“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for…” - Hebrews 11:1

It has well been said that “Man can live forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minute without air…but only for one second without hope!”

No matter what your age is, you are always hoping in something.  As children, specifically during this time, you’re hoping that Santa is going to bring you something on your Christmas list, even if you don’t believe in Santa any longer!  As a teenager you may be hoping for that set of wheels, not bicycle - car!  As adults our hope really changes. We start thinking in terms of hoping to pay the bills, get out of bed or find “Mr” or “Mrs” right!  Regardless of what you’re hoping for, hope, is a common denominator - we all need hope.  

Hope that will get us through the day and into tomorrow.  Governments will fail you, family and friends will eventually fail you, things will fail you, yes, even the church will fail you - so don’t place your hope in these.

Where do we place our hope then?  In Christ and Christ alone!  I say this as a Christ follower, not just as a pastor.  Only Jesus will give you hope for today, tomorrow and beyond the grave.  We are all in this “waiting room of life” and we need hope. Hope that sustains us in the waiting - waiting for direction, that answer to prayer.  Hope that helps us to go the distance - that never gives up - that finishes well!  Jesus is the only hope that will never disappoint!  If you place your hope in things and people you will be disappointed - place your hope in Jesus, He will never disappoint!  We not only need to hang onto this hope for ourselves but we need to share this hope with a lost world - our sphere of influence!  Yes Jesus will be with you in the “waiting room” of life!  Yes Jesus will help you to go the distance (the author and finisher of our faith).  No, Jesus will not disappoint. In this life nor the one to come!

You have a “living hope” if you know Christ!  A hope that does not burn out or die! 

“Receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls.” - 1 Peter 1:9

“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” - 1 John 5:13

Pastor Rodney