Your Daily Devotional for June 15, 2006

 

June 15, 2006

Our Hope

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

1 John 3:3

 

 

Friend, as we come to God’s Word today, notice the first part of this verse, “And every man that hath this hope…”  “This hope” is referring to a hope that only those who have accepted Christ as their Saviour can experience. Friend, I pray that you have this hope today—the hope of knowing that one day you will spend eternity with Christ in Heaven and that the sorrows of this world are only temporary.

 

Christian, did you know that we have hope today? Yes, even in the midst of this sin-sick world, there is hope! As the old hymn goes, “My faith is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.” 1 Thessalonians 2:19 says, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?”

 

Aren’t you glad that our hope is in Christ? It isn’t in the government, our military, our retirement plans, or in ourselves. The government can be overthrown, the military can be defeated, our retirement savings can be lost, and we can fail, but God cannot and will not fail us!  He promises to sustain us with each passing day, and He gives us something to live for and to look forward to!

 

Luke 21:27-28 says, “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Jesus is coming soon! Friend, that should be hope enough to keep going here on earth. Christ’s return is imminent; it could happen right now!

 

The fact that Jesus is coming soon should cause us to live our lives, to make our decisions, with Him and His return in mind! He encourages us to be steadfast through trials, remembering these trials that we go through are only temporary. One day, when we are in Heaven, we won’t even remember what we went through. Christ will wipe away all pain, sorrow, heartache, and suffering.

 

Yes, we are supposed to be looking forward to Christ’s return, but we aren’t supposed to just sit idly by until He comes; we are to be busy doing His work! 1 Thessalonians 5:8 says, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

 

The phrase who are of the day is talking about we who are still on earth waiting for the rapture. This verse says that we are to be busy defending the faith. We are to put on the armor of God and continue fighting!

 

Friend, have you been battling fiercely in your Christian life, yet you feel as if you are losing? Christian, we have already won! If you are saved, there is no way you can lose this battle! Christ already paid that price and won the victory! There’s still hope! Don’t get discouraged in the daily battle of the Christian life. Take time, when you are feeling defeated, and remember the past and what Christ did for you, then remind the devil of his future! Take time today to enter into the presence of God and ask Him to renew your strength. We need this renewal every day!

 

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