We all hope for things to be better in the future than they are now. We may hope that a loved one will change his or her ways and give up sinfulness. We may hope to get out of debt. We may hope for better health and freedom from pain. We may hope to have a good job. We may hope to hear good news and not bad. A person lost in the wilderness hopes to be found and rescued. A person with no hope for better things in the future despairs and gives up. I suppose that is why people commit suicide – because they despair that things will get better. So they take their own life to end their misery.
As Christians, we have a hope of eternal life with Jesus and God the Father – an existence with no pain or sorrow, but joy in Their presence. We do not ever have to despair, because this hope is an anchor for our souls. Hebrews 6:17-19a “Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.” First, His promise is a sure thing because God cannot lie. And second, it is our anchor because it keeps us immovable and not blown about.
Many say that the world we know has evolved from a big bang; there is no God and no eternal life. But our faith is being sure of what we hope for. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (NIV) We do not see God; we do not see our heavenly home. But we are certain of God and his promises and secure in our hope.
Trials in our life beat us down and discourage us. We wish that these trials would just end. Romans 8:23-25 “Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.” Our hope saves us because it keeps us from giving up in despair. We persevere in our trials and eagerly wait for the fulfillment of God’s promises.
My encouragement to you is to not give up on your hope. Hebrews 6:11-12 “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” You also need to encourage your fellow Christians. Hebrews 10:23-25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” One of the purposes of the church assembly is to gather together and encourage each other to stand firm and not give up on our common hope.