Young Adults' Group

Cultivating Hope

by Pastor Mark
December 11, 2020

Patience of hope

As we face the difficulties of life, let us be challenged to cultivate hope. No matter what kind of adverse circumstances we find ourselves in, we should not in any way lose hope.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church of “the patience of hope” that they had (1 Thess 1:3). This hope commences with faith in the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. The word “patience” means “to persevere”. It is with “the patience of hope” that we can overcome the challenges and the trials of life as the Thessalonian church did. It is with the patience and perseverance of hope that we look ahead to the future…beyond our present difficulties.

The hope of the Lord’s coming

The future Second Coming of the Lord Jesus should not be dreaded. Yet many of us do not see the Lord’s coming as real as it should be. We do not appreciate as much as we should what it means for us to have this hope.

This idea of the Lord’s Second Coming has become a little bit more real to me since the passing of my dad. I was drawn to Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church in which he revealed how the Lord would come again. Four things help me to cultivate this hope even more.

1. A Word-centred hope

“For this we say to you by the Word of the Lord,” (1 Thess 4:15)

The promise of the Second Coming of Christ is a Word-centred hope. It is based on the Word of the Lord as revealed to Paul. Many prophecies of the Old Testament and the New Testament reflect this promise. Let us be assured of the Second Coming of Christ as our future hope.

2. A glorious hope

In His Second Coming, the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout. The voice of an archangel will be heard throughout all the earth. The trumpet of God will sound triumphantly (1 Thess 4:16). It will be a glorious event. What a glorious hope we have!

3. A loving hope

“And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thess 4:16,17)

These verses have become so much real to me. While I continue to miss my dad, there is a loving hope that my mom and family will see my dad again in that great meeting in the air.

4. A comforting hope

The best thought is that not only will we be reunited with our loved ones, but we will also be with the Lord forever (1 Thess 4:17). My heart is comforted in having this hope. We need not sorrow without hope (1 Thess 4:13). Through the death and resurrection of Christ, God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (1 Thess 4:14).

I can see even more how blessed we are to have to this wonderful hope. This Christmas, let us be challenged to cultivate and deepen our patience of hope…looking ahead to the future coming of the Lord Jesus.

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