By Kelly Williams
“I hope it doesn’t rain on our picnic tomorrow.” “I hope I can lose five pounds this month.” “I hope my husband gets home on time today.”
We probably use the word “hope” daily, but not necessarily in the way the Apostle Paul used it in Romans 8. Paul was talking about our future glory and our craving for our eternal home as Christians. In Romans 8:23 (NLT), he said, “And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.” This truth came home to me in a mighty way during our national election this past November.
In the weeks leading up to election day, I found myself feeling extremely anxious and concerned for our future. I fretted on the night of the election, lying awake for several hours, concerned about what our future held. The next morning, of course, I woke to the news that our country had voted for the more conservative candidate, and I felt two emotions — conviction and hope. Conviction because I had prayed individually and with our church family for God to show up and bring our country back to Him. I had to pray for forgiveness for my doubts and thinking the night before. Hope because I felt God had shown up and showed out. I felt a surge of hope that our future was brighter. As I’ve dwelt on that feeling, I realized I was placing my hope in the wrong man. Instead of the man, I was trusting in a human man.
As Christians and followers of Jesus, we have a hope that surpasses the world’s understanding. Philippians 3:20 says, “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” We are already citizens of Heaven. We are ambassadors of Christ here on Earth. (II Cor. 5:20). The dictionary says an ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.” The blood of Jesus has accredited us to represent our forever home in a foreign land or here on earth. What kind of ambassador are you? Do you represent our Savior’s home (and ours) as a daughter of the most high King?
What do you place your hope in? Your own strength? The government taking care of us? Or are we placing our hope in the eternal God, our Father, who created all things and knows the very hairs of your head? I urge you to trust only in God, not in our new government (although we are pleased that our country seems to be back on track). Be an ambassador who represents your future home well.
As you strive to leave a godly legacy, talk to those in your family, your neighbors, your friends and even strangers about the hope within you. Tell your story as often as people will listen. Tell them about what Jesus did for you and that He also died for them. Tell how God is a God of goodness, faithfulness, provision and a God of hope, now and forever more.
Scripture — Phil. 3:20, Rom. 8:23, II Cor. 5:20
Prayer — Father, we praise your name for who You are! We thank You that You have prepared a place for Your children and sent Your Son to die in our place so that we might have that eternal hope You provided. Father, help us share our story, which is Your story of grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
— These articles are shared via the National WMA web page blog that can be accessed at nationalwma.org/blogs.
