The Hope of the World

Hebrews 6:19a,  "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."

Hebrews 10:23,  "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."

This week I was watching a boy at physical therapy as he sat on a rolling stool and pushed himself across the floor with his injured leg.  His progress was slow and laborious because a huge metal weight was attached to the back of the stool by a wide canvas belt.  As the young fellow struggled to drag that weight along, my inclination was to take scissors and cut the weight loose from the stool so he could move unhindered.  Then I thought of all the weights we drag around that hinder our progress, weights caused by problems and circumstances.  The therapists had a broad view, the big picture, of the boy's improvement in mind when they attached the weight to the stool, and God has our improvement in mind when He allows us to struggle with problems and circumstances.  The boy's leg needed to be strengthened, and our faith needs to grow stronger and deeper.  God's promise in Romans 8:28, that all things will work for our good if we belong to Him, gives us hope as we keep struggling against the weights in our lives.

    Christians have an even broader view, a bigger picture, than the therapists, because we have an eternal perspective.  Abraham as he rode swaying camels across dry, dusty lands and lived in hot, stuffy tents, had an eternal perspective.  Hebrews 11:10 says of him,  "For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God."

    This life is not all there is.  Ahead of each Christian is a heavenly home where we shall see our Father face to face, be able to bow before the Lord Jesus in grateful adoration, and bask in the presence of the blessed Holy Spirit.  Heaven is a magnificent place, specially prepared with love by God for His children.  It is a place of no more sickness nor sin nor sadness nor sorrow, no more guilt or regrets, a place of eternal joy.  Because of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, there is help for the helpless and hope for the hopeless.  A glorious future is in store for us.  Let us place our hope in God, as Abraham did.

Father, thank You for all that You have lovingly prepared for those who belong to You.  May we always find hope in You and in our future.  Amen.