TRUE HOPE FOR EVERYONE
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have
been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we … rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character,
and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given
to us.
The fact that people express hope and long for better things and situations indicate an insufficiency, inadequacy and an inevitable need of eternal good. The existence of hope therefore means that something is not alright, needs to be perfected and/or fulfilled. Hope may not presently take away the problems or troubles, suffering and sorrow, threats etc, but true hope is sure and steadfast; lively; good and gladdening; triumphs over difficulties; does not make us ashamed and is therefore blessed!
However, life on earth is full of uncertainties and disappointments and man’s search and strivings for happiness makes even the richest powerless over death, susceptible to disease and decay. The hidden emptiness in the soul seems to grow with a painful restlessness and desperate question, where then is hope?
True Hope is Aware of Need
It is not good enough that social scientist recognise the need and place for a certain healthy self-awareness. Psychologists and other practitioners normally attend to, assist or medicate people who are alive to the fact that they need help.
An awareness and acknowledgement especially of moral failure, insufficiency, inadequacy and an inevitable need of eternal good at an individual level is a good and right place to start. The standard is God and His Holy Law that we ALL have disobeyed and continually disobey. The sinful state of our hearts makes us do all sorts of bad things to one another, and do not do all that is required by God. Yet we vainly hope things will be better while our destination is destruction. You should not excuse or reduce the problem or acquit yourself.
Everyone needs a change of heart and destination. The difference is in the relationship between light and darkness, life and death, wickedness and righteousness, sin and holiness, hell and heaven mortal life and eternal life. In short, we all need salvation; not bodily healing or anointing, not socio-economic development or cultural transformation. Not even technological advancement! What you need is repentance, mercy and forgiveness, grace and empowerment and love. Are you aware of this? If you are, then you’re on the right path.
True Hope Looks Outward
With all its ups and downs, life on earth is temporal, short, uncertain and much out of our control. So with the awareness of moral failure, insufficiency, inadequacy and an inevitable need of eternal good, which is salvation, in place, you discover and own up that your efforts and self-belief are short of correcting the problem and bring about that eternal good. It is as bizarre as a dead person raising himself up, or as weird as a patient going to a doctor and then trying to treat himself! The principle here is different from the facilitation approach counselors take in helping people, which is like the alter call done in some churches.
The remedy in this our case is to surrender totally, willingly, intentionally, objectively and humbly look and entrust oneself to Jesus Christ because you are powerless and helpless. Look to Jesus his Son ALONE and live. Only this attitude suits us for and draws out God’s compassion and grace. It’s not by your works, simply cling to His cross. He alone gives eternal life, he alone saves, he alone suffered and died for your sins and in your place; he alone saves! He alone is qualified. In him, strivings cease and fears are stilled. So your frail and feeble efforts are infinitely nothing and useless. They are an insult to God and only anger him.
God knows you more than you know yourself and the best thing you can do is trust him and entrust yourself to the one he appointed to take care of everything for you. The one you must listen to above everybody else is Jesus, with whom God is well pleased! Will you continue to look to yourself or other people and things, instead of God, as your only hope today and of a better tomorrow and eternal good? Remember also that He holds the future! ALL else will let you down but JESUS NEVER FAILS.
True Hope Rests in God
By virtue of its design and aim, true hope rests in God, for it gives way to sight! It soars on the wings of God’s promises. Saint Augustine rightly put it that God made us for himself and our hearts are restless until they rest in Him. This is best summarized as, From God, For God, and To God. So remember, for all your needs and questions, your mess, problems or troubles, suffering and sorrow, threats, powerlessness, weakness, emptiness, disease and decay, and death, true hope lies and is found in God (1Pet1:21). God’s testifying Spirit is the messenger of hope and assurance for those who have entrusted their lives to Him. Sinner though you are, there is going to be a brighter day for you if you are saved. You are going to have an opportunity of showing perfect love and loyalty and service.
That wonderfully deep and sweet blending of awareness of your need for eternal good, change of heart, hope and trust in God, is the authentic touch of Jesus. He is the ONLY WAY to the Father and hope of our salvation. Since true hope is from God and rests in Him, it does not disappoint us, and God Himself is our ultimate HOPE. Do you have this hope?
