Hope Personified

“I myself am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus told her. “The man who believes in me will live even though he dies, and anyone who is alive and believes in me will never die at all. Can you believe that?”

– John 11:25

One of the great things about the English language is that a single word can mean so many different things. For example, we might say that we love going to church, we love our children, and we’d love for our favorite football team to win the Super Bowl.

The same holds true for the word hope. For example, we hope that COVID-19 won’t return. We hope we’ll make it to the office on time. And we also put our hope for eternal salvation in Jesus. But why should we hope for that? It’s because Jesus is hope personified.

During his brief time on earth, Jesus cured the sick, raised the dead, forgave sins, and became a living sacrifice to pay the price for all the wrongs of the world — just as God had planned it at the foundation of the world. Jesus’ resurrection from the grave — just as he had predicted it — proved his power over death. He also fulfilled prophecies written centuries before his birth. And 2,000 years later, Jesus' words continue to change lives and deliver hope through the fact that God has it covered.

This is a fundamental certainty that every Christ-follower should embrace. But sometimes we can't see the big picture. We don’t know the life-changing people and situations that God will place into our existence. And we also don’t have his vantage point of knowing what’s around the corner and miles up the road. Moreover, it’s hard for us to see a greater purpose in our lives when we're going through the pain of unemployment, lingering illness, family issues, or even death. But God is in control. And for those who trust and follow him, he offers this assurance:

"Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you,” says our Creator. “Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

To borrow the title of an old-time Gospel song, this promise is nothing less than Blessed Assurance. We know without a doubt that God — through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross — has taken care of our past, present, and future. So, in a world marked by tragedy, sorrow, and uncertainty, we can still find hope for today … and tomorrow.