our hope

From: Ben Kelley
Subject: our hope

Though it is not usually uppermost in our minds, one of the most vital needs in our lives is hope. A person can endure some very terrible things, as long as they have hope of them ending and better things coming, but when they have no hope, many just give up and quit. The world's people (those without Jesus) base their hopes on mighty shaky grounds, such things as the innate goodness of man, inner abilities, riches, blind fate and fortune, etc. In reality, they have no hope, for all of those things will burn up, fade away, or fall through. There's no real substance to any of them, yet they say we, as Christians, have a "pie in the sky" hope, for we cannot "see" what we hope in, as if their hope foundations are solid. I'm just here to remind you that our "hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness," as the old hymn goes. We have a hope that endures forever and ever, so we should never give up and quit. Maybe some of you are considering doing just that right now. I tell you the grounds for your hope is rock solid and eternally secure! Perk up and keep going. Let us be reminded of just a few Scriptures on this subject.

I think those are some good applications of what we need to remember about our hope. The world's version of life gives no hope for the trials and tribulations we sometimes face, but God's version has a definitely "happy ending." In other words, "this ain't all there is!" Although we can't really "see" it now, our Savior is coming back to not only make it alright, but, in the words of a Disney character, HE will destroy all this and change it in to something "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!" The things HE has awaiting us would "blow our minds", if HE didn't give us a new mind able to take it all in. HE is not going to let this garbage go on forever, for HE is coming back to make all things new.

God's Word says we are to, as our definitions of hope/expect say: (a) look forward to this return of our Lord Jesus and get ready for it, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3) (b) regard it as likely to happen, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (1 Thessalonians 4:16). (c) anticipate His coming: what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 2 Peter 3:11b-12) (d) It tells us we can look for it with reason and justification. Jesus said: And 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. (John 14:3) Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelations 22:7) As the phrase goes, which I have used many times, Jesus is either Lord, liar, or lunatic. Look at any evidence you wish, you will end saying HE is exactly Who HE said HE is, so, if HE said HE's coming back, HE is coming back! If HE said HE will make all things new, HE will make all things new! If HE said HE will wipe away every tear from our eyes, HE will wipe away every tear from our eyes! It's going to happen!

Our, mine and your, hope is absolutely solid, safe, and secure when it is in Jesus, for His version of life is the true one. No matter the promise or the seeming impossibilty of it, HE will do what HE said; you can trust Him. Don't dishonor His Name by doubting the truth of His Word. Re-settle your hope in the source of all hope. Heaven is awaiting our coming. I will close with a passage I believe HE is telling me to give you now:

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. (Psalm 37:3-5)