Sharing our Hope

In the stress filled moments of our lives, having no visible means for encouraging strength, our desperate hands often clutch for that intangible called, “hope.” Hope tells us to press on when everything else tells us to give up. Where would we be, what would we do, without hope?

There are literally billions of people living today who have no hope in the most significant of all considerations, eternal life. These are like unto those, “which have no hope”, that Paul described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. No hope for salvation. Once in their grave, their doom is “sealed” – hell awaits.

How fortunate and blessed we Christians are in having the “Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1). We have hope in this life (Titus 2:12-13), and we have hope beyond the grave (Psalm 23:4). Because Christ conquered death for us (Hebrews 2:14; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57; Colossians 2:15) – eternal life in heaven awaits us (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Our hope must be shared with the lost. Peter told us, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15). As Christians, we should be giving hope to the hopeless by giving life to the spiritually dead by means of the gospel (Mark 16:15-16).

We need not go into the jungles of foreign lands, nor cross the oceans of the world, to find those without that most glorious hope. Over two hundred million people are presently without hope in the United States.

Lost, hopeless, and dying people are living in the shadows of our homes and church buildings. Can we say along with Paul, “Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men” (Acts 20:26 – ASV)?

Man’s Greatest Purpose In Life

Champion cyclist Lance Armstrong is an inspiration to millions. After a life-threatening bout with testicular cancer that had metastasized to his lungs and brain, Armstrong recovered to win the exhausting Tour de France bicycle race ? not once, but seven times. Doctors familiar with the severity of Armstrong’s medical condition, have thought this feat virtually impossible. In an interview with Armstrong, Time Magazine reporter Bill Saporito (himself a cancer survivor) mentioned to the legendary rider, “For a miracle man, you’re not very religious.” Armstrong replied, “I don’t have anything against organized religion per se. We all need something in our lives. I personally just have not accepted that belief” “Then what do you need?” Saporito asked. Armstrong replied, “The illness gave me a purpose. My bike gives me a purpose; the bike will soon become a hobby and not a job. My illness and my children will be purposes and causes forever, and I need that.”

Man’s Need For Purpose In Life

Lance Armstrong is like most of the people you and I know. He feels a need for some purpose in his life. Unfortunately, he has found that purpose in the physical “things” of the world rather than spiritual “things” (Colossians 3:2). Armstrong is quoted as saying, “The illness gave me a purpose.” While we give thanks to God that Mr. Armstrong was cured of cancer, we wonder about the source of his belief when he says, “I personally have just not accepted that belief.” When Armstrong says, “My illness will be my purpose and cause forever”, we ask, how long is this “forever”? Until the next illness comes along that might inevitably end his mortal life? We wonder what Mr. Armstrong’s “cause” will be then. Armstrong says, “My bike gives me a purpose”, but even Armstrong admits that the day will come when his body will no longer allow him to make his living by his prowess on a bicycle. The greatest and healthiest of athletes will eventually grow old and will arrive at the day when muscles can no longer duplicate the feats of youth. If Mr. Armstrong’s purpose is his bicycle, what will he do in the day when he can ride that bicycle no more? Armstrong states, “My children will be purposes and causes forever.” The apparent lesson for his children is that when you succeed in life, you don’t need God. When you face illness, aging, and death, you don’t need God. Some people need God, but you personally don’t have to accept that belief. Let your accomplishments be your god. Let your triumphs over competition and illness be your god. Let a two-wheeled bicycle be your god. Let anything but God be god in your life.

Conclusion

A man named Naaman once thought he didn’t need the God of heaven to free him from an incurable illness – he was wrong (2 Kings 5:1-19). A king named Nebuchadnezzar thought he didn’t need to give God the credit for his successes – he was wrong as well (Daniel 4:28-37. Every good and perfect gift is from God (James 1:17). Let’s give God due honor and glory for our lives, successes, and for our greatest purpose in life, which is to “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).