“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:24-25)

I once had the privilege of ministering the love of our Lord Jesus to an atheist. He was a stubborn old-timer; but I went on and shared with him how the Christian attains the righteousness of God, and that salvation could only be had in our precious Lord Jesus.

Of course, he had all the elegant statements of unbelief and reproached my Gospel. That’s what Paul called it, “My Gospel” (2 Timothy 2:8; Romans 16:25). But this atheist made a statement that has stuck with me for years. He said, in a derogatory way, “Christianity is hope for the hopeless.”

At the time, I was immature in my walk with the Lord and my flesh naturally was stirred to defensive mode. But after a bit of contemplation, I have come to the conclusion that he was exactly right. I was, and still am, hopeless without Christ.

Brother Paul said in Ephesians 2:12 that we, as unbelieving Gentiles, “…were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.” Now I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty hopeless to me.

While speaking with the atheist that day, he struck a nerve within me. It’s called pride, and it’s bred within the bone of mankind. Until we see that the Hope of Israel is the Lord our Savior, we will not attain His Righteousness. A man must come to the end of his natural abilities in order to experience God’s supernatural Love. Then, and only then, will he be a partaker of Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

My alcohol and drug instructor once gave us some details about suicidal casualties. He told us they would be shipped off to the morgue for an autopsy report. On the report it will ask for “Cause of Death”; and when a man or woman commits suicide, they’ll fill in the blank with “Lost Hope.”

Do you feel as if you’ve lost hope today? If so, I have an everlasting hope to share with you. A hope that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven just for you (1 Peter 1:3-4). Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

The Lord Jesus is our Hope (1 Timothy 1:1). He will lead you to the Fountain of Living Waters (Christ). Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: Jesus is The Hope for the Hopeless.