David said….. “Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope” Act 2:26
God loved man so much that he made a garden for him and provided all he needed…at that point, Adam had no need for hope. Right?
But then Adam fell – and he fell hard – so hard in fact, that we are still paying for it to this day! His mistake ushered sin into this perfect world God had created – and since God could not abide by sin, man became lost and without hope.
Yes there is hope for us – it does exist – but our hope is in Jesus Christ alone! Our faith leads us to wait for his return which means, we have nothing to hope for but Jesus Christ! This is not something we “wish” for like a birthday present…….
When I was young, I remember being asked what I wanted for my birthday. I shared my wish with anyone who would listen…but then I waited impatiently because I was never really sure if my wish would come true – sometimes it would, sometimes it wouldn’t. Of course, I was always encouraged to blow out all the candles if I wanted my wish to come true. I could never understand why my wish wouldn’t come true if I told anyone…….. Where did that come from?
Jesus did not die so we would need to “wait and see.“….nor do we need to search this world for his hope……our hope is the blessed assurance that he was raised from the dead and that he is coming back for us!
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
I remember being left at the babysitters and my mother promising to come back at the end of the day to pick us up. That was always a long day, because I was never quite sure if she was really coming back for us…but of course, she always did………
Satan has been trying to convince us that God is not coming for us….and by the looks of things more people are believing that every day!
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5
A lot of things offer us hope in this world, but because they are attached to this world, they will never be anything but short-term illusions because God does not intend for us to remain here and he paid the high price for our souls so we wouldn’t need anything else! Our society is designed as if this is our final destination! Don’t be fooled…..there is a force at work in this world intent on ensuring we never reach our true destination!
I remember having to live with relatives while growing up and how I would always hope for a place of my own…….
“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2
As for our nation….Aren’t you getting tired of being told, “if we just get the right man in the white house or….”just a little more tax…..” or ……” with a little sacrifice ….” Can anyone tell me how long we’ve been fooling ourselves with this false hope? Why are people pushing Jesus aside while waiting for “something more?” It makes no sense to push aside the hope that has already been given us, in search of false illusions. Hasn’t our hope already been delivered to us?
I believe our hope first arrived the moment that Jesus Christ was born – but the hope that we can now be reconciled with God and have eternal life actually was given to us the moment he died!
“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.” John 19:30
Sin is still in the world – and always will be – so, does that mean there is no hope for man?
“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
Act 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In Christ alone my hope is found………
Visit Mark at Planting Potatoes.
