Better News Podcast Ricky Alcantar - Cross of Grace Church

This journey through life can be difficult at times. There’s sorrow, brokenness, death, and futility. God sometimes seems far away yet in Isaiah, God gives a beautiful glimpse of the new heaven and new earth to come. Today, Pastor Ricky will walk you through the beautiful place that God will bring about someday. All creation will be renewed and glorious, unmarked by sin anymore. Sorrow will be replaced by never-ending joy. If you look ahead knowing that this is coming, it should strengthen you in your walk of faith.

Underneath all of the longings that you have for your life, there's a deeper longing to be in relationship with the Lord. It's how He created you. Yet you are even unfulfilled in that because of sin. You can never bring yourself closer to God in your own efforts. Today, Pastor Ricky will explain how you must come to the end of yourself, acknowledge your sin and ask Him to act, and the beautiful news is that He will. He sent Jesus to bridge the gap between our sin and God's holiness and to bring all people back into a relationship with Him.

There is within each person a fundamental longing. Believers and non-believers all long for love, safety, peace, and honor. Today, Pastor Ricky will explain how God created everyone to long for these things from Him. God can uniquely and fully love and protect you because of who He is. He created you for a relationship with Him. Instead of turning to the world for these things that you long for and excluding God, turn first to Him. He'll fulfill all of your longings in amazing ways and transform your heart.

For the believer, this world is not your home. There's something much greater to come. God calls you to live differently than the world while you're here in the world. Pastor Ricky explains today that you should feel a bit restless as you long for eternity to come. He encourages you as you give up desires and lose things you love to remember that every loss will be redeemed more than you can even imagine. Have the perspective that the good to come will far overshadow anything you lose now. God will restore all things on that day.

The world today lives for the here and now, wrapped up in all the pleasure and comfort of the moment. Yet Isaiah encourages God’s people to fix their eyes on eternity instead. There's something much better to come. Today, Pastor Ricky will challenge you to have God’s longing for the full salvation of His people. Yes, you experienced a bit of salvation life now, but the complete glory and righteousness to come are more than you can imagine. Creation will be redeemed completely. You’ll be fully restored and perfect for eternity.

Despite what the world tells you, God is bringing His people to a great and glorious future. Even if you struggle to believe you are worthy of a God using and desiring you, He promises a beautiful gathering of all who believe. Today, Pastor Ricky will explain some of the glory to come. God will carry you to perfect completion and righteousness. The Godly will triumph over this world and ultimately the glory to come is better than you can even imagine. Don't give up on your Christian walk. The future to come will be amazing.