Life and Hope
Introduction: Hope is a very common word used in everyday conversation for a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Much of the use of the word hope in the Bible is in common applications, similar to usage today. But there is only one secure future hope, and that is for salvation of the soul through faith in the living God who is LORD of all, despite whatever negative or positive conditions a person may experience throughout their lifetime. The LORD gives to every believer new life in Christ by grace, that assures life in a new body in the Kingdom of God.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the American King James Bible.
A — The Sin of Adam Brought Death in the Natural Body to All Mankind
Genesis 3 “17 And to Adam he said, Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it: cursed is the ground for your sake; in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life; 19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it were you taken: for dust you are, and to dust shall you return.”
John 1 “4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
Comments: God is eternal, and He is the Creator of all that has been made. Man was made in complexity from the elements of the earth, and God gave him the breath of life. Then the deception by the devil brought sin for all mankind, as all are the descendants of Adam and Eve. Unless a person awakens to accept the truth before the death in their body, they have no hope for the gift of eternal life from the compassionate and gracious Creator God. All people from the beginning of time are descendants of Adam and Eve, and therefore either believe God, or believe the lies of Satan.
B — The Fool Has Said in His Heart There Is No God
Psalm 14 “1 The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that does good. 5 There were they in great fear: for God is in the generation of the righteous.”
1 Corinthians 1 “18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 30 Of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
Comments: When there is mocking as unbelievers say “where is your God,” the answer is that all mercy and glory belongs to the LORD our God who is in the heavens. The invisible qualities of God can be clearly seen in everything in His creation throughout the natural world, so that those who will not believe in God are without excuse. The preaching of the cross is also foolishness to all who cannot accept the unlimited mercy, power, and authority of the true and living God. The LORD God makes the wisdom of the world to be foolishness, because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than any power of men.
C — All Achievements and Material Wealth Will Be Left Behind at Death
Psalm 49 “15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. 17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him.”
Luke 12 “20 But God said to him, You fool, this night your soul shall be required of you: then whose shall those things be, which you have provided?”
1 Timothy 6 “6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
Comments: The accumulation of great wealth, power, or fame will be lost since none of it can be retained by that person upon death. Even a long life with good health and good deeds will have no value at the point of death if there has been no preparation through surrender to God, to receive life beyond the grave. The parable given by Jesus in Luke 12 emphasizes that having attention only to accumulate the things of this world can be unexpectedly and totally lost upon death. It is important to be on guard not to be drawn away from seeking God with our whole heart.
D — The LORD Is the Source of Comfort While a Believer Awaits Salvation
Lamentations 3 “24 The LORD is my portion, said my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25 The LORD is good to them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. 26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”
2 Corinthians 1 “3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God.”
Comments: Jeremiah wrote during the time when the northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen to foreign domination because they had gone so far away from worshipping the LORD. Even though the kingdoms as a whole were eliminated, the message given through Jeremiah was that those who had their trusts and hope in the LORD would be blessed. God the Father shows mercy and gives all comfort during times of our tribulation, and thereby enables us to give comfort to others. The writer of Hebrews states that the Lord Jesus came to earth by flesh and blood in order that through death he might destroy the devil who had the power of death. Christ Jesus made reconciliation for the sins of the people who trust in God, which is not possible any other way.
E — Belief in the LORD God Is the Sure Hope for Eternal Life
John 3 “16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Romans 5 “1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us.”
Titus 2 “13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Comments: God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to be lifted up on the cross; that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. We have peace with God when we are justified by faith in Christ, and we have access to the grace that allows us to rejoice in the secure hope of the presence of the glory of God. There is no way that anyone can earn their own justification, and no person will ever boast before God. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared before all people, and those who have accepted that grace gift should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts while still in this present world: with attention on looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
F — The New Heavens and New Earth Are Reserved for Those Who Trust in the God of Grace
1 Peter 1 “3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
2 Peter 3 “9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise… but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.”
Comments: Christians are elect according to the foreknowledge and abundant mercy of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, because of the lively hope given by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. That victory over death has reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of God through faith an eternal incorruptible inheritance ready to be revealed in the last time. Fiery trials in life can be used of God to bring forth praise, honor, and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. The Lord patiently forgives and is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Nevertheless, according to his promise, there will be new heavens and new earth, wherein dwells righteousness.
Reflections in Prayer
LORD, I believe that you are the true eternal God, and you are the Creator of all that has been made. Satan took advantage of the weakness of man to believe a lie, and the result was that all mankind has the sin nature that can only be overcome by your power within those who place faith in the grace provided by the invisible gift of the Holy Spirit. I thank you LORD that you have given me faith to believe in my Savior, so I have a desire to invest my life in eternity rather than in the brevity of life in the physical body. You provide a source of comfort by the Holy Spirit and by other believers when I experience difficult times in my life. I believe Lord, that I have been born again to have the Holy Spirit which has sealed me for eternity throughout the rest of my physical life. Then I will join all other believers in a new body to live forever with Christ in the new heavens and new earth. Hallelujah, Amen!
Published 28 June 2021