Do you get up excited for the day ahead? The week? The 12 months? Or has life dulled your expectations? Maybe even excellent news doesn’t move you anymore since it’s filtered through a lens of cynicism and weariness. Maybe you’re feeling jaded. Maybe you’ve lost hope.
And truthfully? I can’t blame you.
One take a look at the world could be enough to interrupt your heart: wars rage, lies go unchecked, persons are rejected, neglected, and abandoned. There’s distrust, injustice, and pain at nearly every turn. It’s easy – too easy – to turn out to be numb.
But even in all this darkness, one query stays: without hope, what are we living for?
Hope is the difference between life and death. What we anchor our hope in makes all of the difference. And as Christians, our hope should be anchored in a single person: Jesus Christ.
Why Jesus?
You can have heard the Gospel before, but let me ask you truthfully: Do you truly imagine that Jesus is the Son of God? That He got here to Earth, lived a sinless life, died on a cross, and rose again – conquering death and offering us salvation and everlasting life?
If you do, you then understand why our hope must come from Jesus. He is the bridge from death to life. We were destined for everlasting separation from God, but “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Through Jesus, death will not be the tip. It’s the start of eternity with God.
Living as people of hope
Through Christ, the Kingdom of God has already begun here on Earth. When we place our hope in Him, His Kingdom lives in us (Luke 17:20-21). And meaning we’re not meant to show away from the world’s brokenness, we’re called to confront it.
We aren’t just saved from something; we’re saved for something.
Because we’ve been saved by Jesus, are being transformed day by day by the Holy Spirit, and have the promise of eternity with God—even in full awareness of our sinful nature—we’re called to share this hope with others – being lights within the darkness, salt on the earth, ambassadors of hope (1 Peter 1:3-4, 2 Corinthians 3:18; Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 5:20).
We carry the hope of restoration, just as God does (Romans 8:19-21). And we must share it.
Scripture says in 1 Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to offer a solution to everyone who asks you to offer the explanation for the hope that you might have.”
We needs to be the change we wish to see on this world.
Faith. Hope. Love.
Hang on, how can you might have hope without faith? Or even deeper, how can you might have faith without experiencing God’s love?
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the best of those is love.” Jesus endured the cross because He trusted within the Father’s love – a love strong enough to overcome death and restore this world. He hoped that someday we’d come to know just how deeply we’re loved.
Hope has a reputation
Hope isn’t just wishful pondering. It’s rooted in reality – the Word of God. We must return to the Word of God day by day to renew our hope (Romans 15:4; Romans 10:17). It reminds us of His unwavering and unconditional love, which builds up our faith (Lamentations 3:22-23). And from that hope flows true joy, peace, comfort, and strength (Isaiah 40:31).
Our hope is anchored within the unchanging character of Jesus. Therefore, because “Jesus Christ is similar yesterday, today, and without end,” (Hebrews 13:8), the hope now we have in Him “doesn’t 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).
You may know the TV series, The Sandman. Although it isn’t a Christian series, it delivers a surprisingly profound moment in its first season. Lucifer asks Morpheus, “What could possibly be more powerful than anti-life?” Without hesitation, he answers: “Hope.”
Hope brings life. Hope works miracles. Hope transforms hearts and whole nations.Hope is how we resist becoming numb. Jesus is hope.
So, will you select hope today?
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