The Hope That Sustains

Life is full of challenges that we must sooner or later face. The storms that oftentimes rage about us, come at us for a reason (Romans 8:28,35-39). For example, horrific high winds make trees stronger by forcing them to yield to their onslaught. In making a finished wood product, sandpaper is used to sand down the rough surface, making it smooth for varnishing.

Trials and tribulations are the sandpaper that God uses to smooth out the rough surfaces of our lives (1 Peter 1:5-7; 1 Peter 4:12-16; cf. James 1:2-3), making us more conformable to His will (Matthew 7:21; Romans 6:16-18). Hope sustains and provides us the reason to continue the most difficult of tasks in life. Whatever kind of adversity or challenge we might face, with hope in the Lord and His promises, these adversities and challenges can be conquered — and in the end, make us stronger for having faced them (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

As Christians who are "in Christ" (Gal. 3:26-27), we can rejoice, for "Christ is our hope" (1 Timothy 1:1 KJV; cf. Colossians 1:27 KJV). We have this hope because as He was resurrected from the grave (Matthew 28:1-7; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Peter 1:3), so we also will be resurrected (1 Corinthians 15:22-23; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; cf. John 11:23-26,39-44).

Because of our hope that sustains us "in Christ," we can confidently sing:

"My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name" (see video) —William B. Bradbury

The hope that worldly people place their trust in, is a misplaced and non-sustaining hope (Ephesians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13), a hope of desperation — one that will bring condemnation to their souls (contrast Mark 16:16; "condemned" with Romans 8:1; "no condemnation"). Beloved, let us fully place our continued trust in the hope that sustains — that hope that is firmly based on the promises of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1-4) and God, our heavenly Father (2 Corinthians 6:16-18,7:1).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets