Article: Hope vs. Uncertainty | Benjamin Thomas Mathai, India
Of all the words that could be used to describe the last couple of years, “uncertainty” comes to everyone’s minds the most. People today are experiencing uncertainty about their jobs, finances, future travel plans, special events, important decisions, school, and health and how long the pandemic-related state of emergency and its after-effects will last. Even if there is no pandemic, uncertainty is still a part of our lives.
Hope is the exact opposite of uncertainty. The word “hope” is used by people today in the context of wanting something to happen but not being sure if it will. In the Bible, it usually means faithful and patient expectation and anticipation. In other words, hope is when a person is looking forward to something and is confident that it will happen based on God’s promises. The Bible teaches us that God cannot lie. God’s word can be counted on.
Being Christians, have the greatest reason to have hope, regardless of how much uncertainty exists around us. The first and foremost reason is the hope of eternal life. Jesus Christ made salvation possible by coming into the world, dying and rising from the dead to save sinners. The Bible says that everyone who trusts in Christ as their Savior can become the children of God. Salvation and forgiveness are God’s work and not that of man. Those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior are certain of life with God after death. It is not about if we did enough good deeds or took part in the right religious rituals or traditions. The hope that God provides is based on what Jesus did for us and not what we do to try to gain God’s favor.
Another reason that we have hope is God’s constant faithfulness even in times of suffering. No one is exempt from going through tough times in life. God will never promise to keep us from all problems, but what He does promise is to be with them through affliction. Psalm 146:5-6 says, “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever”
Our God who is big, strong and mighty enough to be the Creator is also big, powerful, and close enough to help in times of trouble. The Lord said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
When we know the one who has overcome the world by defeating death and offering salvation, the future is not so uncertain after all.
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