Text: “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in you” (Psalm 39:7).
What does the word “hope” means to us? When we hope for something, we are looking forward to something. For example, a parent might say, “I hope my child makes the honor roll or I hope my child graduates from high school.” An employee might say, “I hope my evaluation was good enough to bring forth a 5% raise in my salary.”
A wife or mother might say, “I tried this recipe for apple pie that my mother used and I sure hope it taste as good as did hers.” A child might say, “I have tried to be good all years and I really hope Santa Claus brings me a television set for my room.”
When we hope for something, we wish with positive expectation that it will become a reality. Everyday we hope for something. We may hope that our prayer for someone will be answered.
We may hope that some situation will turn out to be beneficial to us or to someone else. We hope our country will continue to flourish based upon the Christian principles brought forth by our forefathers.
Hope is a part of life. It is true that hope can be positive or hope can be negative. As Christians, our hope follows God’s Word and God’s Word is always positive. In other words, we hope for good and not for bad.
Hope is closely associated with faith. We hope and believe because of our faith in Almighty God. God’s Words says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). We hope for something and it is through faith that what we hope for will be for certain and for sure.
When we have faith, we believe that God is who He says He is and He does what He says He will do. When we hope for something, we do not see it happening at the present time, but we believe and trust God, through faith, that we will see the fruit of what we hoped for.
As Christians, it is obvious to us that our hope does not come from our own being. Hope has been in existence since God created man. When God created man, God gave man the ability to think and do things for himself. Incorporated in man was the gift of hope given by God.
As you recall, Job was tested several times during his life. He lost his servants, his livestock and his family. Then Satan “afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head” (Job 2:7). Job suffered beyond what we can possible imagine, but he did not curse God or sin.
Job said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). Job’s hope was in the Lord. He could not see the final outcome, but he knew in his heart that God was still in control and somehow things would work out where he would be stronger, better, and have a closer relationship with Father God.
Job was not concentrating on the present, but instead, he was looking at what was to come. He used his faith to bring him through these present trials and tribulations. Job knew God was alive and that one day he would see Him in the perfect flesh he once had. This was Job’s declaration of hope and it was backed by his faith in God.
Our hope is not in the things of the world or what we can do for ourselves. The things we can see we no longer have to hope for. Our hope comes from God which is more certain than human hope. The hope from God is a sure hope and we will never be disappointed. Scripture says, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:5).
There will never be a period in our lifetime when God’s hope will disappoint us because of His love for us. His love is always with us because the Holy Spirit lives within our heart. We can endure and be strong during difficult and trying times since we are inspired by the hope we have in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
God Word is the book of hope. In the Old Testament hope was present, but it was covered or veiled because the Messiah had not yet come. In the New Testament hope is wide open because the Messiah, Jesus Christ has come, is with us daily in the Person of the Holy Spirit and will come again just as His Word tells us.
The hope that you and I have as Christians is based upon the Word of God. We accept His Word and we believe the history that has been recorded, the events that have taken place, the birth, death and resurrection of the One and only Son of God the Father.
When you and I speak of hope, we are speaking about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To us, who are Christians, hope and Jesus are synonymous. Our belief mirrors what Paul said in his greeting to Timothy: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope” (I Timothy 1:1). A Christian’s hope is Jesus.
Our hope is a confident hope because it is in Jesus. Each of us knows we have a future because we have had a past. God brought us into this world and gave us the breath of life. We are His children and He has a plan for each of us.
Our earthly life is merely a journey into eternity where we will be in His presence. This life may not be easy going and we may pass through trials and tribulations, but Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14: 1-3).
Jesus promises us a place with him for all eternity. Our hope is that one day we will be with Him. Our hope is in eternal life and that hope is secure because He has promised it to us and we know He does not break a promise.
As long as we are in this earthly temple, we are to follow in His footsteps. Our hope is rooted in our faith in Jesus in that He will lead us, guide us and keep us on the straight and narrow path.
We are the “salt of the earth and the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). We are to make a positive effect on people of the world as salt effects the taste of food. We are not to do as the world does, but we are to do the will of God.
We all know that when we turn on a light, darkness disappears and nothing is hidden. By the same token, if we are the light of the world, we must shine forth letting others know what Christ has done for us and what He can do for them. We are to speak the message at every opportunity and not keep quiet when the world tries to take center stage.
We are not to let the sins of the world overshadow the Light that shines forth from us. As the beacon shines forth from the lighthouse guiding the ships safely into harbor, we must shine forth with the light of truth to bring the lost into the port of salvation.
When Jesus was upon the earth, He spoke to his disciples about future events. He said, “But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken” (Mark 13:24-25).
Just imagine the sun not shining and the moon not glowing at night. These are the two great lights. Without the sun and the moon, there is no life. Without the sun and the moon there is total darkness. At the same moment, the stars will fall from the sky and the entire heavenly body will be shaken. One might wonder how this is possible, but God said it and what He says is the truth.
Isaiah talked about this when he said, “For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine” (Isaiah 13:10).
There were some people who believed Isaiah just as there were some people who believed Jesus when He spoke these words. There were in Isaiah’s day and there are others today who do not believe the end is near. God is good, life is wonderful, daily activities continue just as they have for years, so how could all this change? Eat, drink and be merry and enjoy life seems to be the way of thinking for many.
As Christians, we know God’s word is true. We know this old world is not going to hold up forever. We know there is a day of judgment coming. We know Jesus will come again at some future time just like His word tells us.
Jesus said, “At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26). Why don’t people believe this is possible? Don’t people believe in the ascension? Didn’t the disciples stand there and watch as Jesus ascended up into heaven?
Before His ascension, Jesus told the disciples they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
If you and I had been standing there, would we have believed what we just witnessed or would we have thought we were dreaming? The disciples were eyewitnesses to the ascension.
As they witnessed the event, two men dressed in white said to them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? The same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11).
The disciples knew Jesus was God and that His home was in Heaven. We know Jesus is God and our hope is that one day we will spend eternity with Him in His heavenly mansion. Our hope is that we will be ready when He comes again. In the meantime, we are to spread His message to others so that they too can spend eternity in His presence.
Jesus talked about his return at some later date. He said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is” (Mark 13:32-33).
It is interesting to note that Jesus did not even know the end time. It is not that Jesus lacked knowledge, but remember that He was still in His earthly form or human form. While in human form, Jesus had voluntarily given up His divine characteristics or traits. He was man.
Jesus told the disciples what to look for and since we have His word, we, too, know the events that will precede His coming and the way He would come. There is no question concerning whether or not He will return.
In the Old Testament, Isaiah said, “Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty” (13:6).
Ezekiel wrote these words: “When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you; I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign LORD” (32:7-8).
Daniel’s words are: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven” (7:13).
Part of the vision John received was opening the sixth seal. “There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place” (Revelation 6:12-14).
The entire thirteenth chapter of Mark consists of Jesus’ words concerning the end times and His second coming.
Luke penned these words spoken by Jesus: “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these thing begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (Luke 21:25-28).
Matthew recorded these words of Jesus: “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And He will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other” (Matthew 24:30-31).
Jesus also said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:62).
This is God’s word. Jesus is coming again. How can people not believe? What are they thinking? The present will not last. Change will take place. There will be great destruction. Many will be lost for eternity.
We, as Christians, do not have to fear. Our hope is in the Lord who made heaven and earth. Our hope is Jesus Christ who came and gave His life and paid the penalty for our sins. Our hope is entwined in our faith and trust in our Lord and Savior.
Our mission is not to sit around and wait, but our mission is to share the message of truth with all who come our way. God does not want any of His children to be lost. “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17).
Conclusion:
We are at the beginning of the Advent Season. We are waiting and preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. This is a time of anticipation and hope. It is the beginning of the church year.
The incarnation or God in the flesh occurred over 2000 years ago. He is coming again and life as we know it will change drastically. He is coming just as He promised.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
A pastor was confronted with a member’s concerns about God’s presence in hard times. He said to her, “You need not worry too much.”
The member questioned, “How do you know?”
“Because,” the pastor declared, “I’ve read the end of the book – that’s were the answers are.”
-------Gardner Taylor
Those of us who have accepted the Lord Jesus as Lord and Savior will spend eternity with Him in His heavenly home. This is His promise and this is our hope. Our hope is Jesus Christ.
Amen.
