Ultimate Hope This contemplation considers what ultimate hope really is.
We need to know beyond our imagination or opinion,
If there is a source of ultimate hope for our lives.
I suggest that ultimate hope is only found in God,
And hope the biblical base in this contemplation can help you know God as a source of ultimate hope.
Much of life is fueled by hope,
But what is our hope in?
Because hope always has an object.
If we look beyond the immediate,
The new car losing weight,
Job promotions,
We discover we're hoping for more,
For better,
For more love,
More enjoyment,
More fulfillment,
More freedom,
More peace,
More healing.
God can give us all these things.
The Bible talks about hoping for what we do not yet have.
There is always more.
The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah comforted the exiled Jews in Babylon with these words from God.
These words also speak to us too when we feel exiled in our own lives.
God said,
I know the plans I have for you,
Plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
Plans to give you hope and a future.
Jesus offered fulfillment of Jewish hope as he proclaimed that God's kingdom was right there at last,
Accessible.
Fulfillment is available to each of us now,
The things we really hope for,
Even eternity.
The entire Bible has hope of something more than as yet is.
It is a hope of God and his goodness being fully known in everything,
Everywhere.
A restoration of all things and reconciliation between God and man,
A oneness of God.
So as we hope now,
This hope has a purpose even though we don't have the goal,
Perhaps,
Of what we're longing for.
Hope renews us.
The writer John tells us,
We know that when Jesus appears we shall be like him and we shall see him.
We know that when Jesus appears we shall be like him and we shall see him.
Everyone who has this hope in him restores himself.
Hope also strengthens us.
We're told that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
Not so much hoping for things to happen,
Although this can be the case too,
But just hope in God.
The psalmist talks about how hope also brings about its own fulfillment.
As he says,
Those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.
Will inherit the land,
The kingdom of God.
So ultimate hope is only found in God and from God.
Bringing us renewal,
Strength and fulfillment.
Not only for ourselves,
But ultimately for the whole world.
The psalmist talks about how hope is the only way to be healed.
Hope is the only way to be healed.
Hope is the only way to be healed.
Hope is the only way to be healed.
Hope is the only way to be healed.
