Memorize: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3.
Devotional Reading: 1 Peter 1:3 – 25
Jean-Paul Sartre, the French existentialist, said, “There is no exit from the human dilemma.”
And really, that quote aptly summarises the utter pessimism and hopelessness that’s so prevalent in our world today. Many people are seeking hope in this world where clearly there is no hope. Apostle Paul in one of his revealing admonition stated in 1 Corinthians 15:19; If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Recently, some college students were asked to define life. And they described life as “a joke that isn’t even funny,” and “a prison sentence for the crime of being born.”
This is a highly pessimistic way of defining and looking at life.
There’s such great despair because people are hopeless today. The rate of knife and gun crimes resulting in the death of teenagers and several young people in our society today is beyond alarming. The government and security agencies are rapidly loosing idea on what to do to save the situation. There is no hope in this world anymore, nothing seems to be working. Government policies are failing, manifestos are not working any more, our nation is struggling to find direction, God is the only one we can turn to for help if we want our hope stay alive.
We need urgently to repent as a nation and turn to God. Joel 2:12&13; Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning; And rent your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
We need to cry out to God for our nation, let us weep and fast for our teenagers and young people, let us morn for the sins in our land and seek the face of God for mercy. 2 Chronicles 7:14; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will i hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Many people today are seeking for hope where there is no hope. A song writer says: My hope is built on nothing else, than Jesus blood and righteousness……. On Christ the solid rock i stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.
Even though there is no hope in this world, but for believers and the faithful, there is hope. You and I have hope that Jesus Christ will one day return and make our world beautiful again. There will be total peace in our world. Isaiah 11:6-9; The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. 7; And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8; And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the Asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. 9; They shall not hurt nor destroy in any of my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Jesus is coming soon, are you ready? until that day, make it your life’s mission to share that hope with others, point them to Jesus, our coming king. May the Lord help you and keep this hope alive in you until the second coming of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
Prayer point: O LORD, let my hope in you stay alive in Jesus name.
Key Dose: Life is built on HOPE. Where is your hope?
Pastor James Ademuyiwa
Senior Pastor (IHPCT)
