Too often Christians are trading in rock-solid, biblical hope for fragile, humanistic optimism. Believe me, they are not the same. Clear, scriptural teaching on our incontrovertible hope in Christ has too often been replaced with little homilies that basically admonish, “Hang in there! It’s gonna get better.” We are trading gold for fool’s gold.

Obviously a positive attitude has its merits. Nobody wants to be around dour, pessimistic people. We, of all people, should be the most encouraged and most encouraging. There is much to be happy about, and there is plenty to laugh about. But on the 9/11s of life, humanistic optimism alone will not cut it. Only a hope that rests on the sure foundation of Jesus will steady your life in times like these.

Let’s get real. Tomorrow things could indeed get better, or tomorrow things could get worse. The economy may recover, or we may sink into a “bottomless pit” of debt and hyper-inflation. We all face the very real potential of experiencing acts of terrorism. These are not “negative confessions;” these are facts of life. But if you know your Bible – and if you know your Savior – this does not mean you live in a morose pessimism. On the contrary, it means you live in joy, confidence and victory every day, no matter what may come.

I want to be very clear. Christ is our hope. His return, His rule, His global glory; this is our hope. No Jesus – no hope. With Jesus – great hope. All our hope is wrapped up in Christ. He is “the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope” (1 Tim. 1:1).

Through Christ we have:

• Hope that He will come again. “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

• Hope for a glorified body fit for eternity. He “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Phil. 3:21).

• Hope of a home in heaven. “In My Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (Jn. 14:2-3).

• Hope that the scales of justice will finally and forever be balanced. God “has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead” (Ac. 17:31).

• Hope that we will be reunited with loved ones already with the Lord. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).

• Hope for the unrivaled reign of Jesus Christ over all the earth. “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” (Rev. 11:13).

• Hope of a new heaven and a new earth. “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (Rev. 21:1).

It’s all because of Jesus. Stay anchored in the lordship of Christ over your life. His rule in you provides solid hope for the future and grounded strength and joy for today. “Christ is in you, the assurance of all the glorious things to come” (Colossians 1:27, Phillips).

Excerpted from Living As If Heaven Matters
by David Shibley (Charisma House).
To order your copy of this hope-filled book, click here.

Books I recommend:

“Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham”
“Courageous Leadership”- Bill Hybels
“Total Truth”- Nancy Pearcey
“Celebration of Discipline”- Richard Foster
“Pilgrims Progress” – John Bunyan
“Knowing God” – John R. Mott (Anything by John R. Mott)
“Cost of Discipleship” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

What can we do for a country that has been traumatized by war, genocide and is ranked last in the world in most economic categories, including personal income? One thing we can do is to minister life and hope to their pastors and Christian business community. That’s just what Global Advance did last week through our Frontline Shepherds Conference and Marketplace Leadership Conference in Burundi. Global Advance partners Rick Kingham of Glocal Leadership Institute, Ralph Holland of Mundo de Fe and David Hatley ministered to several hundred pastors from numerous denominations.

Global Advance Marketplace Director, Kevin Pate, led a team of U.S. Christian business leaders to teach Christian principles of business, as well as practical business knowledge to Burundian Christian business professionals. “I believe that Christians in business are called to live out their faith in the marketplace and they will be influencers and difference-makers wherever they are in the world,” Kevin expressed. The Burundi Marketplace team challenged the attendees to give God a chance to prove Himself strong in their businesses. All who attended were hungry to know what the Bible says about business and desired to learn how to grow, expand and be more profitable. In addition, the team visited local businesses offering consultation and prayer with business owners and their staff.

A unique opportunity was presented to the team as they were able to attend an evening service and share a meal with the President of Burundi, his family and cabinet members. It was a memorable night under the African sky that was filled with lively praise and worship. Rick Kingham of Glocal Leadership Institute delivered the message and was able to minister God’s Word to the President and all in attendance. The First Lady attended the Marketplace Conference the following day.

Join with us in praying for the nation of Burundi and its leaders. Pray that the seeds sown for God’s Kingdom will bear much fruit.