He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4
The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus means that one day everything sad will come untrue. J.R.R. Tolkien
Hello Friends,
In the wake of the spiritual, physical, social, technological, and cultural battles being waged upon us individually and collectively, sometimes the strength of words cannot accurately describe the condition of one’s heart. The gravity of aching and longing is simply too great.
Yet, there is hope.
Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language defines hope as "a desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.”
The present use of the word hope has unfortunately been relegated to the “wish or desire” level. It is being used incorrectly. We subjectively wish or desire for all things right and good, but our hope, at all times, should be in Christ alone. When hardship and devastation press in, we rightly petition our desires through prayer, yet all the while maintain hope that our Creator, Savior, and Comforter knows what’s best. It is with hope that we endure life’s battles with a “peace that passeth all understanding”.
Our todays and tomorrows desperately need to be reminded of this truth.
In the coming weeks, we will be discussing our Biblical responsibilities as believers in this broken world. Additionally, we will celebrate examples of the awe-inspiring Kingdom work that is taking place far and wide. It is vital that we, as believers, continue to educate ourselves and encourage one another Biblically, while highlighting and rejoicing over individuals’ commitments to sharing the hope of the Gospel.
For a moment, journey with me into the HIStory of a young man of twenty-five. His heart was centered on the hope of the Gospel. Having personally endured physical obstacles throughout his life, this young man’s focus was on medical missions. His love of Christ was evident and his zeal for service contagious. He was attending a Christian university to prepare for his calling. With all that he had gone through and suffered, he faithfully testified to the unwavering goodness and hope that Jesus Christ had always provided him. On February 14th, he walked into his Savior’s embrace.
Hope’s culmination is Heaven.
Worldwide accounts of struggle and loss are overwhelming.
Hope remains.
Countless individuals in our country, state, and community are, at this very moment, in the midst of the fight of their lives. While their names or circumstances may be unknown, collective prayer from the body of Christ is powerful.
Hope remains.
If you are currently facing difficulty, know that you are being prayed for and are loved.
Hope remains.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Author
tonya c. gordon
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