The Hope That Sustains
Scripture: “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13.11, ESV)
MAIN POINT: Our hope is not in knowing when Christ will return but in His certain promise that He will return.
What sustains us in the midst of chronological uncertainty? Not a countdown calendar. Not inside knowledge of dates and times. Our hope is in the promise itself: Christ will return. Every day that passes brings us one day closer to the fulfillment of all God’s promises. Every sunrise announces that our redemption draws near.
This is not wishful thinking or blind optimism. This is confident trust built on God’s track record. He saved Noah and his family through the flood. He sent His Son to be born in Bethlehem. That same Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. He who fulfilled every promise about His first coming will certainly fulfill His promise to come again.
The first candle of Advent burns with this hope: Christ has come, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And when He comes, He will separate His people from the world—not to destroy us but to save us. Like Noah who entered the ark and was saved through the waters of judgment, we have been baptized into Christ and are saved through the waters that now give us life. This hope is certain, even though the timing remains hidden.
Reflection: Biblical hope is not uncertainty about whether God will act but confidence while waiting for Him to act. How does this certain hope change the way you face uncertain circumstances? What specific promises of God do you need to cling to today?
Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for Your certain promises. When we are tempted to despair or doubt, remind us that salvation is nearer today than yesterday. Strengthen our hope as we wait for Christ’s appearing. In His Name, Amen.
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