OUR HOPE

My definition of Hope is as follows - Hope is a feeling and/or expectation that is based on past and present observations which point to a favorable outcome in one's life or current situation.

Among the many instances of Hope in Scripture, one that stands out to me is a hopeful man named Simeon.

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.'” (Luke 2:25-32)

Luke, being a physician, was very detailed. So, it comes as no surprise that his detailed personality spills over into his writing as he describes Simeon.

Luke says Simeon's life was on track with God - "righteous and devout" and he lived in Jerusalem in wait "for the consolation of Israel" with "the Holy Spirit on him". God had this man's life squirreled away, on the right track, in the right city, with His anointing on him as he waited. He tarried more specifically because - "It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Messiah." What a cause for Hope; even a lifelong Hope! 

Due to his lifestyle and the Holy Spirit on him, the day came when Simeon was "moved by the Spirit" and "he went into the temple courts." Can you imagine Simeon's thoughts and emotions at this point. I bet the suspense was just about to knock him over. Then - "When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.'”

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That same Joy and Excitement will be experienced by Christians everywhere when their Hope - Christ Jesus returns in mid air to Rapture them Home. Paul reminds the believers in Rome - "Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved." 

I love that last statement - "For in this hope we were saved." Within the Salvation Plan of Christ is the Redemption, not only of our relationship with Father God, but our bodies as well. Our glorification - through and through - will be manifested when Christ comes to get us.

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

To bring this full circle - I stated my definition of Hope is - a feeling and/or expectation that is based on past and present observations which point to a favorable outcome in one's life or current situation. I say to believers and non-believers alike today - Christ Jesus fulfilled every prophecy about His first visit, so I have no doubt He will fulfill His promises concerning His return first FOR US in mid-air, then later WITH US to begin His earthly Millennial Reign. Christ Jesus is the Hope of every person, every season, every situation and the future (mentally, physically and spiritually) - He is Our Hope.