My Hope

July 13, 2016, my grandmother “Mama” slept in the Lord.

God gave my husband and I the opportunity to spend some of her last days with her, and we will both cherish those priceless moments.

Mama loved God and she brought up her children and grandchildren in the way of the Lord. Growing up, we spent Christmas holidays with her to keep her company after my grandfather passed away. Morning prayers were unfailing at 6a.m. – that was not much fun for 7 and 8 year olds on holiday who just wanted to sleep all day. Sundays were very special days, after church, Mama NEVER allowed us to play, she would entice us with chocolates and other treats and say “Whoever can learn this Psalm and recite it this evening will get chocolate.” Oooooh, there was always so much excitement among the grandchildren, and we were all so competitive, and to make the stakes even higher, she would add “Whoever can recite it in Yoruba will get extra chocolate.” Boy! We all tried to learn Psalm 1 in Yoruba, I think I can only remember verse 1 in Yoruba 😀

I thank God for all the joyful memories I have of Mama, and most importantly, although I cried my eyes out because I’ll miss her, I do not mourn for Mama but we rejoiced and gave glory to God. Not because of her “old age” (old age is very subjective, mama could have been 101 and I would still think she was young) but because of the hope we have.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV)

Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for,the evidence of things not seen.

Different people have faith in different things. But as believers in Christ, who have received THE GOSPEL, our faith is the faith of God’s elect. This is the faith the gospel teaches.

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” Titus 1: 1-2 (KJV)

There’s a hope that the faith of God’s elect is based on, and it is based on the blessed hope. This is the hope that holds our faith up. THE GOSPEL brings a promise and that promise is what produces hope in the believer. The promise of Eternal Life. That hope manifests in the faith of a believer.

The faith that an individual has is the token of his expectation…..What he’s looking forward to….Sadly the faith that is common in our churches today is the faith to receive things, the faith of healing, signs and wonders, long life and prosperity. The church unfortunately encourages us to seek these things and gives a myopic view. We do not have eternity in our hearts, we are not encouraged unto the things that are above, and encouraged to seek the imperishable things.

Hmmmm…as Paul wrote..

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 (KJV)

I know Mama had that blessed hope. She longed too see our Father. And I cannot even begin to imagine the joy! My husband and I were talking about it the other day, we cannot begin to even imagine her joy as she closed her eyes and slept peacefully….Oh what joy!! That we have that hope! Not a hope based on uncertainty, but a hope in the God that cannot lie!

The word of God says, “where there is no vision, the people perish…”

What do you look forward to? His appearing, or how you will make more money “tomorrow”..

There is a need to have vision, and that vision is held up by the blessed hope. The blessed hope is what your faith is laid on. The promise the gospel gave is what gives us that hope.

 

“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” – Titus 2 :12 – 13 (KJV)

What is your hope?

Love,

S…x