Hope
Hope is defined as ‘to want or to wish for something to happen and to think that it is possible’. An example of this is a kid longing for his birthday celebration, where he expects to receive the gift that he has been wishing for, knowing that his parents will make sure that his wish will come true. On the other hand we have the example of a person hoping to win the lottery, where the possibility of obtaining what he/she wishes for does not depend on something certain but on luck, which makes the dream possible but improbable. So hope itself means nothing unless it is well-founded.
Our modern lifestyle bases our hope for happiness in short-living things like money, status, possessions, etc. Sadly this lifestyle is infiltrating into the spiritual realm, trying to replace our hope and assurance in the promises of God, with the uncertainty of satisfaction provided by the things that we can achieve in this life.
The apostle Paul knew that as humans we can easily put our hope in temporary things. That is why he prayed:
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you… – Ephesians 1: 17-20
At a time of intercession for those who were as well as those who would become his disciples, Jesus prayed to the Father for our eyes to be focused on what He knew was the most important thing:
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. – John 17: 3
Do you want to be happy? Our only hope for true and lasting happiness is founded on Jesus.
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory – Colossians 1:27
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