"A Deathless Hope"

  "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 15:13)

  "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word." (II Thes. 2:16-17)

   We need hope and have hope. But there are those who suffer greatly and feel as if the situation they are in is hopeless. But look carefully at the above verses. In these it is clear that hope, a convicting and trusting hope, does not lie within our resources but it is all based on the Lord's resources. The reason many feel their situation is hopeless is because when the focus is on our resources it is weak at it's strength. But when our hope is set on God, His resources become ours and that's what faith is built on. One can't demand their way to having hope. One can't earn it or worry your way to it. You can't scheme your way to hope or make a deal with God to obtain it. You can't buy it. Hope is only received when one humbly submits to the Lordship of Jesus Christ trusting He is faithful, knowing He is able.

  As we look around our present situations, the evils that abound may look like from our view they are winning. But they are not! Jesus was met with a force of man in the garden, betrayed by His own apostle - but hope said Sunday is coming and He overcame. Jesus was mocked, stood before the governor who washed his hands, Herod had his time to mistreat and Annas showed malice toward the Lord - but hope said Sunday is coming and He overcame. The Pharisees convinced a crowd to spew hate, the Sadducees grinned and the Romans stood by just watching the antics go on - but hope said Sunday is coming and He overcame. The crowds screamed for a insurrectionist to be set free among them in exchange for the Lord while Caiaphas showed his colors - but hope said Sunday is coming and He overcame. The demons of darkness rejoiced along with the Devil while the soldiers did their part in the mocking - but hope said Sunday is coming and He overcame. The earth showed the submission while it cracked open and the sun was shaded - but hope said Sunday is coming and He overcame. What do we learn? HOPE BECAME DEATHLESS!!! The last word in any circumstance we find ourselves in should be HOPE in God.