Despite What is Happening in the World, You Can Still Have Hope

 

As we continue through the Book of Revelation, it is really important not to rush through it and realize how it is speaking to us in our own personal relationship with Jesus if we have one today. It should be an ongoing personal checklist to how we're doing in our relationship with Jesus. If you don't have a personal relationship with Him, than how can you say you're a Christian. It's just religion if you are simply going through the motions. The questions we need to be asking ourselves today is:

Is this real in my life?
Am I really a Christian?
How are you doing in this world?
Are you relying on the blood of Jesus Christ and His faithfulness day by day?
Have you placed your entire existence upon the altar of God?
How is your faith?
How is your hope?
How is your love?

Never underestimate man's own ability to justify his own sin. Remember that appearances are everything to the Christian life and how others perceive us. Just because you're living together to save money for your wedding and you aren't sleeping with one another, people who don't know you, believe that you are. How can you justify that as a Christian?

Will you fight temptations so that you can stay strong today?

2 Corinthians 9:8 ~ "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Ephesians 3:20 ~ "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us."

Lamentations 3:32-33 ~ "Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love. For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to the children of men."

God's not setting out to ruin your day today. 

Hebrews 6:19 ~ "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain."

Have you put all your hope and trust in God? Some might be putting all your trust in money. Realize that it can never buy you great health.

Psalm 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 and my God. "

You are not hopeless. Your hope is in God, no matter what happens to you. It is the only thing that will get you through to the end. People who are dying want and will cling to the Word of God. Maybe what you're losing or have possessed, isn't what is important for you right now.

Psalm 146:5-6 ~ "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - the LORD who remains faithful forever."

Got problems? Give them to the LORD.

1 Peter 1:3-4 ~ "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you."

Our hope is alive, because Jesus rose from the dead! That is the deep assurance and hope of a Christian despite circumstances.

Romans 15:13 ~ "May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Titus 2:13-14 ~ "while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

To look for, means to anticipate something. It may look to some like they are fretting or worrying sometimes, like sprinters before a race walking around the track aren't worrying about the race, but anticipating the sound of the gun and finishing the race.

Let each moment we have count, regardless of what is going on around you. Jesus paid for the cost of our sins, past, present and future sins through His death on the cross. That is how He redeems us from all wickedness and purifies us for Himself when we put our faith and trust in Him.

God knows how special you are. He is so in love with you and will be with you always. He will never leave you. He loves us because He is love. It has nothing to do with what we can do for Him. That is not love. God's love for us is unconditional. Eager to do what is good is easy to do when you are a Christian, because we can't wait to do something to give God all the glory, honor and praise. That is what being a Christian is all about.

We will pick up our study into the Book of Revelation 13 tomorrow but through today, consider just how much you are loved by God and how wonderful you are to Him. Be blessed through the love and hope that can be found only in Jesus Christ.