July 21 - Hope in Eternal Things

July 21 – Hope in Eternal Things

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:24-25)

Who hopes for what they already have?

Paul has stated the obvious again.  But it still is a powerful statement.

There is nothing more difficult to do than to give a gift to someone who has everything.  Carol tells me that I’m difficult to buy for, but the truth of the matter is, I’m desperately trying to stop the influx of ‘stuff’ into my life.  Anyway …

What is one thing in your life that you hope for the most?  True love? Good health (for you or someone else)?  Happiness? A new job? Financial security? A beautiful home?  Happy Children? Release from stress?

There are so many things that could happen in our lives that will give us momentary satisfaction; some will even give us long-term satisfaction.

Eternal satisfaction comes from the hope that Paul writes of in the previous verse: “…we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”  The glory that will come to us in the future as freedom surrounds us because we are children of God.

We have no concept of that right now.  All we can focus on are the needs that we have: love, health, happiness, finances, home, children, stress.  These things fill our thoughts, our hopes and our dreams.

God calls us to look beyond the immediacy of our concerns to eternal things – the glory and freedom that will be found in His presence.  That will change our perspective pretty quickly.