The Hopefulness of February - Bruce Atchison

For me, February gives me a hopeful feeling. The worst of winter is passed. The sun rises higher each day, shortening the nights. And just knowing that spring is coming gladdens my heart.

Hope is one thing we all require to stay sane. That's why we followers of Christ should always be rejoicing. As Titus 2:11-13 (BBE) reminds us, "For the grace of God has come, giving salvation to all men, Training us so that, turning away from evil and the desires of this world, we may be living wisely and uprightly in the knowledge of God in this present life; Looking for the glad hope, the revelation of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ;"

Moreover, we believers have an eternal future with Christ. While other belief systems lack assurance, ours is guaranteed. Ponder what 1 Corinthians 15:19 (BBE) tells us. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most unhappy".

As time passes, we know that the coming again of our Lord grows nearer. We need to remind ourselves daily of what Paul wrote in Romans 13:11 (BBE). "See then that the time has come for you to be awake from sleep: for now is your salvation nearer than when you first had faith." This particular salvation is the resurrection when Christ will return.

And even today, we know a great secret which gives us purpose and joy. Paul wrote in Colossians 1:26 and 27 (BBE), "The secret which has been kept from all times and generations, but has now been made clear to his saints, To whom God was pleased to give knowledge of the wealth of the glory of this secret among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

In a world of uncertainty, we are assured of our citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven. In the event that we die before Christ's triumphant return, we have this promise which Christ gave his disciples. John 14:2 and 3 (BBE) encourages us with these words. "In my Father's house are rooms enough; if it was not so, would I have said that I am going to make ready a place for you? And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to be with me, so that you may be where I am."

So we are the victors whatever happens. This hope is what keeps us going through trouble or even those tedious Mondays where everything seems to go wrong. What a glorious future we look forward to!

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