Hope

Last week I was preparing for an epic hunting and fishing trip in Wyoming with old buddies. As I prepared for the trip, I anticipated good times with old friends, the stalking and eventual harvest of a pronghorn buck, and reeling in large trout from the North Platte River. I was hopeful as I left for Wyoming, expecting an outcome that was enjoyable and productive, resulting in fresh game meat on the table and reminiscing with old friends. But we as Christians have hope in something far more eternal and important than such temporary pursuits as a hunting trip with old college pals.

Christian Hope is the assured expectation of what God has promised in His Word because God is faithful. To summarize Hebrews 11, Christian faith is grounded in an assured hope that God has prepared a heavenly Kingdom for us to dwell with Him forever. Our hope, as Christians, isn’t simply a desire for an earthly outcome that is nice and pleasant—we have an expectation of a wonderful future, forever with God. The ultimate hope we believers have is an eternity in God's Kingdom.

But what kind of hope can we have in the temporal matters of our lives and church? Romans 8:28 says, "and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” God will work everything together for both His good and our good as believers. Remember, His plan is always ultimately good and He will ultimately be glorified. And we, God's people, benefit when His will is achieved.

In Isaiah 55:11, God tells us “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

X Factor Church, please know that God’s Will, which is always good, will be accomplished in and through this church and in and through the believer’s life. All we have to do is submit to His Will. As Psalm 31:24 reminds us, “be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord.”