FINDING HOPE

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

                Into what are you placing your hope? That is a question we all need to consider. In the weird, unsettled times in which we live, we need hope. But what is the object of our hope? What is it that we are looking to to give us a sense of peace and confidence heading into the future?

                Many people have placed their hope in politics. If we can just get the right people in office, then the future will be okay. That sounds hopeful, but historically it has not played out so well. No matter which political party has been in power, the general sense of hopelessness has continued.

                Many people are placing their hope in science. Science has been the agent of progress. It has tackled many of the challenging questions that have faced humanity. It has had a significant number of “wins” along the way. But it has also unleashed a number of unintended consequences. It has often raised more questions that it could answer.

                Many people are placing their hope in human nature. If we just give people access to the right resources they will thrive. People are basically good. We can trust them to do the right thing. As much as we want to believe this, this too has proven to be a false hope. There are underlying issues within human nature that undercuts the positive outcome we are hoping for.

                Many people are looking to religion to give them hope. They are placing their hope in the mystery and the rituals of religion. They hope that by going through the outward activities of religion it will address their anxiety and fear. This too often falls short of the goal. Many people who have turned to religion to find hope have been disappointed and have turned away from religion.

                So where can we find genuine hope in our world? There is only one place where hope is to be found. It is to be found in the one who put this world together in the first place. It is to be found in the finished work of Jesus Christ. As Peter wrote, we have a living hope that is based on the amazing reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His resurrection validated all that He taught and did. His resurrection transcends all the realities of this world. It raises us to a new plane of existence.

                This hope is not wishful thinking. It is a solid confidence in what God has promised through Jesus. It is a guarantee that no matter what happens to us in this world we are still secure in our relationship with Him. As Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:9-10, This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

                Placing our hope in Jesus does not mean all of our problems will go away. It doesn’t mean that we won’t struggle with the issues of life. It does mean that we will have a resource to draw from during those difficult times. It means that we will have the confidence to face the trials of life with strength and determination. There will be times when we are afraid, but we can go to the one who can take away our fear. There will times when we feel weak and powerless, but we can go to the one who is all-powerful. There will be times when we feel confused and disoriented, but we can go to the one who can lead us onto the right path. Our hope is not in our circumstances but in the person of Jesus Christ, who is above all of our circumstances.

                When we place our hope in Jesus, we have a solid foundation upon which to stand. We can have sure footing in life, even when the storms crash around us. Our life is secure in the living hope we have in Jesus.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.