True Hope

One things I have noticed over the past year or so is the use of the word hope, the way it is used in culture and the way I use it personally. You see, it's some what of a buzz word, especially since it was used extensivelly in our last presidential election. We use it often in everday language, using it as a sort of wishful thinking. I hope for a lot of things; I hope gas goes below $2 a gallon again, I hope the Redskins go to the SuperBowl, I hope I get a check in the mail to pay off all my bills, I hope my car is able to last another 5 years; you get the point. Not that these things couldn't happen, because they very well could. However, they are not based on fact or logic, rather they are based on what I want. In a lot ways the phrase "I hope" is synonomous with "I wish."



So, from a Christian perspective when I say that I have hope in Jesus Christ, do I mean that I have a sort of wishful hope, not sure if He is real, but hoping he is? No! You see, in scripture the word Hope is used much differently than we use it. Accord to The Vines Complete Expository Dictionary, Hope is, "a favorable and confident expectation." In 1 Timothy 1:1 the apostle Paul addresses his audience in the way, "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope " (NIV). Christ Jesus our Hope! How exciting is it to see that we have hope in Jesus Christ, but what exactly do I mean by that? My relationship with Jesus has given me hope in many areas of my life, but specifically I have assurance of eternal life with Jesus. When I die, I do not have to wonder if I will go to heaven because I have hope in the promises of scripture:



John 3:16 " For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." NKJV



Romans 10:9-10 "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." NKJV



1 John 5:12 "He who has the Son has life: he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." NKJV



Often, when people are asked if they will go to Heaven when they die, they will respond by saying, "I hope so." You don't have to have hope of heaven in a worldly sense, rather you can have true hope of eternal life when you trust Jesus Christ!

If you would like more information on how to know Jesus Christ, please visit the following link. Pastor Ray Pritchard has written blog outlining how to be Saved.

http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/2006-05-26-Gods-Simple-Plan-of-Salvation/


Please feel free to e-mail or comment with any questions or feedback!
In Christ,

Donald


Scripture labeled: NIV

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture labeled:NKJV
New King James Version®, Copyright © 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved."

"Bible text from the New King James Version® is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000."