Devotional: Hope of Eternal Life

Titus 1:1-3  Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;


The Apostle Paul is the master of long, long sentences, but his sentences are usually full to the brim with good stuff!  I've underlined some key thoughts in the verses above.  I find here that the faith of true Christians is based on something more than fantasy and imagination.  It is rooted in the truth.  It is rooted in hope of eternal life.  It is rooted in God who cannot lie. It is rooted in a promise that He made before time began.

This doesn't mean that we can sit back and dream about the "Sweet By and By".  We are not living in a fantasy, dreaming about a fantasy to come.  We live in the "Nasty Now and Now", as my dad loved to say.

Paul talks about the acknowledgment of the truth. How do we know the truth?  We must get into the Bible and study it out for ourselves.  God isn't going to pour it into our brains.  He expects us to work at it, to dig it out of His Word.  His Word is truth.

Psalm 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
John 17:17 "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
(NKJV)

Our study of God's Word should lead to a life of godliness (1)  in contrast to the "Nasty Now and Now" that we live in. John 17:17 says, "Sanctify them..." This means change.  If the Truth of God's Word isn't changing you, then you need to take stock and see if God has really saved you.

Our faith is built on hope of eternal life promised to us before the beginning of time  by God who cannot lie.  There is a lot packed into that previous sentence.  The foundation of our faith is on hope of eternal life.  Does this mean our faith is built on something wishy washy?  Well, I hope that salesman will come through with what he promised.  He may or may not come through.  Is that the kind of hope this is talking about?  No!

This hope of eternal life is a sure hope.  It's an expectation that won't fall through.  It's described as an anchor.

Hebrews 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
(NKJV)

What is the source of this hope?  It's God's promises!  Where are we to find these promises?  In His Word, the Bible.  How do we find them?  We dig for them.  We must work to get them into our hearts and minds.

What is the source of these promises?  God who will not, indeed cannot lie.  If God ever lied to us, then He would cease to be God.  Scripture says He never lies.  In contrast, who is the father of lies?

John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

The questions before us then are these.  What kind of hope do you have?  What is your hope in? What is the source of your hope?  Is your hope a sure hope beyond the grave or a hope that is uncertain of your destination after death?  Put your trust and hope in the promises of God who cannot lie. There is no better place to be.