Scripture Reference: Romans 1:16; 1 Timothy 1:8-14

Hope

There’s a final reason why we can have confidence in the Christian faith. It provides us with a hope that will not die. The hope is expressed in two ways. First, we live with the hope for a better world. The theologian, Emil Brunner, once said that what oxygen is to the lungs, hope is to human life. Without hope, we die. With it, however, we live.

The voices of doom are everywhere. Surprisingly, and sadly, this doom is even heard among those of us who should, of all people, be the most hopeful. It is as if some have become convinced the human condition is so depraved that the only thread of hope left is in the second coming of the Lord. I often find myself wondering about the human condition in our world today. I believe in the visible return of our Lord. I believe, that when Christ does appear, the kingdom of God will be fully realized. But the world will have to go a period of judgment first. Even with that in mind though, I’m not ready to give up on the world and those that are spiritually lost. The Lord hasn’t told me the time of service is ended. Not just yet!

Standing on the Mount of Olives, the disciples asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” That’s a question many people are asking today. “When, Lord, will You come and deliver us out of this mess?” I believe what we need is to have the angel ask of us what he asked the disciples, “Why do you stand gazing up into heaven?” (Acts 1:11). That’s just another way of saying, “Don’t give up, yet! God isn’t finished with the world just yet!” To give up hope is to destine ourselves to futility and despair.

The Christian faith also gives us hope in the world beyond. These days we place an inordinate amount of interest in material and financial security. Every effort is made to make us feel secure and self-sufficient. Insurance policies, stocks, bonds, IRA’s, and all our personal planning is designed to protect us from the accidental and inevitable. Yet, there is a curious paradox. With all of our planning and scheming, ours is the most neurotic generation on record. Is it any accident? Part of our neurosis and anxiety stems from the fact that we have lost a sense of hope in the world beyond. That is why we can be proud of the Christian faith. Its central message is that, in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord, death no longer writes the final line on the script of life.

I’ve had to deal with cancer a couple times in the last few years, undergoing chemotherapy as well as radiation treatments, so I often have to visit our oncology department for updates. I often get to witness to the wonderful caregivers there and they all know my stand on the Bible and eternity. I am not ashamed to share the Word of God with them and they have often stated they look forward to my visits because of the positive they witness in me compared to so much hopelessness they deal with on a daily basis. Everyone is looking for hope in something more than what they see in front of them.

I’m convinced the Christian faith answers our longing for what lies beyond what our eyes and senses are only aware of. “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ,” exclaimed Paul. Neither am I. It produces what it promises. It meets all our needs, and, it prepares us for life, not just here, but also beyond, in eternity.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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