This Is Not the End of the Story

[This Is Not the End of the Story]( Current Teaching Series [Living in the Goodness of God]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [This Is Not the End of the Story]( By Rick Warren — 01/22/2023 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= “We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again . . . we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together.” 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 14 (CEV) When the future is uncertain and there is a lot of fear, it might seem like your story is coming to an end. But the Bible says, “We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again . . . we know that God raised the Lord Jesus back to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9, 14 CEV). When life seems uncertain, remember this truth: You can’t lose! You’ll win in the end, no matter what happens. Even if you lose your life, you’re going straight into the presence of God if you believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. And when you arrive in heaven, your story is just at the beginning. Have you ever watched a TV show where every single episode ended in a cliffhanger and left you thinking the hero might not survive? Even though it’s just a story, the tension can feel enormous. But what if all the episodes from all the seasons of the television series were all together, the complete series available through a streaming service or a collection of DVDs. Then, when you’re watching a cliffhanger episode that’s from the first season, you wouldn’t feel as much tension because you know the hero survives for another six seasons. When you know the series will continue, then you know each episode is not the end of the story. The hero will make it out of a tight spot and on to the next season. That’s how your life is. Even when you’re in a difficult circumstance, you know that the tough spot isn’t the end of your story. You can live with hope in the middle of a crisis when you have an eternal perspective. One day, when you meet Jesus in heaven, all your pain, sickness, sorrow, sadness, stress, and grief will end. Here’s what you have to look forward to in heaven: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:4 NIV). This life is not the end of the story. We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - In what specific areas of your life do you need to change your focus from fear to hope? - What tools do you have to remind you of the hope of Jesus when you feel discouraged or fearful? - Why is it important for the world to see that Christians have hope and confidence, even in the midst of a crisis? Are you certain of where you will go when you die? One day your life on Earth will end—but your story won’t end. If Jesus is your Savior, you’ll spend eternity with him in heaven. How can you have confidence that your story will continue after you die? The Bible says that every one of us sins and that the penalty of sin is death. But God loves you so much that he sent his Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty of your sins, to bring you into the family of God, and to save you from the fear of death. If you’re ready to enter God’s family, here’s a prayer you can start with: “Dear God, I know that, when I die, I’m going to give an account of my life to you directly. I confess I have ignored you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and toward you. “Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord. “Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I ask you to save me from my sins and from my fear of death. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe that you will keep your promise to save me instantly and bring me to heaven one day to continue my story with you in eternity. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” If you prayed the prayer above, please write and tell me at Rick@PastorRick.com. I’d like to send you some materials as you begin your journey with Jesus. The post [This Is Not the End of the Story]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= [Get the Living in the Goodness of God Guided Bible Study when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( Start trusting God’s goodness in every area of life by exploring Psalm 23 with Pastor Rick’s Living in the Goodness of God Guided Bible Study. This beautiful, interactive, book will help you... • Revolutionize your life and your relationships • Recharge your body and mind • Create a habit of worship instead of worry • Practice loving God and others well • Use your time for the things that matter most • Stop comparing and start being content • And so much more! [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 12 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series Living in the Goodness of God. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: Is God Really Good All the Time? Message 2: Letting God Meet My Needs Message 3: Relaxing in God’s Goodness Message 4: How God’s Goodness Can Restore You Message 5: How to Be Led by God’s Spirit Message 6: The God of My Valleys Message 7: How Jesus Treats His Sheep Message 8: How God Lifts Me Up When I’m Worn Down Message 9: Living an Anointed Life Message 10: From Overwhelmed to Overflowing Message 11: Why You Don’t Need to Fear the Future Message 12: Heaven: God’s Eternal Goodness to You [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( As the founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book [The Purpose Driven Life]( is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 74 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. His book [The Purpose Driven Church]( was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Rick also founded [The PEACE Plan]( to address five global issues—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, and sign up for his free daily devotionals at [PastorRick.com](. © 2023 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. 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