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n a current action/fantasy movie “X-Men: Days of Future Past”, a key moment takes place when one character, in the face of potential suffering, cries out: “I don’t want your future! I don’t want your suffering!” He is told, however: “We need you to hope again.” With that, he picks himself up, and turns the tide of battle. Such is the power of hope. It strengthens and uplifts. It destroys despair.

In the media, society and among friends, we often hear these expressions of hope: for good grades, jobs, investments and good medical reports, the best for our children, a restful retirement and so on. However, without God, life can seem a never-ending escalator of fragile hopes. T.S. Elliot wrote, “In a minute there is time for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.” Indeed, human-based hope promises little certainty because our choices, circumstances, and actions of others can change very easily. When hope ends in disappointment, it is often accompanied by anger, sadness, bitterness or despair.

How great a contrast when compared to the living hope that we have in Jesus! As Christians, we have the strongest hope of all, because Jesus is trustworthy and faithful. The future He promises will come true. We are born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (1 Pet 1:3). A living hope – how wonderful a thought! To know that because Jesus lives, our salvation is guaranteed and the living hope we have cannot die.

Until Jesus comes again, our faith in this living hope will be tested. Jesus told a parable about four responses to God’s word in Mark 4:13-20. Some responses last only a short time because of trouble or persecution. Others are choked by the worries of life, the deceitfulness of wealth and desires for other things. Affluence may be as great a test as adversity. Therefore, we all must stand firm in our faith. We put our hope in the living Jesus – not in wealth, wisdom, youth, experience, talents, children or anything else. Trials will precede our inheritance, as Jesus’ suffering preceded His glory. But when we know without a shadow of doubt that our living hope will end well, we can confidently rejoice in the Lord.

Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!