WHAT IS YOUR HOPE?

There is a popular idea that says, ‘you have one life.’ This outlook advocates that there is nothing beyond this one life and that we should live in the now. This saying means, what matters in life is here and now only. But that is a very short-sighted view of life. It is abundantly clear that life needs to be balanced with the pillar of eternity, otherwise, it collapses. I have seen people who are doing extremely well in life, it seemed as if they needed nothing until a life-threatening crisis hit their lives. Suddenly they start looking out for a hope to anchor their lives on. At that moment, they realise that their lives need to be anchored on something greater and beyond this life. Hence, it is a tragedy if we have hope in this life only. 

“If we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 (emphasised). 

Our hope in Christ is the anchor of our souls, holding our lives together in perfect peace not only in the present life but for eternity. The hope for salvation is the only bridge by which you cross from this shattered life to a glorified life in Christ. You cross this bridge while you are still alive; you live in hope now for what is to come. If you cannot hope now, then you do not have hope. Thus, your life ends along with the end of things in your life. 

THERE IS SALVATION IN THIS HOPE. 

This hope that is beyond the here and now is your salvation. “For in this hope we were saved.” Romans 8:24. 

The hope in which I have been called to live by in this world is the hope of salvation, Colossians 1:27. I live in expectation and hope that Christ will be glorified and honoured in my life and death, Philippians 1:20. Christianity is a call to hope, Ephesians 1:18. Thus, we live in hope that Jesus will come again and that when He appears we shall be like Him (glorified). 

This hope is not a blind leap in the dark or a clever coping mechanism. Instead, this hope is alive, sure and secured in our hearts. It is through the Holy Spirit that this hope is kept alive in our hearts, Ephesians 1:13-14. The Holy Spirit in us is the guaranteed deposit confirming and affirming the redemption of our lives.  

LIVING ACCORDING TO YOUR HOPE. 

This hope is evident in how I live my life. I live in such a way that my hope is not put to shame. My daily lifestyle is informed by this eternal hope. I have set my life towards this hope; I live according to what I hope for. So, everything I do in this life is directly linked to my hope. Thus, I live this life to glorify and honour my Lord, Jesus Christ.  

I live in this present life with full hope for the manifestation of the fullness of God’s Kingdom. I live my life “awaiting and confidently expecting the fulfilment of our blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” Titus 2:13 (AMP). 

GOD PROMISED MORE THAN LIFE. 

What happens when the ‘one life’ goes horribly wrong? Is it over? That should not be the case. Even if nothing wrong happens, your now life must have a greater meaning that goes beyond this life. God never promised us ‘one life’, instead, He promise us eternal life. No matter what happens in this life, our hope remains unshakable because it goes beyond life as we know it.  

No one should settle for this life that ends at death while there is a higher life that leads to eternal life. The gift of God to us is not just this life, however, the gift of God to us is eternal life in Jesus Christ, Romans 3:6.  

CONCLUSION. 

I invite you to this glorious hope, accept Jesus Christ into your life, to be your Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ will give you this hope of glory – a life shared eternally with God both in this life and in the one to come.  

Be aware, without this hope we are separated from God forever. The state of separation with Christ is hopeless and nothing is as hopeless as life without God: “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, without hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12.  

Jesus Christ is the hope of both the dead and those who are alive: Everyone who has this hope shall live eternally with God.