable to take the tension any longer, I would peek a few chapters ahead and try to find their name. If I could just see their name, I knew that all would be well.

In the Bible, God invites us to take a peek at the end of the story—it’s not cheating. One day, Jesus will come back to put an end to sin and bring about a new heaven and a new earth. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes, and all those who have put their trust in Him will dwell with Him forever. We can’t even imagine all the good things God has in store for us (1 Corinthians 2:9)!

It’s meant to be a tremendous comfort to us that we know how God’s story ends. This story can be our own if we know Jesus. We can have hope because God has told us that His people will enjoy eternal life with Him and with all our fellow believers in renewed creation.

And, not only does Scripture reveal to us the end of the story, it also introduces us to the author of the story. Hope is only as good as what it’s based on; a promise is only as good as the person making it. If you know and trust the person, you can have hope that they will fulfill their promises.

Our hope in God’s promises is certain. God proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that He will keep His word when God the Father sent Jesus, who is God the Son, to die on the cross and then be raised from the dead. He has defeated sin and death to save us, and nothing can shake His promises. His great love gives us hope! • Jacob Bier

• What is something you’re hoping for right now? How is our hope in God and His promises different from other hopes? (2 Corinthians 1:7; Hebrews 6:19)

• How can knowing God’s good plan for the future affect the way we live in the present? (2 Corinthians 4:13-18; 2 Peter 1:3-9)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)