|
do we have hope? “Hope” is a word that sounds exciting and good; when we read Webster’s definition we are not disappointed: “HOPE, n. [L. cupio.]1. A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.” What is your expectation after death? Do you desire to go to heaven? Realizing that “hope” is “a desire of some good” I doubt that anyone is desirous of hell; so let’s go to God’s Word and see if indeed we can have “hope” of going to heaven! If you desire to go to heaven the first thing that you must do is to “believe in God” Pet. 1:21 “Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” From the pen of Peter we see that a belief in God puts you in a position to have “hope”. Since God “raised Jesus from the dead” God has made it much easier for us to believe in Him and thusly to have hope when He raised Jesus from the dead. Furthermore, there is too much evidence that [including eye witnesses] God did actually raise Jesus from the dead for us not to believe that it did actually occur. If you believe in God you are traveling done the right road to have “hope”. The apostle Paul not only believed in God he also had “hope: in Jesus Christ: 1 Tim. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Jesus Christ is indeed our hope because we believe in Him to keep His promise: John 14:2 - 3 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” I like Paul believe Jesus; I believe He will keep His promise that He has gone to prepare a place for me and that He will come again and receive me unto himself! Do you believe this; if you do your “hope” is also in Jesus Christ! Yes, I have hope of eternal life with God, Jesus Christ, the angels and all the saints because God has promised eternal life to all who will believe Him; and God will not lie, in fact He cannot lie: “Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;” What a loving God we have; even before He created us He knew we would sin; yet He had a plan whereby we might be reconciled and in this plan was His promise to you and I that we might have eternal life. Dear friends I am placing my trust and hope in Jehovah God who cannot and will not lie! Of course we need to be aware of the fact that our “hope” would be baseless without the mercy of God: Psa. 33:18 “Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;” My “hope” is based upon the mercy of God. Do you trust in His mercy, if you do you can have “hope”. Do you trust the mercy of God? If you do you can have “hope” of eternal life. Let us always remember that without the “mercy of God” we would be hopelessly lost. Friends, we must rely upon the grace of God through which He has given us “hope”: Do you have confidence and trust in the Word of God? You should, because it is in His Word that you will find “hope”: Psa. 119:81 “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.” What a wise God is He that we serve. He did not trust man to know and understand Him without some written testimony; therefore, He has given us His inspired Word. Just like the Psalmist we can have “hope” by reading, believing and trusting His Word. Do you have hope? If you don’t I encourage you to read your Bible.
|