Hope Ends…
Know that saying ‘all good things must come to an end’? Like a really good book, wonderful day, reliable product, good paying job, cherished life.
There will be many happy endings in this life, and many soul draining ones as well. I miss my children’s childhood days, miss my mother desperately. Watching grandchildren slip from baby days, I long for time to stop. All these separations, endings, make us long for permanence. Will hurt and longings cease? Jesus said on the cross: “It is finished” – and He meant a lot more than His work here on earth. He meant sin’s grip on us, death’s separation from eternity, all sorrow and fear.
“If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1Corinthians 15:19 NIV)
Is that where our hope lies? In this life only? “The suicide rate in America has increased 24 percent since 1999…If a disease saw such a spike, we would deem it an epidemic.” (Max Lucado) Max goes on to point out that we live in times where we are more educated, have more technology, more entertainment and recreation, more of everything – so why the epidemic? I agree with his answer: “People are dying for lack of hope.”
For the bridge jumper, overdoser, trigger puller this life seems to be it. Before another life succumbs, hear this good news: for those who claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, there is so much more! Eternity – without all that causes pain and dread. “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand.” (Isaiah 43:13a NLT)
Yes, someday hope will end. Why? Because someday we will no longer have to hope for what hasn’t yet been fulfilled. Right now we hope for an end to the messes. We hope for peace and rest and security. That day will come – and on the other side of eternity hope will turn into the promise kept. And all our longings – yes, all – will be fulfilled.
For now, this is what we hold on to: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV) Hope for today, promise for ever and ever.
parisrenae 
This reminds me of the verse, Without hope, the people perish. And in more ways than one–despair, depression, and loneliness. Hope is so essential for us. May we be filled with hope each day.
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