Keeps you going, and going, and…
February 19, 2010 (Friday)
Paul concludes the matchless Love Chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, with the declaration, “These three remain: faith, hope and love.” Though love is the greatest of the three, faith and hope are eternal also. Faith, hope and love will always be with us.
Hope is described in Hebrews 6:19-20 as an anchor of the soul. Just as an anchor stabilizes and steadies a ship, so hope stabilizes and steadies the soul.
Endurance is possible because of hope. How could the early Christians endure the awful persecutions of those early days of the Faith? They bravely entered the arenas to be tortured and killed, because they had hope. Their hope extended beyond this life. Anchored to their faith in Christ and assurance of eternal life in Heaven, they were able courageously to face insurmountable obstacles and unbeatable foes. They knew the truth of Romans 8, for they were “more than conquerors.”
Hope keeps you moving toward your goals in life. Your faith in Christ enables you expect something better.
Hope keeps you trusting God to keep His promises – promises recorded in the Bible, promises made to you personally, and promises that you don’t even know about.
Hope keeps you working for the Lord. Knowing that death is not the end, but the beginning of something greater than anything known in this life. Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you,” and He keeps His promises.
Love makes you good. Faith makes you strong. Hope keeps you going.