Hope

Hope Is A Gift

Praise Jesus that He gives us hope! "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word" (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

After I finished high school I came to believe that I was in the most blessed generation in all of history. We were war-time and post-war babies. We had everything in front of us. The terrible devastations of World War I (1914-1918), the Great Depression (which began in 1929), and World War II (1939-1945) were past.

The powerful influences which had made the Western democracies such great places to live were being reinforced:

•  Freedom of speech

•  Freedom of conscience

•  Freedom of association

•  Freedom of religion

•  Freedom to own property and businesses

•  The precious value of every person

•  The equality of every person, and

•  The certainty that the people should always have more power and influence than governments and their officials ..

These principles were regarded as cornerstones of our cultures, our national identities, and of our lives.

At the same time economies were coming to life after years of focus on war. New and recent inventions promised unprecedented increases in productivity and standards of living. We saw full employment. Every school leaver could choose his or her occupation and was free to pursue that field. I was able to support myself full-time at university with just my savings from working summer breaks in factories or harvest gangs. There appeared to be no limits.

We knew that there would never be another Holocaust; the lessons of recent history could never be forgotten.

But the record shows that the kinds of cruelty which were needed for the WWII Holocaust were already present before that war, and are with us still, somewhere in the world. Right through the Twentieth Century leaders of nations were ordering the killing of their own people; more that 100,000,000 died in this way. It seems that history continues to repeat itself.

And now we see reverses against our Christianity, our freedoms and our culture. 2000 years ago Jesus warned His disciples: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).

Despite the loveliness and power of Christian life, the spirit of the world is vigorously at work in the world as it once was in each of us: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:1-2, also see John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).

Today we see many results of the "work of the sons of disobedience" particularly in the Western democracies and the Middle East. But always we can hope when we remember that " .. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8b).

Hope Overcomes Difficulties

And we remember that "God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). Doing work with Jesus gives us testimony which helps to sustain and encourage us and build us up; we see miracles, we see people change and grow as we pray for them as we follow Jesus. "Now may the God of peace .. equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:20-21).

I believe that I hope because I can. To me, hope is a kind of manifestation of Jesus in the world. I look up with my eyes of hope and see Jesus' hands on people and on events. Almost all the people I know are Christian; we share a Christian worldview; we look at the world through Holy Spirit filled eyes. We see love and kindness, indeed all the fruits of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22).

But Christians are now a minority in many countries where previously they shaped the laws and the culture. We are becoming a remnant; persecution is increasing. Thankfully we have clear Scripture telling us how to live, even if we are attacked or jailed. Paul's letters are so compelling because he writes with clear testimony; he does not mince words. The ministry Jesus gave to him was costly. We may talk about being an overcomer, implying that this will lead to victories and "success", but Paul seems to have overcome one great hardship just in time to be faced with the next one!

"Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this). I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.  Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?" (2 Corinthians 11:23-29).

As we read Paul's letters it becomes clear that he never lost hope, hope was an essential part of him. I'm beginning to believe that life for active, truth-speaking Christians may soon become like his ..

Bright Future

We may live as a remnant in a lost world, but, like Paul, we know where we are going, and we know who will accompany us on our journey: Jesus says "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). 

We are eternally safe with Jesus who saved us from death and sin; He paid the full price and justified us: "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies .. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (Romans 8:33,35).

I believe that faith, hope and love are becoming more important than food. Our identifying with Jesus is vital .. as we read accounts of persecuted Christians we see that this is true: it is those who are able to really hold fast to Jesus who will endure to the end and know the peace of the Lord:

" .. Barnabas arrived in Antioch and saw what grace (favour) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with resolute and steadfast purpose of heart" (Acts 11:22-23 Amplified).

"These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:14).

"And they have conquered [the accuser, Satan], by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death" (Revelation 12:11).

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).

As I approach the end of my days I am so grateful for the hope Jesus gives me. The thought of some day living with Him thrills me and keeps me vital ..  I'm able to persevere and to press on because I know by faith that there is something breathtakingly wonderful up ahead. And beyond all of this; Jesus has work on the Earth for me, for each of His people, He has plans for us to share in His work among all humankind ..

"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 1:3).

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing .." (John 14:12).

" .. the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.  To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:25-27).

In this biblical context "hope" is about a future certainty; it is not just wishful thinking. "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not yet seen" (Hebrews 11:1).

How do I hope? I have faith. Abba Father, and Jesus, and Holy Spirit have all revealed themselves to me time and time again. Over these past decades they have given me hundreds, perhaps thousands of testimonies of the glorious Creation and their life and work in the Universe. Their Word says "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).

I believe that faith, hope and love belong together. Out of the mess that was my life before I was saved, Jesus has grown these qualities in me, slowly but inexorably. I now have a strong faith; for a long time it was Jesus' faith in me that kept me going. Now all those years of His patient effort are bearing much fruit. "For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6 NASB).

Hope Builds Heroes

Last year Trish and I were praying for Robert, the husband of one of Trish's teaching colleagues, Grace. Robert was still quite young and led a very healthy lifestyle. I began to pray when I learned that he was rapidly deteriorating from motor neuron disease, a nervous system disease that weakens muscles and impacts physical function, and for which medicine has no cure.

Throughout his illness Robert and Grace prayed, they were filled with faith and the belief that Jesus heals, even today, and that He would heal Robert. They studied the Bible as it discusses healing, and attended Christian healing seminars and meetings. But his body continued to decline and he died.

Robert started to keep a diary and Grace published excerpts from it and gave them out at his funeral. Robert's diary is beautiful; it shows a man who knows his God and fully trusts Him. He was constantly seeking ways to grow in Christ, and to love more .. Here is a man filled with Jesus' hope. Robert has become one of my Christian heroes; his undying hope adds even more certainty to my own hope!

We cannot live without hope, knowing Jesus leads to hope, and hope sustains: "And what is faith? Faith gives substance to our hopes, and makes us certain of realities we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1 NEB).

Praise Jesus  .. Amen.

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Great blessings.