|
Dec 10.98: Light For The Day - "The Triumph Of Hope"
To live without God means to die without hope.
-----------------
"But the truth is that Christ has been raised from
death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in
death will also be raised."
-- 1 Corinthians 15:20 (TEV)
---------------
A little over a month before he died, the famous
atheist Jean-Paul Sartre declared that he so
strongly resisted feelings of despair that he
would say to himself, "I know I shall die in hope."
Then, in profound sadness, he would add,
"But hope needs a foundation."
The patriarch Job had a foundation -- his faith in
God. When he was suffering and feeling that death
would come soon, he experienced mixed feelings --
dread, despair, and hope. There were times when it
seemed as if God was his enemy. Yet he kept
believing that the Lord does right and loves His
people. In the end, hope triumphed over despair.
During the past 45 years, I have ministered to the
spiritual needs of scores of dying people. I've
observed that many genuine believers experience
the same mixture of feelings Job had. They dread
dying. Death is an unwelcome intruder to those who
must face it in youth or during their prime years.
Yet even in these situations, those who live close
to Christ receive grace to die in hope.
We who believe in Jesus base our hope on one of
history's best documented events -- His resurrection.
Moreover, when we "trust and obey," our confidence
in Him grows, and hope triumphs over dread and
despair.
-- Herbert Vander Lugt (ODB)
The Christian's hope is in the Lord,
He rests secure in his sure word;
And when he's tempted to despair,
He'll choose to trust God's love and care.
-- Dennis J. De Haan
---------------
"You search the scriptures, because you think that
in them you will find eternal life. And in these very
Scriptures bear witness about me."
-- John 5:39
"Jesus asked the twelve disciples:
"And you - would also like to leave?"
Simon Peter answered him,
"Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life."
-- John 6:67,68
|