HopeProverbs 14:32 – “The wicked [the immoral, ungodly; lawbreaker] is driven away [overthrown; cast down] in his wickedness [sin; adversity; distress]: but the righteous [just; those who keep the law; blameless] hath hope [confidence; refuge; trust; shelter] in his death [ruin].”

Hope…just the sound of that word gives delight to the righteous.  Hope, the yearning that, in spite of tests, trials and uncertainties, all will be well (Romans 8:28-29).  Hope, a glimmer of light that pierces a soul’s darkest hour.  Hope, a faith that anticipates the sunrise in the midst of a sleepless night.  Hope, that faces the shadow of death believing the Lord’s promise “thou art with me” (Psalm 23:4).

hopelessWhat of the wicked?  The wicked have no hope and their sinful passions inevitably drive them to their grave and God’s eternal judgment.  Their path of sin that began as a youthful indiscretion grows into a pattern of wicked thoughts, passions and sins that inevitably rule the heart and consumes the soul.  The wicked are driven until they are destroyed by the very sins they once took delight in.  They are “double minded” (James 1:8), unstable, empty and lost.  They are “like the chaff which the wind driveth away” (Psalm 1:4).  They perish having no hope, and are without God in this world” (Ephesians 2:12b).  Unlike the saints of God who face death with the assurance of Christ’s resurrection, the lost face the sorrow of death with no such hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:19-22 – “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

The wicked go out into eternity hopeless, while the righteous have hope in a risen Savior.  What about you?  Do you have hope?

Copyright 2015 – Travis D. Smith