Everything that is done in this world is done by hope. – Martin Luther
What is hope? Hope is the driving force that motivates our actions and reveals our desires. For the believer, hope is a vital part of the Christian life. When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, hope is where we turn. As many continue to be affected by Covid-19, concerned over racial riots, and divided over a presidential election, one must ask themselves, “Where is my hope?”
Where you place your hope will affect every aspect of your life. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus describes a wise man as one who builds his house on a rock and a foolish man as one who builds his house on the sand. Likewise, our hope must be built upon a solid foundation that is able to endure life’s storms. Sadly, I feel as if many (brothers and sisters in Christ included) have unintentionally misplaced their hope by building their houses on the sand. When looking to the news and social media, one would assume the world has placed their hope in masks, vaccines, and/or elections. With an election underway, many are acting as if the world will rise or fall based on who is in the White House. And if you were one of the few to endure last night’s Presidential Debate, you would recognize that we cannot place our hope in a man or an election. Whether you support Biden or Trump, we must never place them on a pedestal. Throughout human history, there has been a tendency to idolize or demonize those in power. Why is this? I believe it is because we are allowing our circumstances to dictate our hope rather than allowing our hope to dictate our circumstances. We are building our houses on the sand. To be clear, I am not against supporting a specific candidate or voting in an election. I have strong convictions as a Christian and an American to educate myself on current events and utilize my rights to vote and affect positive change. Although I believe elections matter, a Christian should not place their hope in them. One must make a distinction between using an election as a tool and replacing it as your fundamental hope.
Biblical hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness. As Christians, our hope is not in government. Our hope is not in a political party. Our hope is not in an election. Our only hope is in Jesus Christ. I know it sounds cliché, but it is true. 1 Peter 1:13 states, “Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Christians are called to fully place their hope in Christ and His return. There is no other rock that our hope can be built upon. When Jesus died on the cross He paid our sin debt and when He rose from the dead, He conquered death and solidified that we have a living hope that will never pass away. As a Christian, we eagerly wait for our Lord to return. Though we do not know when it will be, believers have a confidence in God’s promises and assurance that His grace will be made manifest. Jesus will make all things new and bring peace to the earth. Regardless of our current circumstances our hope remains constant in the eternal One. Jesus is the rock that we can build our house of hope on. No matter who occupies the White House, Christians know who is on the Throne of Glory.
Where have you placed your hope?
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