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November 2013 – Grace & Truth Magazine

We Hope

I think “hope” is one of the favorite subjects for believers. Part of the hope we express has to do with leaving the matters of this world behind. One doesn’t have to read much of the Bible to realize that this world is really deplorable in God’s eyes. Things got so bad with His chosen earthly people, Israel, that He quit speaking to them in the way He once did. In a day to come God will work with them through a process that will involve a time of wrath and tribulation never seen before. However, we who are Christians “wait for His Son ... who rescues us from the wrath to come” (1 Th. 1:10 NASB ).

A greater aspect of our hope is to see and be with Him. We may wonder what it was like for the disciples when they saw the Lord after His resurrection. It says that they “rejoiced when they saw [Him]” (Jn. 20:20). When we see the Lord Jesus Christ it will be even better, for it will fulfill His desires of having us with Him where He is (Jn. 14:3) and allowing us to behold His glory (Jn. 17:24)!

A third part of our hope as Christians is that He will soon have His rightful place, even in this world. That is one of the main topics of the prophets: a day when Israel and every nation that remains will worship the Lord as He rules upon the earth. All of the believers will be there ruling with Him (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 20:6). Can you imagine that?

One may ask, “How can you be so hopeful?” Edward Mote gave an answer to that question in 1834 when he wrote:

“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;All other ground is sinking sand.”

What about you? Do you have real hope? If so, how does it show in your life? If you don’t have that kind of hope, why not? Believers “have fixed [their] hope on the living God, who is the Savior” (1 Tim. 4:10). Will you fix your hope in Him too, before all hope is lost? We hope this month’s articles will be a blessing to you.

By Paul Alberts