11th November 2025

As the Creed draws to a close it asks us to not simply believe in the life of the world to come but to look for it. We don’t have to look very far to see that the world in which we live now is broken. Just a glance at a newspaper or at the evening news for a few minutes and they will tell us all we need to know. This world is full of war and conflict, abuse, hatred, violence, muggings, murders, paedophilia, hunger, racism, illness, pain, suffering and death. Coupled with all that, the earth’s ecosystems are breaking down due to a combination of continuous stress from human activities like pollution, deforestation, and climate change, as well as disruptive events such as wildfires and droughts.  

A yearning for and looking forward to something better than this world has to offer is not escapism or a denial of the significance of our daily lives. Rather, the hope of eternal life, in a world renewed in love and justice, stands at the centre of our Christian faith. The Scriptures are rich with visions of a renewed creation, a world free from sorrow, pain, and death. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a new heaven and a new earth, where ‘…The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind’ (Isaiah 65:17), and the apostle John describes the ultimate fulfilment of this promise when God himself will wipe away every tear, where death shall be no more, and all things are made new (Revelation 21:4). These promises are not mere fantasy or wishful thinking, but the cornerstone of Christian hope.

To look for the life of the world to come is to live in active expectation. It is not an escape from the current world or neglect of our responsibilities here. Rather, it is to recognise that our lives, with all their joys and sorrows, are set within a larger story, a story with a glorious ending. This hope gives us purpose and courage. It strengthens us to face suffering with patience, injustice with resolve, and life’s challenges with faith. How, then, should this hope shape our daily lives? First, it calls us to holiness. The apostle Peter tells us, ‘…The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God…’ (2 Peter 3:10-12). We are to live as citizens of the kingdom of God now, reflecting its values of love, mercy, and justice. Secondly, it encourages us to persevere. When we grow weary or disheartened, the promise of the world to come reminds us that our labour is not in vain. Finally, it inspires compassion. If we are looking forward to God’s coming reign of peace, we will work for peace, reconciliation, and healing in our communities here and now.

Our future hope is not in vain because our assurance rests in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is the guarantee that God will bring about the longing of our hearts: the wonderful future world we are looking for. Because Christ has conquered death, we too shall live forever in that world – may God speed that day.

Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead 
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA

Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm

Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church

Word of Life contact:  
wordoflife@gracecom.church