Get Your Hopes Up!

Scripture

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

(John 14:1-3)

Jesus was a Man of hope. He is a God of hope. As He was sharing with His disciples concerning the things to come—his suffering, pain, persecution, and death—the atmosphere no doubt was heavy. Jesus foretold His betrayal and Peter’s denial. It’s heavy, heavy, heavy.Although no one will ever suffer to the degree Jesus suffered, life can throw at you some very adverse circumstances. Followers of Jesus are promised trouble in this life because we face two formidable enemies—Satan and the flesh, our unholy want to’s. Life can get discouraging and we quickly can lose our perspective.In that setting, however, Jesus shares a powerful promise that when believed brings an incredible sense of hope. And when there is hope, peace has the opportunity to envelop you. Jesus promised that there is a literal place called heaven where those who have a relationship with Him spend eternity. Jesus personally is preparing that place. Also, Jesus promises that one day He will return to planet Earth to resurrect our dead bodies into a glorified body like that of Jesus! The future could not be brighter for one who knows God.

Hope Lessons

1. Believing ON Jesus is not the same as believing IN Jesus. It indicates a personal relationship with Jesus Christ where you commit your life to following Him. Make sure you have made your advanced reservation for heaven.
2. Choose to believe the words of Jesus and not believe the lies of the enemy when he tells you there is no hope for the future. Your circumstances should not have the last word.
3. Live your life in such a way that at any moment, you are ready for the coming of Jesus Christ.
4. Make sure that your wife and children know that they know that they know they are going to heaven when they die.
5. If you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you will NEVER be separated from Him. The deciding issue is always IF you have a relationship with Christ to begin with.

Hope is called the anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:19) because it gives stability to the Christian life. But hope is not simply a ‘wish’ (I wish that such-and-such would take place); rather, it is that which latches on to the certainty of the promises of the future that God has made. – RC SproulToday, meditate on John 14:1-3 using the following steps:

1. Read the passage more than once. Reflect on every major word and ask God to speak to you through these verses.
2. Pray the Scriptures back to God. Put them in the form of a prayer, such as, “God, thank You for Your promise; thank You for heaven. Please help me to share my testimony with those who cross my path today. Help me to live in the awareness that You could return at any moment.”
3. Sit in silence and let the Holy Spirit speak to you through God’s written Word.

Wingman, it’s time to get your hopes up!