Faith Determines Our Hope

Many people in this country are frustrated and living without hope.  The word hope has been in the news a lot lately with half the country who have lost all hope and half that are overjoyed with hope.  Why the huge difference in these two groups of people?  First of all, anyone who puts their hope in a human being is going to be disappointed.  We all fall short of the glory God wanted us to have because we sometimes listen to the wrong voice. 

Faith and hope are often mentioned together in the Bible.  Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  The word substance here means reality or proof.  Colossians 1:27 states that Christ in us is the hope of glory.  Our faith level in Jesus determines our hope level.  The two are inseparable and Jesus is the center of all hope.  The Gospel tells many stories that multitudes of people followed Jesus where ever he went.  These  people had lost all hope in the high religious authorities yet they saw Jesus as compassionate and caring.  He often fed them, healed them, and spoke of a hope they never knew. 

There is an old hymn that says, " my hope is found in nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness."  That pretty much sums it up.  If you are living a life without hope, Jesus is waiting to give you a new hope that is eternal.  He created hope and died that you might anchor your hope in Him.  It just takes a little faith.