There are towns scattered across our land that bear the name “New Hope.” We do not know why such a place would receive such a name, but we do know it says something that was good. You had rather see a town called that than one that would be called “No Hope.”
In your New Testament, you will find some people in situations where there was “no hope.” This is said of those who were Gentiles (Eph 2:12).
Peter would speak of a “living hope” when he says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope (1 Peter 1:3).
Here is a hope that would be said to be alive. There was a time when despair and disappointment would grip the hearts of these men but not anymore. They had seen the Lord since His resurrection. That fact revived their hope. It was alive and well. They were looking forward to something to come. There were things they expected to see and enjoy because Christ had been raised from the dead by the power of God.
LOOK AT THE BASIS OF THAT HOPE
Peter would say it rest squarely upon the fact of the Lord’s resurrection. In the resurrection, one has the proof that God endorsed what Jesus said and did while on earth. Also, there is proof that His sacrifice was accepted for the sins of men (Matt. 26:26-28). In the shedding of His blood, sins would be taken away (Heb. 9:22). We have no doubt about the power of Jesus for the resurrection proves in (Rom. 1:4).
LOOK AT THE VALUE OF SUCH HOPE
It comforts us in times of stress and bereavement. Wasn’t this the case with Mary and Martha? Wasn’t this the assurance that Jesus gave them? It is the thing that braces us up in times of opposition and persecution.
LOOK AT THE FUTURE OF SUCH HOPE
There are some things “hoped for.” There is the return of Christ. The messengers gave this word of cheer to the anxious disciples in Acts 1:11. “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” There will be the resurrection of the dead (1 Thess. 4:13-18). Out of this will come the reunion of the saints and the safe. What a day that will be! Then will come the rewards that are to be given. Remember what Jesus had to say about this when He said, “great is your reward in heaven” (Matt. 5:12).
-Winfred Clark, deceased
