When I was about 8 years old, I was asked by a neighborhood friend to attend an afternoon of swimming. I could not swim but I thought, “Just getting to tag along would be fun.” Within a few minutes of arriving at our destination, I was easily talked into getting in the water while holding on to the side of the pool. A few more minutes passed and I slipped into the water, gasping, fighting vigorously to return to my safe state. No matter how hard I tried, I could not regain any type of traction or get my head above water. My peers were busy playing and did not notice my plight. I did not have any hope of getting out of my situation. Thank goodness I grabbed a limb of another child, he realized I was in trouble, and he helped to get me back to the side of the pool. I, again, had hope. I went from being hopeless to having hope.
Regardless of the situation, challenges, or the news we receive, Christians have hope! Hebrews 6:19 says, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.” We clearly understand the imagery of an anchor. As Christians, we have a life of hope which is unshakeable in the face of obstacles in our path. When the waters crash into the ship, it will absorb the pressure and not drift. As the stormy waters of life push us in all directions, we too, will not drift so long as we are anchored in Christ…this is our hope.
As Christians, what is our hope? Our obedience allows us to have eternal hope. Titus 1:2 says, “…in hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie, promised before time began…” Colossians 1:5 paints a richer picture of what it means to have hope, “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel…”
Do you, by your obedience and commitment to your Christian walk, have the hope of Heaven? If we are in Christ, we have hope of a future life with Him when He returns (Colossians 1:27). We can go from being hopeless to being full of hope because of God’s promises (Hebrews 10:23). God is faithful, are we? He is our only hope!
Allen Jones
S. Green St. church of Christ
Glasgow, KY