1 Corinthians 15:19-20 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
There are millions of people all around the world that are suffering defeat by misery and desolation, whose hope is seemingly non-existent. Their lives are being terrified by the setbacks that seem to control their very existence. Too many people attempt to go through life without any hope and a life void of God. They go from one religion to another, trying to find the correct answers, only to discover more disappointment. Finally, when this does not satisfy the longings of their souls, they rush to the banquet halls of sin and come out the other side even more dissatisfied and exasperated.
Unfortunately, seeking to discover the real meaning of life, they fill their hours with cascades of adventure and passionately drink from the beakers of worldly gratifications. All of this misdirection only serves to bring about even more distress and sorrow.
Counter to this stormy cloud-covered façade of desolation and anguish, Jesus offers himself as the only hope of the world. This hopelessness of the world is not just recently began or even in the past millennium or two. Stories surround vicious killings, political assassinations, sordid sexual affairs, manipulations, and extortions exist throughout the Old Testament. It is clear from the Bible that all of us suffer under sin (Romans 2:23; Romans 3:10), and without God, we are without hope (Ephesians 2:12).
In our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, we have hope not just for the present that we are never alone but hope for the past that God has forgiven us of our sins. Furthermore, all of our failures are not greater than the power of God to forgive all sins, past, present, and future. Our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus laid down His life, taking the pain, shame, and penalty of the sin of the world on Himself so that we could have the hope of a full life, in the here and now and life eternal spent with Him. There are no worldly or Satanic powers that can take away this hope we have in Christ Jesus because it comes from Heaven (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Through our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, we have been born again into a living hope that is with us every step we take. This hope is alive because Jesus is alive, transforming our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls into a likeness of Himself (2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:48-49; Romans 8:29). When we begin to truly comprehend the magnitude of the forgiveness we have through Christ Jesus, we will start to forgive others. When the love of Christ Jesus fills every void of our hearts and souls, our self-seeking, self-centered desires will begin to fade away, and we will gravitate towards service for Christ Jesus and others. Even though there will always be unexpected, troublesome, and traumatic occurrences that threaten to diminish our hope, Christ Jesus will renew our hope daily, and we will soar on the wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31).
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