Hope For a Great 2022

We are now two weeks into 2022 and many people are hoping that it will be better than 2021. But many people place there hope in the wrong place. Most people place their hope in their circumstances. They put their hope in wealth. health, good relationships, a good job, and the government. But none of these are guaranteed and many will fail. Money comes and goes. Even the healthiest people get sick. People will let you down. The best jobs still have stress and unwanted tasks. I won’t even comment on the government.

True hope can only be found when we put our faith in Jesus. The problem that all of us face is that we have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and because of that sin we face an eternity in hell (Romans 6:23a). But God loved us and sent His son to die on the cross to pay the price for our sins (Rom 5:8). If we believe in Jesus as our savior, we will be saved (John 3:16; Romans 10:9; Romans 6:23).

When we out our faith in Jesus, He gives us two promises that give us hope despite our circumstances. First, we find hope in the fact that Jesus is preparing a place for us in heaven, and He promises to return and take us there to be live with Him (John 14:1-3). Second, we find hope in the fact that God will walk with us until Jesus returns. God will help us through difficult times (He does not say we will not suffer), He will provide for our needs (Not wants), and He will protect us (We cannot have our salvation taken away from us).

2021 will go down as one of the worst years of my life. On July 3 my wonderful, beautiful wife of 31 years unexpectedly died at the age of 53 from complications from blood clots. While I am dealing with the pain of her death and the fact that I miss her presence every day, there are two things that give me hope. First, my wife is in Heaven because she put her faith in Jesus. Second, I will see her again one day because I have put my faith in Jesus.

I have no idea what 2022 will bring. I do know that my hope is in Jesus and therefore I have nothing to fear (Psalms 46:1-2a).

True hope can only be found by putting your faith in Jesus. If you want to know how to be saved, please call me at First Baptist Church.

May you have a wonderful 2022.