How can we ensure our hope is not "cut off" like the godless? Key Verse “For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” – Proverbs 23:18 Why the Hope of the Godless Fails • Proverbs 11:7 – “When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes.” • Job 8:13 – “So are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless will perish.” • Their confidence rests in self, wealth, or circumstance rather than the living God (Jeremiah 17:5). • Sin separates from the Source of life, leaving no enduring foundation (Isaiah 59:2). Anchoring Our Hope in What Cannot Be Shaken • Place faith in Christ alone—He is “our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1). • Believe God’s promises as literal, trustworthy, and unbreakable (Numbers 23:19). • Remember the resurrection: a “living hope” secured by Jesus rising from the dead (1 Peter 1:3). • Hold fast to God’s Word; it “cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Practical Steps to Ensure Our Hope Endures • Daily intake of Scripture – “Your words… gave me hope” (Psalm 119:49). • Consistent, obedient living – “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17). • Fellowship with faithful believers – “Encourage one another… so that none of you may be hardened” (Hebrews 3:13). • Persevering prayer – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer” (Romans 12:12). • Active waiting – Serve wholeheartedly while anticipating Christ’s return (Titus 2:13–14). Promises That Guard the Believer’s Expectation • Proverbs 24:14 – “Know that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.” • Hebrews 6:19 – “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” • Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope.” • Psalm 37:9 – “Those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.” Living Out a Hope That Will Not Be Cut Off • Fix eyes on eternity; earthly loss cannot sever heavenly inheritance (2 Corinthians 4:16–18). • Speak hope: encourage, testify, and declare God’s faithfulness (Psalm 71:14–15). • Resist worldly entanglements that choke expectancy (1 John 2:15–17). • Rejoice continually; joy fuels enduring confidence (Philippians 4:4). |
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