Hope in Things Unseen

HOPE.  How can such a small word have such BIG ambitions.  Paul talks of it throughout the New Testament.  We speak of it daily.  But what is it really?

According to Webster, hope means to desire with expectation of obtainment or to expect with confidence.  Don't you love that?  Paul was willing to suffer because of his hope of resurrection from the dead (Acts 23:6).  I must confess that in my times of doubt I've wondered if maybe Paul wasn't just a tad bit insane.  Who in their right mind would endure the trials that he did?  Especially for something or Someone he'd never seen?  Then I found the passage in 1 Corinthians (15:8) where Paul writes that Jesus appeared to him.  Whew!  For a minute there I had questioned his sanity!

But wait a minute!  What about me?  I believe in this unseen Jesus.  I would lay my life down for Him...the hope of Him.  Does that make me crazy?  Unbelievers would look at me and think so, but for those who have faith in the unseen because of the testimony of those who did see Him-they know I'm crazy- for Him!  I expect with confidence that the things the apostles and others wrote about Him are true.  I expect with confidence that His Word is true.  I desire with expectation that I will obtain the eternal life in Him that He has promised to me.

 'Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.'  Romans 8:23-25

I am hopeful that you'll take the above verses and make them your prayer for today.  Hope in Him and what we know to be true.  Wait patiently for Him with eager expectation that we will obtain the ultimate goal--eternal life with Him, Jesus Christ.