There was a man who lived a solitary life of emotional and spiritual anguish. He lived among the tombs. Every day, he would see the cold and lifeless tombs and cry out and cut himself with stones. The tombs tormented him day after day. He had no hope of ever being set free from existing among the tombs or the prison that locked his soul in darkness. His shrieks could be heard day and night in the nearby village. The people of the village tried to shackle him – not to help him, but to silence him. But they could not subdue the wretched man. He gave up hope, UNTIL
Jesus stepped out of a boat and into the man’s tortured world.
The man spied Jesus. There stood his only hope. Jesus’ eyes focused on him as though He saw him from across the sea and intentionally came to set the demon-possessed man free.
The man ran to Jesus, fell down, and worshipped Him
Jesus commanded the legion of demons to come out of the man, and because the demons had no choice and no power against Jesus, they had to come out. Immediately the man had his right mind, and a sure hope of freedom from demons, and a peace entered his soul. For the first time, he was able to grasp the surety that there is a light despite all the darkness.
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul is both sure and steadfast. (Hebrews 6:19)
Another man who had been crippled for 38 years, lay by the pool Bethesda crowded with sick, blind, and crippled people waiting for an angel to stir the water. He knew that whoever was first into the pool would be healed. But the crippled man could never get there in time. His hope had dwindled over time. He closed his eyes as he sank into despair. BUT
Jesus saw him and had compassion on him. Jesus approached the man and asked, “Do you want to be made well?” The man opened his eyes surprised to see someone talking to him. He explained that he had no one to help him into the pool. Jesus looked steadily at him and said, “Rise. Take up your bed and walk.”
The man’s hope carried no doubt. Immediately the man took up his bed and walked.
Hope in Jesus is a sure hope that dispels man’s greatest weakness – to be without hope.
Today, the Ukrainians are fighting for their lives and the very existence of their country. Their hope for survival is not passive – It is a get-up-and-do-something kind of hope. Armed with the knowledge that Christians all over the world are praying for the people of Ukrain gives them an action-oriented, stength-involving channnel of motivation and confidence to fight valiantly against the massive Russian army.
Families are torn apart, soldiers and civilians are killed, and the enemy is a giant. But they do not give up because their hope is an anchor of their soul.
To hope in any other hope other than Jesus is to hope in vain.
Now may the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)