In a world where everything seems to be out of our control, with nothing good to look forward to, many could be asking this big question, “Do we really have hope in such a world? Especially when every day our ears are exposed to the bad news of death, People murder, conflict, broken marriages, unresolved relationships, social injustices, social media dilemmas, children being kidnapped, violence in families, nations fighting against nations. For sure we are living in a broken and devastating world where governing laws and authority are misused. Is there something much greater than all these? This is my question; I guess it could be yours too.
While trying to ponder over these realities that we face in our world today, I have been struck by one greatest truth. That these things do not just happen by chance, they happen because there is a Sovereign God, who rules over all things and has allowed all these to happen for His glory. The Psalmist in Psalms 24 says that “the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. This justifies to us that the earth is God’s territory. He reigns and rules over it. He determines what to happen when, where, how and by who. This then gives us enough reason to put our hope in Him and look to him each day as we live in such a broken world, consumed with sin.
The world cannot offer us the hope we need neither, can those who are close to us. But only Him who created all things and holds the universe in the palm of his hand. It is so interesting how we put our trust in people who end up being frustrating us. We end up being disturbed in our minds, hearts, and thoughts by what people can do for us rather than, what God can do for us. If he made the world including the people then, how confident should we be in him?
Mark you, He offered His only Son Jesus Christ to come and die on the cross for our sins, so that, through faith in him, we have a greater hope. The hope of spending eternity with God as our Father, away from the pain of this world, the sufferings, and all kinds of troubles that we face today. 1 Peter 3:8 says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. I believe these are encouraging words to you and me who live in a broken world as a result of sin. It’s remarkable to note that even Christ himself suffered yet he committed no sin. He suffered as a result of my sins and yours, so that, by His death, He could bring us to God. Christ then is the basis of our hope.
We can truly come to him in faith and trust that he will safely bring us home. That He will hold us fast to Himself and preserve us for the life to come.
Faith in Christ gives us that assurance of a better future to look forward to. This then should bring us more joy even when we are faced with all manner of challenges. That you and I would hear the call to put all our trust in Jesus Christ as our only hope. Daily trust in him and believe in what his word says. In Jesus’ last final words to his disciples, he said,” Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
These are Jesus’ last final words, not only to his disciples then, but also to us who have come to faith in him. He calls us to believe in Him and not to let our hearts be troubled. He has gone ahead to prepare a place for us, a future home where we shall meet with him. And so, friends there is hope in God our refuge.
This article was written by Susan Akumu, a Second-year Apprentice from iServe Africa Placed with us
