Is There Any Hope?

The world seems to be divided between optimists and pessimists. But as we grieve over the mass killings in Kosovo and in Africa—as we are shocked by the murders in Columbine High School in Colorado and Heritage High School in Georgia, we all may rightly ask, "Is there any hope for the future? Is there any hope for my children and family?" Yes, there is—as we'll see.

One definition of hope is "a positive, assured expectation." What is it that we can be assured of that gives us encouragement and support? Certainly, we should have learned by now that the answer is not in the nature of human beings. Human governments and institutions have not brought us lasting world peace! As the inspired book of Psalms tells us, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man" (Psalm 118:8). Or as Psalm 146:3 states, "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help." Our hope and help must come from the ultimate spiritual source!

Many of us have personally experienced hopelessness. Perhaps even depression. But personally, even in my darkest hours, I somehow experienced some deep-down, ingrained feeling of hope at a time when hope was not in evidence. Speaking of hope, the apostle Paul wrote about the patriarch Abraham in Romans 4:18, "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken." The external evidence gave no hope, but Abraham believed God's great promise.

We have been given the greatest promises of all. The hope of a great future as announced by Jesus of Nazareth, the prophets of old, and the apostles of the New Testament. The Tomorrow's World magazine and the Tomorrow's World television program strive to reflect that message, the good news, and the gospel of the coming Kingdom of God.

The pain of hopelessness was expressed by the Atlanta gunman who killed 12 people and then himself. On July 29th, he wrote a letter admitting having killed his wife and two children. He expressed his agony this way: "I have been dying since October. I wake up at night so afraid, so terrified that I couldn't be that afraid while awake. It has taken its toll. I have come to hate this life and this system of things. I have come to have no hope."

How sad that this individual allowed himself to come to that mental state—because there really was hope! You and I must never allow ourselves to give up hope. Jesus said, "He who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." Jesus also promised in that 24th chapter of Matthew that He would come back to save the world. Yes, there is such abundant hope and promise for a wonderful world to come—a world of peace, productivity, and fulfillment. There is a way to conquer despair. Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

My friends, if you feel hopeless and helpless, read about the wonderful Kingdom to come on this earth in your Bible. Read the promises of help and encouragement that God will give you now, in this life—yes, even in a society that in general has "no hope and [is] without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12).

Is there any hope? Absolutely! There is a way of life and hope available to you now through the Savior of the world—and a Kingdom to come that is way beyond our greatest expectations. It is sure and absolute. As the Bible assures us, "The mouth of the LORD has spoken it." Look forward to a positive change in your life now—and a glorious future to come. It's time for you to take positive action and seek the promised spiritual solution! The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:13, "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

I'm Richard Ames for the Living Church of God.