"Living Hope"

"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:" (Psalms 146:5)

   As sad as it might be, the one who puts off accepting God's free gift of Salvation, and then ends up having life taken without actually doing what he has put off for another day, there are people who might have been spoken to by his hesitation. If you think about it, the life you miss out on living, by just having hope, there is really nothing better than knowing you are safe and secure in the Lord. I guess it just depends on how you accepted the Lord, as to whether or not your security is sure or not; because those that came looking for happiness and prosperity, might not feel all that secure! I am reminded of the illustration Ray gave in his book, "Hell's Best Kept Secret," about the young man that put on the parachute in the plane because he was told it would make him comfortable and feel secure. He was not comfortable in the least; and people laughed at him for wearing a parachute on the plane; any security he might have felt, was in the sureness of getting that parachute off, as soon as possible. Just so you know, this verse is speaking about proof; which for the sake of time, means that the facts are proven by a life that has already lived out what hope looks like! You really don't need to try a investigate whether it is the case, just read about his life and the truth will be quite evident. Not to be overly pragmatic, but nothing speaks about hope better than seeing it fulfilled in the life of someone else. Basically, isn't that what Hebrews chapter 11 is all about, HOPE? They call it, "THE HALL of FAITH," which it surely is, because without faith, hope is never actually lived out! What is it that faith does, if it doesn't cause us to move in a certain direction? No matter what comes against us, or how uncomfortable things might get, faith is what makes us keep moving in the direction of what it is we have hope for; no matter what...

"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (Hebrews 12:1-3)