by Elder Mike Chon
On January 21, 2013 we watched the inauguration ceremony of President Obama for his second term in office. I couldn’t help but notice the faces of those that were in the audience that day. Many of them appeared to be proud and very hopeful that President Obama will be able to change the turmoil that our country has been facing in recent years. They have placed their hope in this one man who has been given the responsibility to lead our country as president. When difficult times occur in one’s life, people tend to desperately look for someone or something to find hope in. Unfortunately the search for hope usually ends up in further disappointment and discouragement. No matter what they end up placing their hope in, if it is something of this world, it will at best be temporary.
On the contrary, the one who has placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will find their hope, not in something temporary, but instead in someone that is eternal. Scripture teaches us that in the midst of our trials and difficulties our hope is placed in the person of Jesus Christ. The Christian’s great hope in this life is that one day we will be in the presence of Christ, whether by death or when Christ returns and takes us home. In the midst of great persecution, the Apostle Paul encouraged the church in Thessalonica to encourage one another with the hope they have of one day being with Christ along with those who have already died in Christ (1 Thess. 4:13-18). He also reminds them of the great salvation they have in Christ, which brings them great hope that whether they are alive or die that they will be with Christ (1 Thess. 5:9-11).
In the midst of our own trials and difficulties we tend to run to people or things that would bring us comfort and hope. Unfortunately for many believers they never find their hope in what Christ has already accomplished nor in the fact that Christ will return to take us home. Where do you find your hope? Do you find it in a spouse, a close friend, in your children, in your career, in your academic pursuits, in food, or in yourself? None of these will ever bring you true eternal hope. Scripture clearly teaches that true hope is only found in the person of Jesus Christ. Even in the greatest of trials our hope never wavers because our hope does not rest on something that is temporal but instead our hope rests on the atoning work of the cross, the security we have in redemption, and the second coming of Christ.