Do You Have Hope?

Is your hope in the Empty Tomb?
Jesus was resurrected - that is powerful.
The Garden Tomb - Jerusalem, Israel.

In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people's burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.  This, too, I carefully explored: Even though the actions of godly and wise people are in God's hands, no one knows whether God will show them favor. The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don't. It seems so tragic that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. That is why people are not more careful to be good. Instead, they choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway. Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 - 9:1-3

 Meditate. What do you find in your search for wisdom?

 

No hope? Solomon was hopeless, although he had everything any man could ever want. Riches, fame, family (probably too much since he had seven hundred wives), a big beautiful home, and wisdom. God gave him everything that he asked for, but he wasn’t happy. Is “happy” what you are striving for in life? For me…being content and having the hope based on the salvation that Jesus Christ offers are the things for which are important to me. Of course, Solomon didn’t live on this side of the Cross…and have the advantage of the New Testament fulfilling the Old Testament predictions, as we do.

Sort of scary to have Solomon’s view that no one knows whether God will show them favor. We just have to trust Him…to answer our prayers and for His grace and mercy in our lives. We can have hope of eternity with God—which begins when we accept Jesus as our Savior. Paul wrote from prison about God’s plan for our lives…to be holy. I think that God will show favor, grace, to those whom He has saved.

So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News. That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. 2 Timothy 1:8-12 (Underlined for emphasis.)

God is able…to save us. He has called those who hear His voice and follow Him to live a holy life. Cling to that hope—God is all powerful and has hope for us. Do you put your hope in Him?

 

Prayer – Lord God, I have great hope in Your promises. Please give me wisdom, and the courage to stand up for You. Help me to live the holy life that You desire all Your followers to have.

 

Verse of Salvation ~

My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations. All distant lands will look to me and wait in hope for my powerful arm. Isaiah 51:5

 

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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