Let Hope Encourage Your Life
4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.
Colossians 1:4-5a (CSB)
Many activities, events, and situations can evoke discouragement in this world. We tend to feel overwhelmed when life's pressures increase and we try to handle them using our own strength. As these pressures build, we often focus on the moment and forget to see these discouragements from an eternal perspective rooted in the hope we have as followers of Christ. The apostle Paul advised the church in Colossae to resist discouragement and to live differently, grounded in the promise of the hope waiting for us.
Let Hope Reserved Charge You to Faithfulness. The idea of “hope reserved” reminds us that our eternal home is secure, guaranteed, and awaiting our arrival. This reserved hope is the promise of everlasting life in heaven. I compare this reservation to a hotel booking: you make the reservation, confirm it with a credit card, it is guaranteed by the payment, and the room awaits your check-in. As followers of Christ, our hope reserved is secured not by our “credit” but by the blood of Jesus Christ. The guarantee does not come from our deeds or goodness but through Christ’s payment. When we accept Christ as Lord and Savior, our hope is assured because our reservation is made, and we will realize it upon our arrival. This secure and guaranteed hope inspires us to live faithfully until we reach our destination.
Let Hope Reserved Challenge You to Love. The church in Colossae exemplified their “hope reserved” through their love for one another. This love was not based on worldly norms but was inspired by their relationship with Christ. Their affection for all saints extended beyond their local congregation, linking them to believers everywhere because of Jesus. Their love for the body wasn't determined by others' treatment but was rooted in Christ's presence within them. Living with hope reserved encourages us to love fellow believers and pursue fellowship, seeing it as preparation for eternal life in heaven.
Let Hope Reserved Define Your Life. Living with hope reserved means living with an eternal perspective, focusing on eternity rather than the present moment. It helps us see this world from a heaven-centered view, with our lives guided by God's ways because we are led by the Lord. When we live this way, our hope remains firm, and we find true rest in Him. Reflecting on your life, ask yourself: are you truly living well because you have hope reserved, or are you allowing temporary circumstances to shape your identity?
QUESTIONS
How would you define a “hope reserved” and how does the presence of a “hope reserved” change your life?
What hinderance need to be abandoned to strengthen your ability to live with an eternal perspective?
