by Connie Rae

Created on: August 31, 2009   Last Updated: September 25, 2009

Hope is the one thing that keeps us going in a world often filled with disappointment. For some, the world is a constantly unhappy place. For some, life may be a moment to moment existence, with threat of annihilation imminent. For others, life is simply a dreary day to day rut. But even for those whose lives are relatively comfortable and satisfying, there comes the moment we have to face the truth that we are only here "for a moment."

One thing we know. We will all walk through the door of death. Some may see it coming. Some will not. Most of us try to avoid thinking about it, but each will face the loss of a loved one, or a close friend, or will hear of some terrible tragedy, and we wonder.

The Bible says, if the dead are not raised, if there is no eternal life, if we only have hope in this life, we are of all men most miserable ( I Corinthians 15:9). Paul says, if there is no resurrection of Christ, there is no resurrection of the dead, and our preaching, our faith, our lives, are useless (I Corinthians 15:14). We are here for a moment, and we are gone. The end.

Jesus was very aware of our human fraility when he gave the reassurance to his followers that He was going away, but He was coming back. "In my Father's house are many mansions ... I'm going away to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2) He told them He would bring them to where He was. He told them they knew the way. When they cried to Him they didn't know the way, He assured them they did know the way - " I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life..." (John 14:6) Jesus died, but He conquered death, and gave us living proof that death no longer had the power to "sting." (II Corinthians 15: 54-57) We serve a risen Savior. We have hope.

Scripture tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for (Hebrews 11:1) Faith in the promises of God, through Jesus Christ becomes the confirmation and the conviction of what our senses cannot reveal to us. Faith grows as we "listen" (read, meditate, memorize) the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Hope springs from our faith.

We who choose to believe, find hope. Hope that this life is only a speck in the grandeur of eternity. Hope that we will see our loved ones again. Hope that the trials and pains of this life will have meaning. Hope that we will see our Savior face to face, finding Him waiting on the other side of death's door, holding out His hand. An old song says it in these words, "Just think of stepping on shore, and finding it heaven. Of taking a hand, and

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