The Power of Hope

1 Thessalonians 4:13, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope."

I attended the funeral of a wonderful Christian lady yesterday. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 was one of the Scriptures used to encourage the family during this difficult time. Think with me about those last few words: "lest you sorrow as others who have no hope."

Hope is powerful. Just the sound of hope alone moves people. If you don't believe me, consider that our nation elected a President based upon the promise of hope. Paul tells the Thessalonian believers that their sorrow in the loss of a fellow believer should be different than the sorrow of those who do not have hope. Hope changes the way we grieve, changes the way we view death, and should change the way we say goodbye to those we love.

The hope of a follower of Christ is one that endures. Because we have the assurance of the resurrection and the grace of God upon us, hope is an abiding influence in our lives. Hope - for us - is not an empty promise but is actually based upon the finished work of Christ. Our hope is concrete, solid, and stable even in times of crisis and difficulty. Our hope is found in the God who gives us hope.

Hope is also a product of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As we walk in His ability and power we find that hope is always with us. We cannot produce it but we can choose whether or not to enjoy it. Remember the old hymnal: "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness..."? When we build our lives upon the finished work of Christ (by faith) we can join in the chorus of that same song and loudly proclaim, "On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand."

The lady who passed away was survived by her husband, mother, daughter, and grandchildren. The mother was overheard saying, "I cannot weep for my daughter because I know where she is and I'm going to join her!" Oh, what lasting hope we have in what Jesus has accomplished for us. We may grieve and we may cry but we do not sorrow as those who have no hope.

I want to encourage you today to rejoice in the hope that is yours. Give praise to God for this hope. And as you dwell upon the fullness of this hope, share it with others. You see...not everyone has this hope. But they can have it!

"Therefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thess. 4:18)