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Our Living Hope
By George Stroh
April 27, 2020
Be strong and take courage all of you who hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31:24)
It is sad when someone is without hope. Job understood what it was like to be without hope; My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to an end without hope. (Job 7:6) Job's waning hope was eventually restored when he was reminded of God's sovereignty and omnipotence; Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. (Job 13:15) I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. (Job 42:2)
Even more tragic than being without hope is holding on to a false hope. Most people, even self-identified "religious" people, are falsely hoping that their various good works; church affiliation, baptism, charity, and other religious activities will justify them before God; Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus... (Galatians 2:16)
Hell will be populated by many "religious" people whose hope was misplaced and now are tragically without any hope. Of all the horrific sufferings in hell, I think the loss of all hope might be the worst. Even prisoners who are serving life sentences have some hope of eventual parole or at least they hope that death will someday set them free. But those condemned to hell will remain there for eternity with no hope of release or relief from eternal torment; So are the paths of all who forget God; And the hope of the godless will perish. (Job 8:13) And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night... (Revelation 14:11)
As Christians, our hope is in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope... (1 Peter 1:3)
Maranatha!
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