"The Christian is, by definition, a hopeful person. That hope is not artificial self-projection. It is produced in us by God's promises. Because we love and trust the Lord, we believe the promises He has given in His word. They have become the spectacle lenses through which we view everything - and that is what injects the melody of hope into our lives.
"Hope does not put us to shame"; it doesn't let us down or disappoint us. Why? Because "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5 v 5).
"What does this mean? Our biggest hope is for everlasting life: for heaven and all that will follow it in the new heavens and earth. Being sure of that, even although we don't yet experience it, changes everything. It is like light appearing at the end of the tunnel, dispersing the total darkness that engulfs us. It enables us to see our way forward.
"...The logic goes like this: if you spend £500 to pay for a holiday, but then discover there is an additional £10 taxi fare to be paid to get you from the airport to your destination, you're not going to turn back. No, since you have already paid so much, of course you will pay the extra. The same logic applies here. If God has kept His major promise by giving His Son for you and to you, you can be sure He will keep every promise He has made.
"That is why His love is the foundation not only for faith but also for hope. And that hope lasts; it will never fail. It is a hope that we can hold on to even when we are suffering, even when life seems to be unravelling at the seams, even when our worst nightmares are coming true. We can still have hope, because God kept His biggest promise, His oldest and costliest promise, when Love came down at Christmas."
- from Love Came Down at Christmas by Sinclair B. Ferguson
[Our family appreciated the book quoted above for our month of advent readings last December. As you can see, the truths contained are anything but limited to Christmas. I needed the reminders again now! And the photos in this post are July in Mom's garden.]
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