Hope, Help And Haven

INTRO.- ILL.- In Peanuts Lucy and Linus were sitting in front of the television set when Lucy said to Linus, "Go get me a glass of water." Linus looked surprised, "Why should I do anything for you? You never do anything for me." "On your 75th birthday," Lucy promised, "I’ll bake you a cake."

Linus got up, headed to the kitchen and said, "Life is so more pleasant when you have something to look forward to." AND IT IS.

Many people, however, feel like they have absolutely nothing to look forward to in life. Just work, etc. Of course, if you like your work that’s not bad.

ILL.- A student at the New York Institute of Advertising explained why he had chosen the field: “I have dreams of making a million dollars in advertising, just like my father.”

The institute director asked, “When did your father make a million dollars in advertising?” “He didn’t," said the student. “But he had dreams, too.”

We all need some dreams but the hope of making a million dollars is not much of a reality for the majority of us.

ILL.- The heirs of A. T. Stewart, one of the wealthiest Americans in the last century, wanted to bring a suit against Judge Hilton for his way of handling the estate. They went to William M. Evarts, one of the most distinguished lawyers of his day who later served in the Senate and as secretary of state, and asked him to manage their case.

“Well, I will take a contingent fee.” “And what is a contingent fee?” asked one of the heirs. “My dear sir,” Evarts replied, “I will tell you what a contingent fee to a lawyer means. If I don’t win your suit, I get nothing. If I do win it, you get nothing."

That’s about what most people feel like they get in life; a big zip. Nothing. As far as the world goes, that could be true. The world really doesn’t offer a person much.

I John 2:15-17 "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

Basically, the three world goals are: lust of the flesh, lust of the eye and the pride of life. And if a person ever succeeds in acquiring these to any degree they will find they do not satisfy. They leave people empty, helpless and hopeless.

If you don’t believe me, just look at many people in Hollywood who have ended up ’high and dry’ or else divorced, drunken, miserable, and in some cases, in prison. The lifestyle of the rich and famous is not always so rich and satisfying.

Col. 1:27 "...God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Christ is our hope in this life and the next!

PROP.- Today, I would like for us to consider what Jesus Christ has to offer. 1- Christ is our hope of eternal life 2- Christ is our help in life 3- Christ is our haven of rest

I. CHRIST IS OUR HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE

ILL.- A politician died and went to heaven. He was put at the front of the line. Someone said to Peter, the apostle, "Why did you let that guy go to the front of the line? After all, we have preachers, evangelists, missionaries, Sunday School teachers and others up here." Peter said, "Yes, I know, but we only have one politician up here."

Some people probably believe this story. I do know, however, that many people wonder if they’ll ever make it to heaven. They may have some belief in heaven but they doubt they’ll go there because of various things or problems in their lives.

LISTEN: Everybody has problems! And everybody sins! And this is the very reason that Jesus died on the cross. He died to forgive us of our sins. That is God’s plan!

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world..."

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sins is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord."

Rom. 15:12 "And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."

This text is talk about Jesus Christ and OUR HOPE IS IN HIM! It’s certainly not in us.

ILL.- Ernest Hemingway once said: “Life is just a dirty trick, a short journey from nothingness to nothingness. There is no remedy for anything in life. Man’s destiny in the universe is like a colony of ants on a burning log.” Hemingway finally took his own life. Now here is the reverse of this.