Hope
June 30, 2023
Life without hope is empty; hope is strength in our spirituality. We can overcome any quandaries in our lives if we have hope. After the first man Adam ate the forbidden fruit and was sent out of heaven sentenced for death, he suffered much but pleaded God in sorrow and tears. Then the Lord had mercy and vowed to save him. So, Adam waited in hope for 5500 years.
Humans can live on earth if we have hope in something. As Adam recon his sin and plead for forgiveness, thus embraced his honor again in heaven, our hope shall also be inheriting Kingdom of Heaven. This then guide us in the right path of life. The life of Saints in exemplary as they are witnesses of Christian life and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Though righteous Job lost his wealth and children all at the same time and lived in the dark on the mountain his skin covered with wound and puts, he had hope in God for he said, “I waited for light.” (Job 30:26) Truly, we can learn a lot from this! Surely, if we are to endure agony and misery like Job, could we wait in hope for God? We might be facing many problems these days, but to only find ourselves complaining about God’s silence. If we are to be complaining about Him, it is only for making matters worse but not for tenacity.
The life of the Saints is not the only witness for a person whom does not have God in his life would not have hope. All of us might have experienced it in our lives. Most people live either in confusion or chaos; aware or unaware of the anarchy we are into. For instance, there many who are trapped in idol worship assuming it is a resolution for their problems. Though they might not realize, soon or later it has caused damage. Humans deny their Lord and worship enemy Satan, in solving any earthly tribulations and even live in comfort and luxury, at the time of their older age whist death comes upon them, they start to live in fear. And again this is also the time enemy strives hard to pull us down to hell. He would attempt everything in his power to make us lose hope in repenting and therefore dive to hell.
A person’s wealth, beauty or authority would not save him from entering eternal fire. Wordily things are all dispensable. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) But only few comprehend this truth and live for their soul in this time. Most live on focusing their problem and therefore if we face a problem that is beyond our control and are unable to find solution, we won’t be able to have hope in God. Since we will not be able to believe He might have mercy on us, we lose hope.
Live is filled with ups and downs and so we shall not give up hope if we are in sorrow. If we are living in dark today, tomorrow might be bright for us. It is like what righteous Job said, “but when I looked for good, evil came to me; And when I waited for light, then came darkness.” Even if we are in loads of problems, it is vital to live in hope of good days to come after these hard day pass.
Our forefathers say, “Christian does not give up hope.” Christians in the name of Christ need to believe that God wills not to leave us at a time of any tribulations or grief. People who have hope in God does not fall. Our Lord is not a God who forgets His children, but has time for each of work. This is the main reason for His silence.
Anyone who await in hope will be liberated from any harm. God will save us from any evil. As it said in the Divine Liturgy of the three Hundred “He delays as He will not give,” God know better for us than our own selves and He bestows what is significant for us at the right time.
God is our hope! That is why we say our creator is our reliance. Holy Scriptures teaches us of how faith in Him brings us out from any anguish. Especially these days, we ought to look back to our history for our Holy Church alongside Her conviction is on maltreatment and travail.
When we read the history of our Church, the holy house of God and Christians ‘Holy Church’ has tormented by gentile Kings. Priests and laities have persecuted and many are killed in massacre, raided and lost their assets. This is a truth we observed and witnessed in this generation also. We have watched people being hunted and convicted for a crime they did not commit, imprisoned and brutally murdered. We were tortured to make say, “where is justice?” We must ask “why does these things happen to us?” Because we are tested one for virtue but then the enemy also test us out of envy to destroy us and thus shall acknowledge this truth for us to live by His command and rule. Or else, the rage of God will be upon us as His wrath is though on sinners who will be hit by plague.
The foremost thing that makes us loose hope is sin. When we think evil and defy God, we depart from Him and loose hope. Every time we sin, we are aware of defying God and assume to not be forgiven that withers away our hope of salvation. Our living will be filled with troublesome and we are to loose peace and respite. Therefore, to live a good life and see good days, we shall seek to live by God’s law and in fear of Him.
Certainly, Christian life’s path is narrow. However, making this as an excuse and believing that we would not be able to keep the rule and walking on the wrong street and path make us fall to cliff. Apostle Saint Luke said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate.” (Luke 13:24) Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has also said, ““I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6) The right path of life as our Lord said is what He carved for us, carrying the cross, be antagonized for His love and even give our lives in His name to be martyr.
May God have mercy on us, Amen!