Hope

I knew a woman whose name was Hope. It was an appropriate name because she radiated hope and faith and love. It always felt good to be around her. I even wrote a limerick about her. There once lived a lady named Hope, Who always knew how to cope With all of life And all its strife. She always had joy in her scope.

I think hope is a beautiful name. It is concise and positive. It reflects an optimistic outlook on life. Hope is more than a wimpy wish. More than “I hope it doesn’t rain.” It is an expectation of good things to come. For a Christian, there is always hope because of the promises of God.

I recently heard about a sad funeral. Almost everyone who attended it was an atheist. And so was the person who died. There was no message of hope. No cheerful voice to be heard. Not a word of encouragement. The belief was that all there was to life was what we experience during our span of years. Once that is over there’s nothing more.

What a contrast to the funeral that our son and his wife attended yesterday. It lasted two hours because so many people had something positive to say about the Christian man who had passed away. He loved the Lord. He loved to study God’s Word. He loved people and served his community well. God had given his life meaning, and now a new life has commenced.

I don’t just “hope for the best.” I’m planning on it. Because no matter what happens here on earth, I can always say, “The best is yet to come.” That is due to the fact that God’s Word is true, and He has provided an eternal home for those who know and love Jesus.

In the words of Jesus Himself we read: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:2-3).

The word “hope” involves a solid faith in the promises of God for today and forever. What promises are you claiming today that give you hope? How does that hope impact the way you live? Here is my prayer for you today. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” That’s from Romans 15:13 (ESV). Will you claim it?