I love the Christmas season! Far beyond all the amazing treats, freshly cut pine boughs, and twinkling lights, the topic of my heart has continually been hope.
I’ve been doing a thing, and I think it’s pretty cool. In my Bible, I’ve been highlighting all the passages that speak about something in the future. Whether it’s eternity, heaven, Jesus second coming, or ANYTHING that is still yet to come, I mark it in green; a color reserved for this alone.
This has been a tremendous encouragement. It also brought me to a passage on hope in Romans 8 that says all of creation groans. Can you hear the groaning? I hear it, and I feel it. This world is not satisfied to be left in the state we’re in. We’ve been subjected to loss, pain, suffering, and death. We long for better. It was not God’s perfect plan. But it entered because of sin. Yet, God subjected His creation to corruption in hope (Romans 8:20). And then He sent that hope at Christmas. Those who put their faith in Jesus will one day be delivered from this bondage of corruption. We are eagerly waiting for this final redemption.
We are saved in this very hope (Romans 8:24)! The passage goes on to say that we don’t hope in what we can see. After all, what kind of hope is that? No, we hope in what is unseen. Other passages on hope have been filling my mind and build so many layers of depth and truth. Here are a few:
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
The second appearing of our Lord Jesus is our blessed hope. Titus 2:13
Hope does not disappoint. Romans 5:5
Hope is an anchor to my soul. Hebrews 6:19
These truths make me SING! I’m full of joy and rejoicing that have me looking at the miracle birth of the Savior Jesus with such awe and… you guessed it… the greatest HOPE the human heart can ever experience!
I have hope that just as Jesus came the first time as promised, the promises still future will also come to pass. Here is Christmas rolled up into a single verse:
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned. Matthew 4:16 NKJV
If you need HOPE today, there is only a single source. It is found in the person of Jesus Christ and the work He accomplished. It began at Christmas when the God of heaven became a human baby. That Christ child would one day die on a cross and rise again, conquering sin and death, and offering Salvation from sin for all who put their faith in Him.
Our lives don’t end here. There is an eternity to come, and if you’re uncertain it’s true, search your heart. God said He has put eternity into the hearts of men. If you’re honest, there you may also find your need for a Savior.
Trust Him today. It will give you so much hope!
