With Hope, We Can Endure Anything!

"Better to hope, though the clouds hang low,
And keep the eyes still lifted;
For the sweet, blue skies will soon peep through,
When the ominous clouds are rifted.
There was never a night without a day,
Nor an evening without a morning;
And the darkest hour, as the proverb goes,
Is the hour before the dawning!" -Selected

The book of Hebrews was written to encourage Christians to remain faithful to Christ. Chapter 6 records that some had already fallen away. The writer, however, was persuaded of better things regarding his listeners (Hebrews 6:9). So, he gives them a word of encouragement by reminding to “shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end” (Hebrews 6:11).

He then reminds us that our hope is anchored in heaven where Christ has entered to sit on the right hand of the throne of God. You see, hope is very imporant. An honest question to ask would be, "Why do we need hope?"

Let's take a look at some reasons why. First, we need hope because it gives us something "to talk about." People love to talk about their plans. Young people talk about their plans for college, home, and jobs. Working people talk about their vacation plans. Older people talk about their retirement plans.

Similarly, it’s just natural that Christians would talk about their plans to be in heaven. Jesus spoke of such plans to the disciples (John 14:1-3). Paul spoke about his desire to depart and be with Christ (Philippians 1:23). Peter spoke about his hope for the resurrection (1 Peter 1:3, 21).

Consider Paul’s words of encouragement and hope to the church at Thessalonica who were bereaving their Christian brethren who had departed this life (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Hope gives us something to talk about, sing about, pray about, and rejoice over.

Secondly, we need hope because it gives us something "to work toward." Consider the expectant father who knows the baby is on the way. Consider the young person seeking to pay for his school loans or tuition. Consider the working man looking forward to his vacation.

Hope motivates us, as Christians, to work. We may have hopes for our future work here. When we take a mission trip we elevate our hopes. When we plan the work for the congregation, we elevate our hopes.

Speaking of future work, Paul often spoke of his future work as well. He told the church at Rome, “When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain” (Romans 15:28). He told Timothy “These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly” (1 Timothy 3:14). John said, “but I hope shortly to see thee, and we shall speak face to face” (3 John 14).

I would like to stress here that the hope for eternal life should motivate us the most. Our hope motivates us to serve the Lord. Paul described himself as a servant, “in hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal” (Titus 1:1-2).

Our hope motivates us to be sober. Peter said, “Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).

Our hope motivates us to live pure and godly lives. John wrote, “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).

Finally, we need hope because it gives us something "to hang on to." If we have hope, we can get through the most difficult things. Think of this as the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. We can do daily chores that need to be done because of our hope for some future event. We can raise our children in the hope that they have a good life. We can work through difficult times in marriage, if we have hope for better days ahead.

As you can see, hope provides us a way to deal with life’s problems. Paul wrote, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5).

Paul knew personally about those persecutions. He said, “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.” (Acts 28:20).

In conclusion, why do we need hope? We need hope because it gives us something…

1) To Talk About
2) To Work Toward
3) To Hang Onto

Thus, when we have hope, we can endure almost anything!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, whatsoever this life may bring us, grant that it may never take from us the full faith that Thou art our Father. Grant us Thy light, that we may have life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a blessed day!

Athene