Hope!

"Hope" is defined as a confident desire, likelihood of success, a wish or desire, and archaically used to denote trust. [source: Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation.] It is easy to see from these varied definitions, hope can be associated with different levels of focus. It is therefore possible to have desires we acknowledge may not all come about. However, without a sense of hope regarding life in general, with what would we be left? Depression? Despair? Lack of motivation to press on thinking what's the use?

It has been stated, "What oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life." [Emil Brunner, via calendar quote]

There are life situations that can seem to knock the breath out of us; making it difficult to press on. When hope is lost people are often left wondering WHAT TO DO OR SAY. When Jesus walked on the road to Emmaus with two disciples (who did not recognize Him) who did not know what to make of the Lord's crucifixion, they stated. . .

"But WE HAD HOPED THAT HE WAS THE ONE to redeem Israel, Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened." ( Luke 24:21 ESV)

The Greek word "hope" in this passage is the verb "elpizo" which means to anticipate, expect, or hope for. Up until the cross, the expectation of these two and many others was that Jesus would establish His kingdom. They had come to focus on Jesus as "the hope of Israel." ( Acts 28:20) Acknowledging Jesus had been laid in the tomb, those hopes seemed dashed. What were they to do? When these two eventually realized it was Jesus who had been walking and talking with them, they rushed off to tell the other disciples that "The Lord has risen indeed." ( Luke 24:34) Though the day had been drawing to a close ( Luke 24:29), having the BREATH OF HOPE BREATHED BACK INTO THEM, they were energized to rush off the same hour of the night. ( Luke 24:33)

Writing to the church at Thessalonica, Paul stated. . .
"(16) Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loves us and GAVE US ETERNAL COMFORT AND GOOD HOPE THROUGH GRACE, (17) comfort your hearts and ESTABLISH THEM IN EVERY GOOD WORK AND WORD." ( 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 ESV)

We have a "LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" ( 1 Peter 1:3); a hope set on the "LIVING GOD." ( 1 Tim. 4:10) We can be certain of that "HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began." ( Titus 1:2) The hope we have in Christ is the hope in which we can trust. It is not archaic hope. This hope is just as fresh as when Jesus gave Himself up for us. May we allow that LIVING HOPE to BREATHE LIFE into our ACTIONS and SPEECH to the glory of God.

Have a great day BREATHING EASIER BECAUSE OF THE ETERNAL HOPE THAT IS OURS!
Carl

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