Anxiety and the Loss of Hope

March 13, 2022

Randy Hageman

The levels of

have risen significantly over the last several years.

Over the last twenty years, the rate of pessimism and even hopelessness seems to be

.

Science cannot eradicate human evil—in fact it can give it more tools to use for its own ends. —Tim Keller

One of the amazing realities about Christianity in its earliest years were the resources for

it offered people in the midst of hard times and rampant disease.

Those early Christians’ eyes stayed focused on a glorious

that Jesus Christ had won for them through his death and resurrection.

The Greek word that typically gets translated as “hope” really had a much stronger edge to it, meaning a profound

.

One earth-shattering event – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – offers a hope that the

has no way of offering!

… now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. —1 Peter 1:6 (NIV)

… [God] has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,… so your faith and hope are in God. —1 Peter 1:3,21 (NIV)

The reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ means that our hope is “in

” Himself.

As we come to understand the truth and power of the

, we come to know we have “a living hope” because Christ himself, through his own Spirit, comes to live in those who trust him and follow him.

The supernatural event of Jesus’ resurrections stands out, over and above whatever we see happening in the world around us, to show us and impress on us that Jesus Christ and his promises are

and at work in our world today!

The very first step is to truly believe that the resurrection of Jesus Christ actually

.

Believing that the resurrection really did happen long ago may not automatically seem like it is, therefore, “a living hope” for us

.

The Apostle Paul wanted to experience the resurrection’s power in the

living of his life.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. —Philippians 3:10-11 (NIV)

[Jesus our Lord] was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. —Romans 4:25 (NIV)

[Jesus our Lord] was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. —Romans 4:25 (NLT)

The cross and the resurrection

bring God’s new creation into existence and make it possible for us to experience it not just at some time in the future when we die or Christ returns but that we begin to experience it now.

On the cross, at Christ’s death, the debt for all our sins was paid

, meaning full access to God was possible, and God showed us this symbolically in the Temple.

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.… —Matthew 27:50-51 (NIV)

Because of the resurrection, Christ’s presence does come to us, for the risen Christ sends his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to live in those who put their faith in Christ as the

and firstfruits of what is to come.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. —1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (NIV)

This power of the resurrection has entered our world, and though it is not yet here fully, it is real and has the

to give us “a living hope,” a “confident hope,” in the face of any trials, adversity or things that might make us anxious.

I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. —Ephesians 1:18-23 (NLT)

The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is available to those who choose to follow Jesus Christ, and that power, when it comes to live in us, will be

over anything this life throws at us.

Christ calls us and enables us through his power to begin to live in ways that will reflect the way life will be when he

.

This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. —Romans 13:11-14 (NLT)

Our future resurrection gives us the strength and hope to live

as in the light, in ways that honor Christ and reflect his presence in us through his Spirit.

We need the hope of the resurrection, because it promises us “a living hope,” a profound certainty that

in this world can derail or take away.

the resurrection… brings us both the power and the pattern for living life now connected to God’s future new creation. —Tim Keller

Next Week: Certain Hope