THE HOPE OF FUTURE BLISS

Psalm 17:15

  1. the spirit of this utterance (the heart from which it came)
    1. entirely free from envy
      1. he had been speaking of the wicked – Psalm 17:14
      2. David does not envy them
      3. David realized that his lot was different
      4. envy is a curse on creation (it turns happiness to misery)
      5. contentment with what God has given us is freedom from envy
      6. envy is a dissatisfaction with God
      7. Christians have no cause for envy – Psalm 17:15
    2. looking to the future
      1. David was looking beyond the grave to another world
      2. he overlooks the narrow death-bed where he is laid to rest – [when I awake]
      3. happy is the man whose eyes are on the future
      4. he that lives for the present is a fool, but wise men look for future things
      5. our hope of reward is not in this life
      6. Christians should live for the future – Psalm 17:15
    3. full of faith
      1. our text is filled with confidence [as for me, I will behold, I shall be satisfied, when I awake]
      2. it is possible for the Christian to have this happy confidence (it comes from God’s Word)
      3. our hope is positive and eternal [shall be] – Psalm 17:15, Romans 10:13, Acts 16:31
      4. some think that this confidence is impossible, but God cannot lie
      5. it is a glorious thing to be full of faith – Psalm 17:15 (victors song, shout of triumph)
  2. the blessed hope
    1. beholding God’s face (what a vision)
    2. in righteousness
      1. in heaven, the Christian will not have so much as a speck upon his garment
      2. in heaven, the power of the blood will become apparent
      3. in heaven, we will be pure and white because of what Jesus did for us
      4. righteousness can only be gained through Jesus Christ – II Corinthians 5:21
    3. satisfaction
      1. heaven is the home of true and real satisfaction
      2. our imagination will be thoroughly satisfied (what heaven is like)
      3. our intellect will be satisfied (a full understanding)
      4. our memory will be satisfied (why certain things happened to us)
      5. our hope will be satisfied
      6. in heaven, there will not be a single thing to complain about
    4. in the likeness of God (Jesus Christ)
      1. we cannot understand the full meaning of this
      2. a great change will take place when we get to heaven – Revelation 1:10-18
  3. a sad contrast – Psalm 17:15 [as for me]
    1. David was not speaking for all people
      1. he could only speak of his own salvation
      2. he did not know the spiritual condition of anyone else
    2. there are many heaven bound Christians, just like David
    3. there are many more that do not have the blessed hope of David
      1. they do not know that their sins are forgiven
      2. they do not know that they will be in heaven
    4. may I tell you of Savior that wants to save you, and take you to heaven
    5. will you come and receive Christ today as your Savior – John 1:12