If you think back over your lifetime; how often have you hoped for something? I hope I get that toy for Christmas, I hope I pass that test, I hope I make the team, I hope he/she likes me, I hope I find someone to love me, I hope I get the job, I hope I can buy that house, and the list goes on endlessly. We yearn and search always for something more, something bigger than what we are today. Hope is a good thing. Hope lifts our spirits and allows us to keep pressing forward in the midst of pain and suffering. The Cancer patient could never survive the grueling tortures of chemotherapy were it not for hope. The tortured prisoner of war would despair of life were it not for hope. Still, the question comes: in what and for what have you placed your hope? Perhaps the key to our search for joy and for filling our hearts with an unshakable peace lies in those two questions—In whom and for what have I placed my hope? Knowing what I am truly hoping for and in whom I place that hope can even change my perspective on current trials, tribulations, pain, and what I am willing to endure while pressing toward that hope. Example: If I hope to get into that size 6 dress, then I will diet and exercise unless my desire to eat chocolate and sit on the couch every day is greater than my hope to fit the dress. Depending on my degree of hope, I choose whether the “suffering” is truly suffering or the exercising and diet become a source of joy as I press toward that goal before me.
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The greatest treasure for which we can hope and rejoice in is found in a relationship with God. Romans 15: 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Let’s look first at “In what do I hope?” Over the years of my life, the central core of what it is I hope for has changed. Perhaps, as in Lamentations over the years that which I formerly hoped for now seems only “vanity and vexation” of spirit—leading toward despair. So, is there any hope which can lift the human spirit to allow it to soar above the cares of this world?
I propose that there are only two sources of hope which can fill the empty void of the human heart.
1. Joy is found only in the presence of God. The greatest treasure for which we can hope and rejoice in is found in a relationship with God. Romans 15: 13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
2. The second is found as a result from the love of God which outpours into our heart when we have the relationship with God—that is our second hope is in the salvation of others. As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians “19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?20 For ye are our glory and joy” (I Thessalonians 2)
But there is a great problem that still arises. If my relationship with God is the only thing that can truly bring everlasting joy and hope and peace; yet, I am incapable of restoring a relationship with God because of my sin nature. The depths of this dark, self-exalting heart has no hope of restoring that relationship with a righteous God. So, somewhat like the dieter who is overcome by their desire of chocolate, my life would once more look hopeless, unless my hope also comes from outside of me. Therein lies the key where hope has a name and that name is Jesus. When I look at me and take my focus off of Christ, I find self-hatred and defeat-much like Solomon: I only see wormwood and gall. My hope must cling to my Lord and my Savior. Lamentations 3: “18 And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord:19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.” What a wondrous truth, my hope can be anchored in the truth of God’s love because of Christ who died for me. I do not have to hope in me, or other people, or my own merit. My hope is truly built on “nothing less than Jesus Blood and Righteousness”. Colossians 1:”27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” So, Hope truly Does have a Name and that Name is Jesus.
Today, we have looked at in whom and in what we can place our hope that we might have everlasting hope, joy, peace and hearts filled by God’s overflowing fountain of love. Tomorrow we shall look at how these truths change our outlook on everything else in life.
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
©2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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