As we fast approach the end of days the stress on all of humanity is increasing exponentially. This stress caused in large part by the intensity of natural disasters is having a profound effect on the human psyche causing many … to lose hope. Hopelessness has trapped many into a life of endless psychological counseling and psychotropic drug addiction, while many others have turned to a life of crime in an attempt to recoup their losses. I am afraid we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with strange and erratic behavior with a growing sense of hopelessness to contain it. From individuals eating the face off another to running head long into traffic almost no one is pointing their finger at the increasing demonic influence on humanity. If that were not enough, very many people are losing hope in their elected leaders to solve the world’s problems of mounting debt, staggering unemployment, global terrorism, and a real threat of war.  As nation states teeter on the brink of bankruptcy with the fear of unchecked anarchy the world is progressively losing its hope. Hopelessness reigns.

But what really concerns us in this article is Christians who may lose their hope. If Jesus Christ does not come back at a time when you expect Him then you along with many others could be shaken in your faith and lose hope. Every Christian has decided in his own mind when he believes that Christ will return and rapture His Church. The great debate has continued for hundreds of years arguing pre-tribulation to post-tribulation and everything in between. At any point along this timeline one can say, “I’ve had enough, I can’t handle this anymore, where’s the promise of His coming.” When a man losses everything through natural disaster, the loss of employment, or some other great tragedy it’s easy to lose hope. And when a man losses hope he tends to give up. To lose your hope and give up puts you in the snare of the devil and the coming Antichrist who will make great promises to relive you of your present suffering. I would spare you of that. As our world comes crashing in on us we must not place our hope on the things around us, nor can we place our hope in Christ for only the things of this world. If we do then we should be pitted more than all men (See I Corinthians 15:19).

Dear children, we must look up and beyond the things of this world to our eternal hope in Christ Jesus. When we look to the new heavens and the new earth it will renew our hope. As we concentrate our gaze upon our heavenly citizenship then it will help us to stand firm in the midst of our greatest tribulations. Not only do we stand firm, “… but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). This hope produced is not relief from our present distress, but hope of our eternal future with Christ Jesus. This is a blessed future without death, or mourning or crying or pain. This is a future where all things are made new. If we have this kind of hope it does not disappoint us because we feel the love of God being poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (See Romans 5:5). This love gives us the assurance that God is with us in the midst of our trials. This love strengthens the inner man allowing us to stand firm in the face of adversity. This love gives us the assurance that God will deliver on all of his glorious and precious promises.

So, don’t be one who losses his hope and falls into the snare of the devil, but cast your hope on things to come and not on this present world. If you feel that God has delayed His return based on your own interpretation of the Scripture, then stand fast in the truth that God will deliver on all of His promises in His time and not yours. You must be persuaded that you will stand firm until the end no matter how long that takes. As the world rushes head long into the abyss you must hang on to your hope in Christ Jesus and the things to come. It will see you through the most difficult of times. Fire storms, extreme heat waves, and power outages should strengthen your faith not dash your hope. Stand on the assurance that God will never leave you nor forsake you. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). Dear friends, don’t lose your hope, but stand firm on His promises.

Copyright © 2012 Rev. Daniel W. Blair – All content (blog articles) have been published in my new book: “Revelation Truth” available in our bookstore or at a bookstore near you.