This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent. It is during this time of the year that we should examine our hearts and remind ourselves of the blessed hope that there is in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is truly the reason for the Season. This would is in dire need of hope and peace.
When we look at the world around us it seems so very hard to see anything to be hopeful about. We see anger, loss, hate, fighting, shootings, despair, lying, cheating, and other bad things that make us shake our heads in disbelief. We may wonder if there is any hope for the people of this world.
The good news is yes, there is hope. There is wonderfully amazing hope to be found. Where can we find this hope and blessed assurance? We will never find the kind of hope in a world leader, no matter how powerful or charismatic. We won't find that hope in a president, member of congress, parent, or spouse.
The hope that we need has been giving to us by the true living God. The creator of all things seen and unseen. God made you and I in His image. We are deeply loved by God. In the Garden of Eden Adam sinned against God by eating from the tree he was told not to eat from. It was then that sin entered into the world. From that point on everyone born into this world has their heart bent away from God. We are all born sinners separated from our loving God and there is no amount of good deeds, works, or rituals that we can perform that can bring us back into right standing with God on our own.
God made a way when there seemed to be no way. You see at just the right time God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into this world on a rescue mission to save us from our sins and reconcile us back to God. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life ( John 3:16).
Jesus was born into this world to die. He lived a perfect and sinless life. He was fully tempted, but He never gave into those temptations like you and I do. That means Jesus never sinned. We sin everyday. We sin many times a day in either thought or deed. The Bible plainly tells us that, "for all have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23).
The wages of our sin is death. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23). It is because of our sin that we are all deserving of being placed in a literal hell of all eternity. God is Holy and Just. Nothing sinful or dirty can ever enter into His presence.
God made a way when there seemed to be no way. I am glad He did that for you and me. God sent Jesus to go and lay down His life upon a cruel old rugged Cross for my sins and yours. Jesus took the punishment in the Cross for you and I. I can't save myself. I am not good enough. My good deeds are like filthy rags in comparison of our Holy God. I am saved by grace through my faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus rose to life on the third day conquering the grave. He is at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven and one day Jesus Christ will return to this earth and bring with Him the Kingdom of God to this earth in full completion. He will Judge the living and the dead. Those who have turned from their sins and have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will enter into Heaven where they will be with the Lord forever. Those who refuse to turn from their sin and trust Jesus Christ will be sent to a literal hell outside of the presence of the Lord for all eternity.
It is only those who repent of their sins and trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior that have this hope. It is a matter of our hearts. The Lord doesn't want anyone to god to hell. I don't want anyone to go to hell either. That is why I feel compelled to tell people and warn them in the best way I know how so they can escape the wrath that is to come.
We followers of Jesus Christ have a wonderful hope in Him and we have a wonderful future in store for us in Heaven. The Lord Jesus Christ is the hope that the world needs. Many people won't turn from their sins and turn to the Lord unfortunately because of pride. Their eyes have also been blinded by Satan so they can't see the truth of who Jesus Christ is. Jesus Christ is Lord. He is the Savior of the world. Jesus Christ is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Jesus Christ is God. He is the Redeemer.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior. I praise His Holy Name. I am thankful that Jesus Christ saved a wretched man such as I. I am thankful that everyone who receives Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has the Holy Spirit indwelling in them. May we cling to the hope that we followers have in Jesus Christ.
We must not look at the world and try to find hope there. We must not try to find hope in material things or relationships with other people. We must attain our hope from a solid and firm foundation. That solid and firm foundation is the Lord Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith. If you are facing a time of trial and you feel hopeless I would encourage you to go to the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer and call out to Him for help.
Lord,
Thank You, for being the true hope that we need.
We praise Your Name.
I pray that You would comfort us by Your Holy Spirit.
Help us to grow closer to You.
We love You, Lord.
In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.
