Assurance of Things Hoped For

Life "on my own" here in Nairobi has so many perks and also some struggles that accompany it.  I'm realize how independent of a person I am...I cherish days like today, when I come into town and spend time at Java House drinking a cup of coffee with my Bible, my iPod, and my Kindle reading app.  I'm learning a whole lot about discipline and spending time with my Father.  It's incredible the difference I notice when I neglect time in prayer and in the Word.  During my time in Eldoret, I was pretty busy and chose not to spend much time with the Lord.  Now I'm not trying to sound like a harsh legalist, but it really makes a difference in my days when I make time in the Word and in prayer a priority.

I want to share briefly about what happened a few days ago, a be pretty upfront with you all.  Hanging out with my friends in Nairobi, we were all sitting around on couches just hanging out, when one friend got a text message and immediately went outside.  About fifteen minutes later, through tears, I learned that one of his best friends had died at the age of 22.  He had known her since she was born, and was really struggling with why it happened to her.  Later that afternoon a good conversation transpired between he and I, discussing what he loved about her, what made her special, and things like that.  Then he asked the question, "Where do people go when they die."  Now, he is a follower of Christ, and I feel the question was more rhetorical than anything, but I answered nonetheless.  Like any good evangelical Christian, I gave him the answer I know to be true.  We discussed briefly about salvation and how Christ is both an all-sufficient sacrifice and also the only sacrifice capable of giving salvation.  We continued talking, and five minutes later the conversation was over.

When I went to my room later that night, I was pretty deep in thought.  As I prayed, I kept thinking through that conversation.  Over and over and I said, "God I know you're real.  I absolutely know"...But I couldn't help asking the question...

"When this is all said and done, God, when this life of adventures and ups and downs and everything is all finished, and my eyes close for the final time, will You be there?  Will you really be there?"

He answered me by leading me to 1 Peter 1, where he tells all of us believers about our inheritance.  He says "he (God) has caused us to be born again to a living hope...to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."  This is real stuff--real, emotional stuff.  I was blown away once again, that that inheritance in heaven is mine, being kept especially for me.

I have been washed, and now I wait, full of hope and expectations, for the promise that in God's presence I'll finally be in the fullness of joy, experiencing pleasures forevermore...

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  --Hebrews 11:1