In Ephesians 1:18, Paul says, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…” What a prayer! Paul doesn’t pray that his readers will have hope, but that they will see the hope they can have. That is exactly the message that the downtrodden and discouraged need to hear.
Many people have lost (or are losing) hope these days, and with the attitudes of some people, it’s not hard to see why. The core of the Gospel message the apostle Paul preached was the resurrection. In his greatest defense of the resurrection in Scripture, Paul said “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19). He was right! If the only things we have to hope for are in this life, why in the world would we subject ourselves to any rules or regulations at all?
However, we don’t just hope in this life, do we? I know it is hard when you consider going in to work today with the thought that it might be your last because you are going to be fired, laid off, or the plant is going to close. It’s also hard to go to work or school when you know (or feel) that your boss or teacher has it in for you. Maybe a co-worker makes your life miserable. Perhaps there’s trouble in your family that threatens to destroy not just the family’s happiness but even your health. These are painful afflictions, but they can be overcome.
Remember Paul’s prayer. He prays for you (and so do I, by the way) that the eyes of your heart will be enlightened (opened); that you’ll see the hope you can have. There is a hope associated with the calling of Jesus Christ. If you’re a Christian, you have hope. You might not realize it, and it may not feel like it, but that’s the essence of the prayer; that you will realize it! And something else you can hang your hat (I mean, hope) on is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. Do you realize that this means God considers you a richly glorious part of His inheritance in you?
Christians have a good life, do we not? No, it might not all be peaches and cream, but it doesn’t have to be. What makes our life so good is that there is a better one on the way! We don’t just hope in Christ in this life only. Many people do pity us, but it is misplaced pity. They don’t need to worry about us because we have hope. So many do not. In giving words of comfort to the Thessalonian church about their dear departed loved ones, Paul said he didn’t want them to grieve as those who don’t have the hope we have will grieve (1 Thessalonians 4:13). We do have hope. Praise Jehovah God!!
I want you to take this hope with you. As you head out into the world, no matter your destination, there is nothing that can separate you from the love of God if you will remain faithful to Him (Romans 8:38, 39). He is yours if you are His. He makes that true because He loves you and so do I.
Donnie Bates