by Pastor Mardy Rito
- Romans 12:12 [TEV]
A patient imprisoned so helplessly in a hospital bed with various medical tubes and apparatus all over his retiring body is surrounded by every member of his family - all hoping to see him back to normal life once again. His doctors are doing all their best. Applying all the things that they have learned in medical school and in their years of practice hoping to restore him back to life. The only thing that motivates them to keep on sustaining life for the patient is hope - the hope that he would survive and would be restored not just his health but also the lost time with his family as well. This hope enabled them to be positive and to be enthusiastic to do everything they can to prolong the life of their patient.
In the same way, a man in one of the story in a grade school book had set out for a journey to reach the end of the rainbow. For it was a belief that at the end of the rainbow there’s a pot of gold. What kept him going, persevering and aspiring was the hope that he could be the one to own that pot of gold. Amidst the trials, difficulties and hardships, he persisted for he hoped for a prize that was worth his struggles.
On the other hand, a married man ended his life through a rope by hanging himself on a tree. He had chosen to end his life after hearing his wife’s decision of ending their marital relationship. Seeing no hope for the said situation, he committed suicide. Hopelessness makes people act in haste because of their negative decisions. It just mirrors how important hope is in our lives. Hope makes us move on in life with optimism and motivation. Without it, we find no reason to live and just choose to give up.
Hope can make us joyful. It gives us the joy that the gospel produces as we aspire for the eternal glory that awaits us in heaven. It also gives us patience to continue facing our trials because we know that after all these sufferings, we will be admitted to a world that has no room for pains and sorrows. Hope also produces a character of prayer to each one who believes. For as we go on living our life, we should always keep on praying to God for more strength, courage and endurance so we can have all the things that we are hoping for in the future. Jesus is the only hope for you and for me. Nothing and no one else could inspire us to persevere, to move forward, to go on some more extra mile, to walk steadily and to be positive.
He's the only hope that will never disappoint us. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He keeps His promises even if we are not faithful enough. The promise of an everlasting life that He’s more than willing to give is more than enough for us to keep on moving forward and to press on ‘till the end. More than that, there’s also a great reward in heaven that is in store for each one who believes and hold on to Him. Now that’s something worth hoping for.Are you hoping for a hopeful life? Call on to Jesus.
