All men, who are without Christ, are also “without (this) hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). But the resurrection of Jesus is the seal of the believer’s hope that extends past the grave. This expected certainty assures the Christian that, one day, he will see his Savior face to face. The blessed appearing of Jesus Christ is the next event which the true church anticipates.

In a brief “twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52), God will bring to pass an event that His saints have been waiting for centuries. When the body of Christ, the church, is complete with all its members, then Jesus will leave the Father’s right hand and unite with His beloved ones in the clouds “that He might present to Himself His church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:27). Hope becomes reality! Rewards will be presented and the church will reign together with their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, judging the “world” and “angels” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3).

Pray that the workers of Slavic Missionary Service will share this hope to family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues. “And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:5-6). For each SMS missionary, ask that the “God of hope” will fill them “with all joy and peace in believing,” so that they “will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).