Echoes of a more excellent way: Hope

1 Peter 3:15

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Have you ever gone through something in your life that seemed completely hopeless? Something that you thought would never get resolved, something that you thought would never end  I think we've all been through those times. Times when the road was rough and God seemed far away. What do you do in those times? What is your first response to hopelessness? I know for me when I'm really feeling down I'll talk to one of my close friends. Three in particular have always been there for me especially when I've gone through really hard times. But why is it that our hearts look for comfort and hope from others? Why is it that we look for hopeful people to pour out our hearts too? I believe it's because deep down inside we all want to know its going to be alright. We want to know that this world isn't all darkness. Deep down in the heart of humanity we truly desire hope. If we're honest with ourselves we would admit to our desire for hope. Our desire for something to expect beyond tomorrow's dimness. But why does the human heart long for hope so much? I believe it's a desire God put in our hearts. We look to those around us that truly have hope. People who no matter what we're going through we know that they can be counted on to give us an encouraging word and a hopeful response. We look to them because in the darkness we look for a light. And hope is a very strong light. 

We as Christians are called to be lights. We as Christians are called to be hopeful. Why? 

Well I believe it's because that's one of our greatest evangelical tools. Remember that Paul mentioned hope as part of his more excellent way. Hope is something that many people want, but few truly possess. It's something that people will see. That's what this passage implies, that people will ask you, they want to know how through the struggles pain and darkness you can remain hopeful. How through every trial, storm, and heartache you can keep a sunny outlook. They will ask you, but what will you answer? What is the reason for the hope that is in you? Or do you have any hope at all? I confess there have been many times in my life when my hope has failed. Many times when I have not taken a stand on the solid rock and let myself fall into a pit of despair. I went through one of those times recently, but then I realized the answer to the question I just asked. What is the reason for the hope that is within us? 

Titus 2:13

Looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;

That is the reason for our hope. If we don't look at our own troubles but rather the person who has freed us from all troubles and given us the ability and the gift to one day live with him, then all the trials, struggles, and hardships just fade away. This life only becomes hopeless when we're not looking forward to and expecting the next. Heaven is going to be this glorious place full of wonders unimaginable, but even greater than that is going to be seeing our lord and savior Jesus Christ. Being able to walk and talk with him and spend eternity basking in his presence. If we're not looking forward to that then yes this world is hopeless. It's like it says in 1 Corinthians 15:19

If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

If we are not one day going to be at the feet of our Heavenly Father, then what is the point of hope. Let's eat and drink for tomorrow we die (1 Corinthians 15:32). But if we look to our future glorious resurrection, than we of all men have something to hope for. We of all people should be the most hopeful because we of all people have the greatest thing to hope in. Jesus Christ. He was the one who died for us who, through his blood, allowed us to come into God's presence. He is the one we have ultimate hope in, the one we know will always be true. The one who set in stone our salvation so that no one, and I stress no one, would be able to take it away. We are saved forever, and if saved then we are also freed, and since we are freed we are no longer bound to this world but rather to the next with a bond so strong that no one could ever break it. 

But how do we continue in hope even when this life seems hopeless? Well that's an easy question to answer but it's sometimes harder to put into practice. 

Romans 15:4

For whatsoever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Hear the echoes of hope calling you to forsake you're life of despair and stress, calling to put your hope in the one true God who has given us a sure and true way into his presence through his son Jesus Christ. 

Job 11:18

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope;

yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.