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Man Must Have Hope
Mankind needs hope. We cannot live happy, satisfied, or even healthy lives if we have no hope. Hope is a necessary part of a person’s life and over all well-being, not to mention a person’s spiritual well-being. The same thing that can happen to a football team when there is no hope can happen to us in everyday life. Have you ever been watching a football game, and even though one team might be a little bit ahead, they still remain pretty much neck and neck for most of the game? But then, as time ran down, something happened. It was as if the one team just laid down and gave up the game while the other team ran the score up out of the roof! What happened? They lost hope. They decided there was no way that they were going to win and they gave up. In much the same way, if a person believes that he has no hope, he may just give up and watch his life spiral out of control. Why even try if you are absolutely convinced that there is no use?
In “Man Needs Hope” by Robert McAnally, there is this story:
Years ago there was a S4 submarine that was rammed by another ship and quickly sank to the bottom of the ocean. The entire crew was trapped in that prison house, and, of course, when they ran out of oxygen they would die. Ships rushed to the scene of the disaster off the coast of Massachusetts. We do not know all the things that took place down in that sunken submarine, but we can be sure of one thing. The men were gravely clinging to life as the oxygen was beginning to pass.
There was a diver who went down. He put his helmet on and he went down to the submarine. He wanted to know if there was anyone in there alive. He got down to the bottom of it, and he began to hear tapping. Someone he learned was tapping, tapping out a statement, a message in dots and dashes. It was Morse code. As the diver listened, he began to recognize the message: it was just four words: ‘Is there any hope?’ (Do You Understand The Biblical View Of Man? Pulaski, TN: Sain Publications, 2008. 596)
In much the same way, I wonder how many people today are just barely clinging to life, or feel like they are at least, and are asking the very same question—“Is there any hope?” Our lesson this evening provides the answer. Yes, there is hope for us all! Hope Involves Desire Coupled with Expectation
What is hope? How would you define it? According to the dictionary on my computer, hope is a “desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.” If I’m hoping for something, I both have the desire for it and a certain expectation of its fulfillment, or its happening. If we have one of those things without the other, it’s not hope. I would like to fly. I don’t mean with an airplane or hang glider or anything like that. I would like to fly like Superman; I think that would be very neat. But, I have absolutely no expectation of that actually happening. So, instead of hoping to fly, flying is more of a wish or type of fantasy because it is desire without the expectation.
Back a couple of summers ago, I was living in central Florida when, I think it was, four hurricanes crossed over the center of the state in one summer. Everyone was talking about how bad the storms were going to be each summer after that because they said we were beginning to go through a cycle of some sort where Florida was going to be hit like that every summer. So when the next summer came around, I was expecting more hurricanes to hit. I didn’t desire it, and I certainly wasn’t hoping for it, but there was that expectation. There is No Lasting Hope Outside of Christ
What if there was no God? Would you look at life differently? Would you live differently? If there was no God, we could have no hope for anything after this life here upon the earth. There would be no heaven to look forward to, no resurrection of the dead, just death, and an abrupt end to a short existence. There would be no expectation of anything long-term. We would only have a short time to live here upon the earth with no real purpose or aim and then, like a flower that blooms for a brief moment and then fades, it would be over. Where could we go for hope during difficult times without God to pray to? The highest aim that any one of us could hope for, if there was no God, would be worldly fame, fortune, and good times, then it would be over—all vanity, a “chasing after the wind,” and nothing more. “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:2).
Paul told Timothy,
Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. (1Ti. 6:17)
We can see the fallacy in trusting, or placing our hope in the things of this world in the book of Ecclesiastes. In the book of Ecclesiastes we read of Solomon’s search for the meaning of life. He was a man who had it all, so far as this world is concerned. He was as wise as any person could be. He was as wealthy as any person could be. He was a king. He had 700 wives and three hundred concubines! He had it all! There is no one who could have been in a better position to experience and search out every possibly thing for man to find to do “under the sun” than him. Still, for all his efforts, all he found was that the things that men do and seek after in this world are all vanity, or emptiness.
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind…. So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind…. For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; and man hath no preeminence above the beasts: for all is vanity….Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity. (Eccl. 1:14; 2:17; 3:19; 12:8)
Did Solomon ever find meaning in life? Yes, but not in the things of this world. Listen to him:
This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Eccl. 12:13-14)
The meaning of life is found in God and serving Him; all else is vanity. So, without God, what lasting hope is there?
Paul expresses a similar frustration to the Corinthians when he was teaching them about the resurrection from the dead in First Corinthians chapter 15:
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, we are found false witnesses of God; because we witnessed of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither hath Christ been raised: and if Christ hath not been raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also that are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable….If after the manner of men I fought with beasts at Ephesus, what doth it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. (1 Cor. 15:13-19, 32)
If Christ didn’t rise, He wasn’t the Son of God; we are still in our sin. If He didn’t rise from the dead, we are without hope for the salvation in Him. But, more than that, if He didn’t rise from that grave, then the dead are not raised, and if the dead rise not then what’s the point; we would have no hope of eternal life! Let’s “eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
When Jesus died upon the cross, some of his disciples became discouraged because they believed that there was no longer any hope. Two of them were walking down the Emmaus road when the risen Christ came to them and said, “What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad” (Lk. 24:17). They said, “But we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel” (v.21). Then, as they talked, Jesus said to them,
O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they were going: and he made as though he would go further. And they constrained him, saying, Abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is now far spent. And he went in to abide with them. And it came to pass, when he had sat down with them to meat, he took the bread and blessed; and breaking it he gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures? And they rose up that very hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, (Lk. 24:25-33)
Did you see the impact that the absence, and then presence of hope had on those two? As long as their hope was gone, it was like, “okay, what’s the point? Let’s just go on back home all sad and defeated.” But as soon as they realized that Christ was raised, what happened? Their hope was back. They grabbed their things and they rushed back to Jerusalem! What a difference hope can bring! Christ is Our Hope
Where is our hope then? If man needs hope, if it’s not found in anything of the world, and if it is in God, that’s just another way of saying that our hope is in Christ, because the way to the Father is through Him (cf. Jn. 14:6). When the angel came to Joseph in a dream to tell him it was okay to wed Mary, that she had not been unfaithful to him, the angel said, “she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21). When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him he said, “behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). The Hebrew writer tells us that He is to all them that obey Him, “the author of eternal salvation” (Heb. 5:9).
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this. (Isa. 9:6-7)
That’s Christ. By coming to this world and dieing upon that Cross, He gave hope to mankind. He is our sacrifice for sin. In Him we find forgiveness. In Him we find eternal life.
In His resurrection we find the assurance of our own resurrection:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Pet. 1:3)
This hope that we have in Christ is like an anchor that is set and fixed in heaven. It won’t allow us to be moved. The waves may toss us about and the winds may roar, but we will not be moved for the hope that we have in Him, a hope that is in heaven where He is. Why is that hope so strong and firm? Because God, who cannot lie, has promised it to us and He confirmed it with an oath.
Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (Heb. 6:17-20)
If we will keep that desire and that expectation in heaven, coupled with obedience, we will not be disappointed! There is Hope for All
There are some who feel like they don’t have any hope, for whatever reason. I guess there are different reasons why people have given up or feel that they don’t have any hope. But no matter who we are or what we’ve done, there is hope. Jesus didn’t only die for certain people; He died for all. John recorded in Revelation 22:17, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst let him come: he that will, let him take the water of life freely.” Christ said, “whosoever will,” the invitation is extended to all. If we will only listen to Him, believe on Him, and obey Him, He will give us eternal life.
Hope Gives Us a Reason
Hope gives us a reason for our faith and love:
We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, having heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have toward all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel. (Col. 1:3-5)
Hope gives us a reason to endure life’s difficulties: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us-ward” (Ro 8:18).
Hope gives us a reason to remain grounded and steadfast in the truth: “let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised” (Heb. 10:23).
If so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister. (Col. 1:23)
Hope gives us a reason to look forward to the second coming:
But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thes. 4:13-14).
Hope gives us a reason for purity in life: “and every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3).
It is a defense against the wiles of the Devil: “But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation” (Eph. 6:17).
Hope gives us a reason to stay on the offensive against Satan and sin: “For to this end we labor and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of them that believe” (1 Ti. 4:10). Conclusion
If we don’t have that hope in Christ, what do we have? Man needs hope. Real and lasting hope cannot be found outside of Christ. Christ is our hope and it is available to all. If only we would come.
There’s a fountain free, ‘tis for you and me: let us haste, O, haste to its brink; ‘Tis the fount of love from the Source above, and He bids us all freely drink.
There’s a living stream, with a crystal gleam: from the throne of life now it flows; While the waters roll let the weary soul hear the call that forth freely goes.
There’s a rock that’s cleft and no soul is left, that may not its pure waters share; ‘Tis for you and me, and its stream I see: let us hasten joyfully there.
Will you come to the fountain free? Will you come? ‘tis for you and me; Thirsty soul, hear the welcome call: ‘Tis a fountain opened for all. (“There’s a Fountain Free”)
If you need to respond to the invitation this evening, “will you come”…?
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