DAY 36

For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivered us from the wrath to come. - 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10.

Welcome to the 21st Century! So far it has been a very rude welcome with disasters and tragedies around every corner. Is there any hope left? Will life in the 21st Century be just one tragedy, disaster, and problem after another? Do we have any hope? As Christians we have hope. For the Child of God there will always be hope.

Hope is a defining characteristic of the Christian. We have hope of a better life after this life ends. The non-Christian has none or at best some wishful thinking about life after death. Chairman Mao once said, “It is blackest before it becomes totally black.” You can compare this to a common Christian saying that it is “darkest just before the dawn.” The difference is hope. The turning from the things of this world and the placing of our trust in the hands of the living God.

In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul says about the Thessalonian Christians that he remembered their “patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ....” It is a common trait among Christians. The “patience of hope,” to dare to continue to hope in Jesus even in the face of tragedy. A “patience of hope” that continues on even when it is the blackest and everything, and everyone is saying you should give up. When the world says “throw in the towel,” “let go of the rope,” the Christian continues to hope.

No matter what may happen there is hope. Why do we continue to hope? Because we know there is a God, there is a Savior, and He lives within our hearts. Our Jesus is coming again! Let us continue to hope as did the Thessalonians and be ready for His return!