What is it that we are searching for? Is it for peace, joy and hope in our life? Is it what Jesus is looking for, or for something that will satisfy ourself? If we look to ourself for hope, we won’t find it. When a personal or world crisis occurs, thinking positively without living godly won’t provide us with direction. It’s time for us to cease craving what will satisfy self.
We Must Look for That Which is Unseen
And if we continue to be satisfied with what we are at this time, we won’t ever see God. The answer we have to look for must be one that will give satisfaction to more than just our mind. The answer that will bring us true peace is what we need. Therefore, we need to reach for more than we are able to see or comprehend, to prove that we have an eye for God. “…we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:24-25).
There is no necessity to let our past burden us or decree what our present or future will hold.
Hope is expecting things to get better in the future, which is what it is for. What we long for is what we don’t have. But if the flame of this is extinguished, our ability to have joy goes out with it. There is no necessity to let our past burden us or decree what our present or future will hold. Therefore, believers in Christ don’t have to experience a sense of guilt or of loss like those who don’t have any assurance—since our expectation is a “blessed hope”!
The Lord sees a world full of people imprisoned by despair and fear. They are filled with doubt, and lack peace, longing and rest. They grope around in confusion and darkness. So God sent His own Son to the Earth, Who took on Himself frail human flesh.
God Sent Us True Hope – Jesus Christ
He said to any and all who would listen: “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). When the time comes for us to see Him, faith will then be replaced by actually seeing Him. So faith is not a leap in the dark with hope for a soft place to land. Jesus is the real hope we have faith for. He can bring a song out of the darkest situations.
When Christ comes back, He will “…change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself” (Philippians 3:21).
God’s children are right now “looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:13). “Looking for that blessed hope” means that we’re expecting to have eternal life—the greatest object of this desire. “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began…” (Titus 1:2) is what the Gospel has taught us to anticipate, and what the grace of God prepares our heart for.
“The glorious appearing” literally means “…the appearing of the glory of the great God, even our Savior Jesus Christ.” The blessed hope and glorious appearing aren’t the same. The blessed hope refers to being glorified eternally, while the glorious appearing refers to our body being resurrected. When Christ comes back, He will “…change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself” (Philippians 3:21).
It Can Only be Found in Christ
Where should our hope rest? in Jesus. We can continually aspire for change that is positive if He’s with us. He’s the God Who really exists, and He is able to turn around situations that are without hope! He will not extinguish even the slightest ray of confidence or crush those who are weak. He is coming back for us! This ultimate expectation is in the mind of every true child of God has. In every affliction or trial, He is our means to escape.
We all reach the moment where we really need hope. Truth is the only basis we have for real this. Everything is under the control of God, not of Satan, whose degree of control is limited. When Christ died on the Cross, it wasn’t to satisfy Satan—He died to glorify His Heavenly Father. The position we are in isn’t impracticable—there is a possible solution. We have one great need, which is to receive the Holy Spirit. And our one and only great answer comes from having faith in Christ and Him crucified. That is all that is necessary.
Jesus Christ is the only One Who can satisfy the great empty space in our heart.
“…sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15). Jesus Christ is the only One Who can satisfy the great empty space in our heart. Once He’s formed in us, we can satisfy the Lord. “…Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).
It All Begins at the Cross
The Cross—including its demands and hope—is the central point of the Gospel. Since Christ shed His blood on the Cross—when He gave His whole life there for us—we’re now able to have peace, joy, blessings, and prosperity. And the longing of a joyful Christian is in Heaven, while those who have abandoned their loyalty to Christ have surrendered all such anticipation. The only true Giver of hope in this universe is Jesus Christ.
What in this whole world will ever satisfy our human heart and soul? Nothing but Jesus. He’s the One we need to rely on, not ourself. We also need to have His Holy Spirit come and live in us, to operate on our soul and spirit. Hope is possible as long as Jesus lives–and He won’t ever die! “…God…raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1:21). It’s hopeless to expect true help unless we cry out for Jesus to answer our prayers. Without Him, there’s no lasting hope; but with Him, there always is!
Additional iImage credits: Featured image (when available) by Ronak Valobobhai on Unsplash; Opening image by Katerina Kerdi on Unsplash]
