Without Hope?

One of the saddest things in the world is to be without hope. Some people feel that they have little hope for their future in this life. They wish and even pray for better days, but poverty, sickness and turmoil rob them of a good life. Throughout the world millions can only dream of the prosperous life we have in our country. Even in this country, many want to have confidence about their future, but no matter what they do it seems to elude them.

A situation may be so perilous that men lose hope. When Paul and the other passengers were caught in a dangerous storm at sea and “neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat upon us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up” (Acts 27:20). But their despair was mistaken. All of them lived. In another story, a man started to commit suicide because he believed he would be killed anyway. That man ended up becoming a Christian (Acts 16:25-34).

Others feel that they have little time left. In some cases they are right. Our bodies decay. Our earthly life is unsure and death is certain. This is a hard thing to accept, but it should drive us to be honest with ourselves.

It is even worse to have no hope of the hereafter. Paul told the Christians at Thessalonica not to “sorrow as others who have no hope” (I Thess. 4:13). Before they were converted the Ephesian Christians had “no hope” and were “without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). Even if a person has a good life with a bright outlook about this world, he is without real hope if he is without God.

Jesus came to give hope. As He began His work, the words of the great prophet Isaiah were fulfilled: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned” (Matt. 4:16). He said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). It is no wonder that the Bible says Christ is “our hope” (I Tim. 1:1).

A visitor to an impoverished country said the one thing that stood out about the people was that they feared the future because they had no hope. But that is why they need the gospel. Regardless of the conditions of our present or future life on earth, the promise of heaven will always give light. That is why we need to live with hope in our hearts and lives and teach men the good news.

Kerry Duke

West End church of Christ • June 22, 2025