Got Hope?
Without The Hope, we are most miserable. We are lost, confused, insecure and afraid. We live in an uncertain world that is full of chaos and darkness…negatives all around. a world that is only temporal…and is in a downward spiral–into self-destruction. This is inevitable. But be thankful. This is Not our home! In full contrast… We are citizens of the Republic of Heaven. And God is our Father. The Hope from God is bright and beautiful. It is peaceful and filled with joy… It is God’s awesome spiritual creation…awaiting us. It is for us to see and to believe and to become (in the present tense)… a reality that is beyond this physical-material realm… a reality in the Eternal Spirit. A reality that we cannot comprehend. We may only get a glimpse…a taste of it…enough to know that we will not be ashamed nor disappointed, but by all means be exceedingly satisfied. Therefore, our goal is for our Attitude to develop accordingly, to reflect such a reality.
The Hope is an anchor of the soul. And as thy soul prospers, so does our lives…
Got Hope?
Where there’s Hope, there is Peace.
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation (troubles, pressure): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33
To “overcome” in the Greek, means… to be victorious; to conquer; to prevail.
What did Jesus Christ do for us that could cause us to “be of good cheer” in the midst of a world of tribulation and pressure and troubles….?
What did he give us? His Peace. And where does this Peace come from?
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began… Titus 1:2
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23
The Hope is our eternal life….our eternal victory in Christ.
Our Peace comes from knowing our Victory. And we learn of our Victory in God’s Word.
It is our Victory over eternal death, and all the negatives of this world… Our Hope is that by God’s Everlasting Mercy and His Loving-kindness, He has granted unto us such a tremendous reality, that by our heart to believe, we too may be partakers of His Divine Favor and Grace, as He granted His Son, for his life sacrifice to us… Now what he earned and deserves, as an eternal reward, we receive also! wow! (this is called a mystery) We are joint-heirs with Christ. This is to be our spiritual attitude in life. This is Joy!
Jesus Christ won the Victory. And this “Victory” is in the present tense…in the now. An experience to enjoy now….or as soon as you are willing to believe… We are to live according to it now and every day forward. This reality must become part of us…as we grow in our understanding of it. By keeping our hearts turned toward God. We must study it from God’s Word. (an abundant study) And be renewed by it. By working it into our thinking and heart. Otherwise, how can one have confidence (faith) in life…? Where there is no Hope, there is no peace and no confidence.
That we “might have Peace”…(John 16:33) God’s Peace ruling in our heart is priceless! It is one of the most valuable and desirable qualities, that a man can experience. To have undisturbed rest and inner quietness, of assurance, that regardless of circumstances, one could be of good cheer and remain courageous in life, against all obstacles and negatives. And we are to let this (reality) act as a ruling umpire to direct our hearts….which means we are to follow and pursue this Peace…and keep it!
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15
We have Peace by keeping our heart fixed on The Hope.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
To get the Hope, we must set our affections and desires on things above… Giving up the desires and love for this world… and setting our desire on God’s purposes.
Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above–where Christ holds the highest position.
Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things.
You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Christ is your life. When he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
What a Promise! Do we believe it? If we believe that God created life and the universe, then we can believe He has our eternal lives in His Hands…perfectly waiting. Therefore, our Hope is to know with certainty that our future is secure, glorious and beyond our satisfaction. And therein we find our Peace and Joy. Look within… it is in you. The world has nothing even close to offer…nothing close to compare!
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast… Hebrews 6:19
The Hope gives us a solid, unmovable foundation to place our confidence in. And it gives us endurance to run the race of life… keeping our Attitudes right…as one who is representing Christ and his victory. His ambassador. When one is competing in the games, and reaches his victory, does he not celebrate and rejoice?
Our heart is to manifest such Attitude as is appropriate for this victory over this world. Not to wait until we get to heaven. What we put our heart on is what we see and feel and become.. How high do you want to go? Perspective is everything.
So, in the world we shall, absolutely, have tribulations, and fears, and pressures and all kinds of negatives attacking our heart, soul, mind and body… And if we still find ourselves subject to the attitude of our old man nature… perhaps fearful, and getting frustrated, and anxious, and negative in certain situations… we have not yet let the Hope do it’s work in our heart. Transformation is a continuous action…As we aim our hearts to find Peace and letting it rule, and direct us…into Abounding…
Again Perspective is everything…
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time (life on earth) are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18
Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine. II Corinthians 4:17
The Hope puts life into perspective for us. I often say, “life on earth is but a spit in the ocean compared to our eternal life”… Therefore, don’t fret it. You won the victory! So, don’t let the world suck you dry… The Hope pumps life into us….by holding unto the proper perspective.
The Attitude of Victory.
Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6, 7
Do not be anxious (without peace) about anything! If we obey this command…not letting the physical realm lie to us, in that we respond with anxiety which is fear, which means we have not yet developed the faith in this that we are constantly doing it…believing the spirit over the flesh. To do as this instructs is to have the Peace of God, securing your heart.
Part of our Victory in Christ is having access with confidence to God who will work all things together for our good. All we have to do is Ask and Pray. And be thankful. Therefore, why be anxious for anything? God’s Word says we are made too good for this world to bring us down. If you are down, get up! Let the world see your Peace and Joy….because you have The Hope!
As we allow our heart to meditate upon this reality, in knowledge, we really do Abound in a new perspective of life… Develop the habit of thinking on the Hope…it will give us the endurance to keep going in peace and thankfulness… praising God along the way…
The Hope is a reality that brings us Peace that passes all our understanding. A Peace the world never knew. It’s priceless! And Joy that is unspeakable. That during the toughest storms of life….we can be unmovable in our spiritual position, and attitude, being always thankful, rejoicing always, and abounding in Hope. This is to Prevail in life!
Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24