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Hope During the
current Presidential Campaign we have heard a lot about “hope.” Most
politicians promise to make our lives better if they are elected. The old
proverbial, “chicken in every pot” is promised to the electorate. It should
not surprise us when the message of hope is received with joy and zeal. After
all hope is what gives us the ability to keep on going despite the obstacles one
may face. To those that denied the resurrection of Christ, Paul said, “If in
this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1
Corinthians 15.19). In this article we want to properly define hope, what we are
hoping for, and the basis of our hope. Hope has two
components, the first being desire, and the second being expectation. A person
may expect to receive something but have no desire. A student that takes a test
may expect to receive a failing grade but that is not what they desire. A
disobedient child may expect to receive punishment but they are not hoping to be
punished. The second component of hope is expectation. There are all kinds of
things that a person may desire but have no real hope of obtaining. I may desire
to become rich, a young man may desire to become the next Tiger Woods, however,
the expectation for such is not really there. Abraham was a
man of hope. Hebrews 11 speaks of Abraham leaving his home country so as to
dwell in tents. Why did he leave his people behind so as to wander in For hope to be
real it must have a basis. People may hope for things but that does not mean
there is a realistic chance it will happen. A student may hope to pass a test
but if he does not study his hope is really a fanciful wish. Growing up I had
hopes of being 7 foot tall and playing basketball for the Do you desire
and expect God to hear your prayers? Most people will say yes but the Bible
tells us that God does not answer the prayers of every person.” For the eyes
of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But
the face of the LORD is against those who do evil." (1 Peter 3:12) In John
9 Jesus healed a blind man. While the Jewish leaders falsely accused Jesus of
being a sinner, they stated a Biblical truth. “Now we know that God does not
hear sinners” (John 9.31). To have the desire and expectation that God will
hear your prayers you must be doing the will of Your Heavenly Father. Do you hope to
go to heaven? If you answer yes, upon what basis do you have such hope? Going
back to 1 Corinthians 15 we find Paul says we have the resurrection of Jesus.
“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of
those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15.20). There are two things we
say about “firstfruits.” Saying something is the firstfruit implies there
are more to come. Also, the firstfruits were generally the best. Jesus had the
power to overcome death since He never knew sin. In conjunction with the
resurrection of Jesus we have the word of God promising us that there will be a
resurrection in which all who are in the graves will be raised, John 5.28-29. We
also have the word of God promising not just a resurrection but the hope of
heaven to the faithful. “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living
hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away,
reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through
faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5,
emphasis mine D.T.). We should all
desire to go to heaven. To be with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; to be
reunited with our love ones that were faithful to God, and to be with all of the
faithful throughout all mankind. We should also have the expectation of reaching
that goal if we have done the will of God. Such hope Paul expressed in 2 Timothy
4:8, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but
also to all who have loved His appearing.” Let us never take our eyes off the
goal of heaven not stop believing that we can make it there. Dennis Tucker |