July 4, 2006 – A MAN WITHOUT HOPE IS MISERABLE
Trusting in ourselves alone, we have no hope in an uncertain world and there certainly is no hope for us in eternity. Our destiny is sealed when we are born unless we allow God’s redemption and destiny into our lives. The scripture describes our spiritual condition without Christ. Ephesians 2:12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. Our creator, from the very beginning, gave clear, “abundant life instructions” with God’s own “life time guarantee.” John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
We are born in our flesh with its sinful desires and destined to sin against God. God’s great love decreed a new and living way for us. Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body. John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. The thing that is wrong with our present world is “sin.” No just verdict can be rendered but “guilty before God!” God did not leave us without “hope,” but sent his Son as our Savior! The way to overcome our flesh is “sin out and righteousness within.”
The world is in chaos and man cannot come up with the answers that bring peace. There will be no peace until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of God. Satan, and all of his worldly forces (terrorists or whoever else) cannot win this battle. Revelation 11:15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” What God has written is coming to pass. The children of God’s family have “hope, divine protection, and an eternal inheritance in God’s kingdom.” Belonging to God the Father through the blood of Christ His Son is the greatest privilege ever given to man. I grieve over the millions who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. John 10:2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep (CHRIST). 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” God wants us to have the relationship of “son ship,” “friendship,” “fellowship,” and “ruler ship” with him. Revelation 5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
Christ indwells us, gives us His Spirit to direct us, does extraordinary things through us, uses us as His intruments, and sends us forth as His ambassadors. Our Lord will free us from the mouth of lions, and cause us to tread on serpents and not be touched. We do not have to worry about the enemies arrayed against us. If our God be for us who can be against us? All we have to be is “His” and be “obedient” to His word. We are in the fight to win the eternal souls of men and to bring them under the banner of God’s love.
Our “hope” is as “big” and “almighty” as our God! No man can rob us of our hope for who can rob us of God? No man can steal God from our hearts because He is an eternal spirit. Our hope and trust are not fleeting because God will never leave or forsake us; neither can our light go out on the darkest night, because Christ (who is the light of the world) is our light and He resides within us. We can walk in the dark without fear, because God and His Holy Spirit walk with us. When it is our time to leave this world we will be forever in His presence.
When we are in need, all we have to do is “ask” in Jesus name, and we shall receive. Whatever we “seek” the scripture says that we will find. When we come against a closed door, all we have to do is “knock” in Jesus’ name and it will be opened unto us. Only an all-powerful God can make such promises, for they are kept by His Spirit. It staggers me to think that we know Him, He is in us, and we will forever belong to Him and be a part of His kingdom. 1Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Psalms 42:5 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior. A man without hope has every reason to be miserable. You can choose to be filled with eternal life, overcoming power, and hope through the indwelling Christ. He is the victory that overcomes the world! 1Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. All three of these gifts are resident in God and are ours when we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord of our life.
