HOPE: The Great Motivator!

As a young man, I looked ahead to the end of my life and saw nothing but a black abyss, and deep within my soul I silently cried out, "NO! This can't happen!"  I could not bear the thought of being extinguished like a lonely candle on a rainy night. I sensed that there had to be more to life... that there must be a way beyond this mortal realm... I hoped I would find the way, but did not know where to look. Though I was raised agnostic, to me that only meant that I had not yet found something that I could believe in. I deeply wanted to have hope, but I was coming up empty.

Beyond the bounds of space and time, my quiet heart's cry that even I barely acknowledged was heard by the Creator of the Universe, and through an unlikely series of events, He reached down from Heaven and into my heart where Hope found me. The uncle of my college roommate, who we had met a year earlier by 'freak chance' invited us back to visit, and hinted about changes in his life. He was a deep man (a former professor of psychology, he had been sidelined by an illness and had previously spent his days exploring an ancient Chinese method of divination), my visit was surprising, intriguing, and ultimately life changing. There was a lightness, a peace, a hopefulness, and an overflowing sense of joy in that household that I had not seen the year before. He began to tell me about how Jesus had come into his life and how he (and his wife) had been redeemed, and that they had been given the free gift of Eternal Life. Now THAT caught my attention! I asked questions and he answered them in a way that made the pieces fit together like never before.  I knew I wanted what he had...  but how?  He explained that Jesus was standing at the door of my heart knocking, and that all I had to do was open the door and let Him in. I got on my knees and prayed to God and Jesus and asked the risen Lord Jesus Christ to come into my heart, and said that I would accept him as my Savior and Lord if He would save me and give to me that free gift of Eternal Life.  As I prayed, I became aware of this calm that was unlike anything that I had ever experienced, as though I had been living in the midst of a stormy sea and suddenly the waves had been calmed by the Master's hand... confused at first by this unfamiliar feeling, I finally realized that it was perfect peace! When I glanced out the window, there before me was a brilliant red cardinal, which I took as a confirmation of His presence. That evening God in Christ came into my heart and made His dwelling place there, and He has never left. Since that day my life has never been the same. Though I stumbled at times, turned left when I should have turned right, went down when I should have gone up, and wandered down the occasional dead end street, God gently kept me in the palm of His hand, picked me up when I stumbled, and pointed me back in the right direction. Through life's twists and turns, I never again feared the abyss. I never doubted God's saving power, and at last, I had the Hope of eternity in Heaven.

Now, I need to make a very important distinction here. 'Hope' to a true believer in Christ means something very different than what many people think of as 'hope'. For most, 'hope' means there is at least some chance that something good will happen... it is a glimmer, a long shot, a big time maybe. The absence of hope (hopelessness) is one of the darkest conditions known to mankind (it is a common denominator in deep depression and suicide). When all hope is gone, there is no motivation to go on. This is hope at the most basic level. That is not the kind of Hope I am talking about here. A ride can be a rustbucket, or a ride can be a new Ferrari.  A meal can be a box of stale crackers or a meal can be a Thanksgiving feast! That is the difference between what most people think of as hope and Hope for the true believer.

In an earlier article I quoted the 'love' chapter in the Bible, I Corinthians 13.  The last verse starts out, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love...".  We have talked about why faith and love are key, but why hope? We find these three elements together again in the book of Colossians: " ...we have heard about the faith you have in Christ Jesus and the love you have for all of God’s people. You have this faith and love because of your hope, and what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven." Did you get that? Faith and love are empowered as a result of us understanding that we have a 'hope' stored up in Heaven. Not many years past, unmarried women stored up many of the things they would need when married in a box called a 'hope chest'. A faithful Christian does not just have a 'hope chest'; they have a 'Hope mansion' stored up in Heaven! Jesus said, "In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you... Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." By our actions on earth, we can put treasures in our 'Hope mansions'!

What else can we learn about this 'Hope'? The Apostle Peter said, "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, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in Heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.. Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your Hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming." Our Hope is not just inanimate objects... it is a fresh, strong, active, powerful Living Hope!  The Apostle John said, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!... we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this Hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure." Hope purifies us. The Apostle Paul wrote to Titus, "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed Hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Hope makes us strong against evil and eager to do good!

Our 'Hope' is looking forward to the return of Christ and all the wonderful things we will receive of him in the glorious kingdom of Heaven! With that kind of 'Hope' we can endure anything and still come out victors! Jesus Christ himself held on to that Hope during the greatest trial of his life.... the cross. "...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. " While dwelling in his mortal body, he could see eternity... and that Hope is what kept him motivated. We can do the same! Attacked for doing good? "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in Heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Thank your persecutors, for they have made you richer! Suffering illness, injustice or lack?  "The sufferings we have now are nothing compared to the great glory that will be shown to us. Everything God made is waiting with excitement for God to show his children’s glory completely." For believers, Hope is a safe harbor that protects us from all the storms of life. It is transdimensional, rising above the limitations of our material existence. No matter what difficulties we are faced with, if we hold on to that Hope, nothing can take it away from us.

Our hope is not just a pipe dream or a wish... our Hope is glorious beyond imagination... a city with streets of gold and filled with mansions and a world where there are scenes of natural beauty beyond compare, and God's love permeates the air like the scent of roses in a rose garden. There is unconditional forgiveness, love and acceptance flowing like a river from the throne of God. What is even more motivating is that there are signs everywhere that we could be in the 'last days' (insane weather, waters turning blood red, sink holes, mass animal deaths, etc.) and 'be changed' when Christ returns for his own, not having to pass through death. The time we have on this planet may be very short indeed, so take action while you can!

So now perhaps you have a glimpse of what true Hope means. It is your Glorious Reward once you have taken the same leap of faith I took so many years ago... accepting the risen Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (i.e. deliverer, redeemer) and Lord (commit to living your life in accordance with His will) and then live your life accordingly. It is then that you not only have hope... you have the Hope of Glory!

  I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness — the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the Hope of Glory!

(Colossians 1)