Hope: Our Forerunner is in Heaven!

 Did you know the Believer's Hope resides in the very Presence of God? Did you know this Hope is absolutely sure and secure? Too many Believers carry on each day without any real security or assurance in their souls. Certainly this is not the way God chose. No, our Father wants us to be aware of and well exercised in the hope He gives through Christ Jesus.

“What is our hope?” you ask. Jesus Christ is the singular hope of every Believer (Col. 1:5, 1 Tim. 1:1). This should not come as a surprise, but it is shocking to realize how many Believers think their security is wrapped up in their ability to ‘hold on’ or ‘stay right!’ “Our hope is embodied in Christ Himself who has entered into God’s presence in the heavenly Holy of Holies on our behalf,” says MacArthur. Perseverance and sanctification are important, but they indicate that a person is indeed saved; they do not save in and of themselves through our performance. In Christ God has given us an absolutely rock solid promise reinforced by His faithful Word and most solemn oath (Heb. 6:15-18). What has He promised? We are assured of our full salvation—glorification—and glorious entrance into the very awesome Presence of the Most High God! Glory and Heaven are as certain as water is wet for genuine Believers! Hallelujah—what a fantastic, out of this world, awe-inspiring hope!! What ecstatic wonder…such astounding joy…it fills my soul overflowing into tears of sublime elation. Hallelujah!! God has us and fully intends to keep us for Himself. This is too much for my heart to contain…. O’ glory to God in the highest!! He is worthy of all power, glory, dominion, admiration, blessing, adoration, and praise for ever and ever and ever! Our Hope is steadfast and sure—we are eternally safe and secure in Jesus Christ! God’s promise is good. He has afforded us an unfailing hope that serves as an anchor for our soul in the stormy trails of life. Such an anchor (MacDonald & Farstad) will keep us from drifting on the ferocious waves of the storm-tossed sea in doubt and utter despair!

All of this is good but, why do we need to know this? Because God knows our frailty, that we are but dust. He has diligently considered our susceptibility to doubts and despair; He fully understands are insecurities and need for security. Therefore, God promises to save all who believe on Christ; then He confirms His word with an oath. The inevitable and forceful conclusion is that we Believers are eternally secure. Four figures in Hebrews 6:18-20 are employed to drive home the “utter reliability of the Christian hope: (1) a city of refuge, (2) an anchor, (3) a forerunner, and (4) a High Priest” (MacDonald & Farstad).

The Lord Jesus, by His entrance into the heavenly sanctuary (Walvoord & Zuck) where He serves as our High Priest forever, provides unshakable anchorage for the Believer’s hope. Since our hope is so secure, let us cling to it tenaciously until the Lord comes to takes us home. Let the winds of adversity blow and the storms of life come—by the grace of God, we will cling to our Hope in Christ!

This brings us now to the Lord Jesus as our Forerunner; what is the significance of Him in this role? Dr. Wiesbe indicates that Christ entered Heaven on our behalf so that we may eventually follow.

The writer then clinches the argument: this Saviour is our “forerunner” who has gone ahead to heaven so that we may one day follow! (Heb. 6:20) The Old Testament high priest was not a “forerunner” because nobody could follow him into the holy of holies. But Jesus Christ has gone to heaven so that one day we may follow. (Bible Exposition Commentary)

Woolvord and Zuck explain and clarify the marvelous imagery of the forerunner by giving the nautical/cultural background of this practice. They write,

The Greek prodromos (“who went before us”) suggests a “forerunner,” and if the harbor imagery is still in mind it recalls the role of sailors who leave their ship in a smaller craft in order to carry the anchor forward to a place where it can be firmly lodged. So too the Lord Jesus, by His entrance into the heavenly sanctuary where He functions as a High Priest forever, has given to a Christian’s hope an anchorage from which it cannot be shaken loose (The Bible Knowledge Commentary).

You see, Believers have a fully reliable Hope because the Lord Jesus is our Forerunner residing in the Presence of God (Hebrews 6:20). Our “Forerunner” has gone ahead to Heaven so that we may one day follow! Christ Jesus has entered into the inner shrine—the holy of holies—and His Presence in Heaven insures the ultimate entrance of all who truly belong to Him. It is no exaggeration to say that the simplest genuine Believer on earth is as certain of Heaven as the saints who are already there (MacDonald & Farstad). How awesome is that!

Anderson-Berry writes:

The word translated “forerunner” is found nowhere else in the New Testament. This expresses an idea never contemplated in the Levitical economy, for the high priest entered the holiest only as a representative. He entered where none could follow. But our Forerunner is a pledge that where He is, we also shall be. As Forerunner He (1) announced our future arrival there; (2) took possession of heaven’s glories on our behalf; and (3) has gone to be able to bid His people welcome when they come, and to present them before the Majesty of heaven (Believer’s Bible Commentary).

Therefore, as long as we are on this earth we have hope for the moment, hours, days, months, years, and decades! In fact for all eternity the Lord Jesus will sustain our hope of eternal salvation. No matter how hopeless life may smell, feel, or seem, we still have eternal hope in Christ Jesus. For everyone who has repented of their sin, unbelief, and rejection of God, this true. For all who know the forgiveness of sin through faith in Jesus Christ, this is true. For anyone who will repent and believe the Gospel, this can be true for you also. Why not trust Christ today?

Dearly Beloved in Christ, cling to this never dying Hope; take refuge therein until Christ comes for us. Refuse to be torn apart with doubts and fears living each day in turbulent insecurity. Anchor your heart, mind, and spirit in this hope and drink deep the peace and assurance it generously affords. Remember, our Forerunner is in Heaven!