H.O.P.E.

There’s an old proverb that says,

“A man can live about three weeks without food, three days without water, three minutes without air, but he cannot live three seconds without hope.” 

Why is hope so important?

Hope gives us something to live for.  It gives us a purpose. It lets us know that there is a future.  Hope tells us things will get better. It lets us know that there’s a chance.  We can endure terrible things in life if we know there is hope.  

Yet sometimes in all the craziness of this world, in the stresses of life, and during a worldwide pandemic, it can be hard to find hope.

Often in our battles with sexual addiction, it feels like there’s no hope. It may seem like we’ll never defeat this enemy.  You may feel like you’ll never be free. You may think you’re unforgivable, unredeemable, and deserve whatever punishment comes your way.

But if you hold on to hope, that’s all you need to find freedom.

Hope keeps us going when we feel like everything is crumbling down around us.   It provides comfort to those in pain. It provides purpose when we wonder why bad things happen to us.

“Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.” – G.K. Chesterton

We can have the ultimate hope. The hope of eternal life.

By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are set free from sin.  His Resurrection gives eternal hope. No matter what terrible things we’ve done in our lives, no matter how badly we were addicted, all those stains are washed away.  

Instead of being condemned, we are pardoned.  Instead of receiving damnation for our sins, we get to spend eternity with Christ.

What a great hope that is!

Without that hope, there is nothing. There’s no future.  There’s no chance at redemption. There’s nothing to live for.  

I’d rather die holding on to hope, than live with nothing to hope for. 

Dante, in his acclaimed work, Inferno, describes a sign at the gates of hell saying “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.”   Because where there is no God, there is no hope.    God is hope.    He gives hope to us.    

Hope is abandoned at the gates of hell.  It is fulfilled at the gates of heaven.  When we die, it isn’t an end, but a gateway; a threshold to eternal life.   It is the finish line at the end of the race that we have finished victoriously.  We do not fear, because we have hope.

There’s an acronym for H.O.P.E. that reads, “Hold On, Pain Ends.”   

I love that.  If we can just hold on, our pain will end.  If we can persevere, our bondage will end. If we keep the faith, we will be rewarded.  If we have hope, all the darkness of this world will one day be over.

“Though sorrow may last for the night, joy comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

What we’re going through now is temporary.  The hope we have is eternal.  

All this hope is because Jesus walked out of the tomb that Sunday morning.

Don’t put your hope in people.  Don’t put your hope in the government.   Don’t put your hope in physical things. Don’t put your hope in ideas.

Put your hope in the One who died so that you might live, and rose again to give you the hope of eternal life. 

Your hope for redemption is in Him!  Your hope for breaking free from sexual addiction is in Him!   Your hope for forgiveness is in Him! Your hope for eternal life is in HIM!

If you’re struggling, remember this hope.  When darkness seems to surround you, remember this hope.  When temptation seems overwhelming, remember this hope. 

All you need is hope.

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