I can’t remember a time in my sixty-eight years of life when there were heavier doses of gloom, doom, and despair describing our vital signs in the media headlines. One would have to have his head in the sand not to sense we are in serious “trouble” as far as our major news outlets are concerned. One such source even broad brushed an article with the title, “Everything is Terrible”! Our desire in today’s message is to add some hopeful leaven to what looks like a world of souring dough.

May we refer to another news source called the Bible (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth). In 1Timothy 4:8, it says physical exercise profiteth little but exercising spiritually profits now and forever. So not discounting entirely what is going on around us in this physical world, let’s scan some other foundational Biblical headlines and see how the Gospel of the Kingdom of God injects a supra-natural hope into our troubled mix.

Basic to the real Christian view of life and beyond are these following hope-centered and good news items. Let’s meditate upon these encouraging truths to help us expand our own sense of God’s nourishing influence in our lives, no matter what the world tries to feed us!

• Resurrection of the dead (Acts 23:6).
• Promises given to Israel (Acts 26:6-7).
• Redemption of the body and the whole creation (Romans 8:23-25).
• Eternal glory (Colossians 1:27).
• Eternal life and the inheritance of the saints (Titus 3:5-7).
• Return of Christ (Titus 2:11-14).
• Transformation into the likeness of Christ (1 John 3:2-3).
• Salvation of God (1Timothy 4:10).
• Christ Himself (1 Timothy 1:1).
• Enduring virtue (1Corinthians 4 & 5).
• Catalyst with faith and love to mold believers into disciples (1Thessolonians 1:3).
• Inspiration to abound, not to abase (Romans 15:13).

So family and friends, be encouraged and cheer up by looking up to what the Ultimate Author says. God has a wonderful plan for each of us; to give us hope in our final outcome. (Jer 29:11)

Additional Resource: Fill Me With Hope – Classic Christian Writings