Hope

2 minute video explaining hope.

Where can I find hope?

Does my life have meaning?

Does God care about my problems?

Is this life all there is . . . or is there life after death?

Maybe you have silently asked yourself some of these questions.

The truths that give me hope are found in God’s big story.

The Bible is made up of many little stories that make one big story.

Understanding how you fit into this big story is where you can discover HOPE.

In my life, I find hope in these things:

Knowing my life is not meaningless
Having a relationship with my creator
Knowing that my future in eternity is secure

I don’t have to worry about my future, I have hope.

You can find the same hope.

But don’t just take my word for it.

Discover it for yourself.

You probably check random facts on Google to see if they are true.

Why not take time to check out for yourself if the Bible is true?

Your life is worth the investment.

Even if you don’t believe in God yet, I would encourage you to do 2 things:

Pray this: “God, if you are real, please show yourself to me.”
Read the Bible verses below. The Bible says it is God’s words. If you want to get to know a person, you have to listen to their words. The same is true for God. The way we get to know God is by reading His words.

Discover HOPE.

The Eternal God

The Bible says that there is a God and that He has always existed.

"Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."
Psalm 90:2

Creation of the Earth

Next, the Bible says that God created the universe, including our earth and its heavens.

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
Genesis 1:1

Creation of People

Then God created a man and a woman, Adam and Eve.

"then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature."
Genesis 2:7

Fall of Lucifer

Lucifer, who was one of God's angels, tried to rebel against God with other angels, but failed. Lucifer is now called Satan, the Devil.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!...You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven...I will make myself like the Most High. But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit."
Isaiah 14:12-15

Start of Human Sin

Satan kept trying to rebel against God. He tempted Eve to eat from a tree that God had said not to eat. Eve then caused Adam to eat from the tree, even though God had warned them not to.

"the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes...she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths."
Genesis 3:6-7

Death

Because God is a holy and just judge, Adam and Eve were punished for disobeying God. First, they died spiritually (they were separated from God). Later, their body died.

"And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden."
Genesis 3:8

Promise of a Satan Conqueror

God then promised that someday a special descendant (offspring) of Eve would defeat Satan. God promised this because Satan tempted Adam and Eve to disobey.

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Genesis 3:15

Giving of Coverings

Adam and Eve tried to cover their guilt and shame with tree leaves. Then God graciously gave them clothing He made from animal skins.

"And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them."
Genesis 3:21

Sacrifices for Sin

Humans kept growing in their sin against God. They deserved to be punished. But God set up a way to offer animal sacrifices to cover man's sin for a short time.

"When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord... he shall offer a male without blemish... He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him."
Leviticus 1:2-4

Promises of a Coming Savior

God had His prophets write many details about a special Israelite who had not been born yet. This future Israelite would be a King and Savior. The prophecies were to help people know who the promised Savior was.

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
Isaiah 7:14

Birth of Jesus of Nazareth

At God’s chosen time, He sent His son to Earth. God’s son was born of a virgin named Mary. This special child would become the special King and Savior that God had promised for many years.

"This took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us)
Matthew 1:22-23

The Lamb of God

God’s prophet, John the Baptist, announced that Jesus of Nazareth was the special King and Savior. He was God’s Lamb who would take away the sin of the world.

"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"
John 1:29

Meeting with a Religious Leader

Jesus told a religious leader that he must have a spiritual birth in order to enter God’s kingdom.

"Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God... For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:3, 16

Equal with God

Jesus said that He was equal to God and one with Him. Saying this made some people very angry, so they tried to kill Jesus.

"But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."
John 5:17-18

Death of Jesus

Jesus died on a cross, as the perfect sacrificial Lamb for our sins. Jesus’ death crushed Satan’s head, just as God had promised to Adam and Eve.

"And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him... Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last."
Luke 23:33, 46

A Repentant, Dying Thief

When Jesus was dying, one guilty man who was crucified beside Him put his faith in Jesus. Because of the thief's faith in Jesus, he was given the gift of life after death.

"And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:42-43

Jesus Raised to Life

On the third day after Jesus died and was buried, God raised Him from the dead by using His power. God did this to show His power over sin, death, and Hell.

"But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb... And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus."
Luke 24:1-3 (see also vs 4-6)

Jesus Returns to Heaven

After Jesus was raised from the dead, He was seen many times by His disciples on earth. Then He returned to Heaven to be with His Father.

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
Acts 1:9

Terrible Future for Unbelievers

Then at the end of earthly time, those who do not trust in Jesus will stand in front of God to be sentenced to eternal punishment for their sins.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away... And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened... And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.
Revelation 20:11-12

Joyful Future for Believers

But God’s story ends with wonderful news. At the end, everyone who has trusted Jesus as his or her Savior will enter a beautiful paradise where there is no sin. These believers will live there forever with God.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."
Revelation 21:1-2

The Bible says: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that one, and only one, true eternal and holy God exists. We also learn that He is our all-powerful Creator and Just Judge, and that we are accountable to Him. Do you believe this?

The Bible says: "The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that we are made by God and loved by God, and we learn that God deserves our full obedience. Do you believe this?

The Bible says: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that we have sinned against God and that we deserve His righteous punishment. Do you believe this?

The Bible says: "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." Hebrews 9:27

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that we are facing God’s judgment and that we cannot escape it by ourselves. Do you believe this?

The Bible says: "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” John 14:6

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that Jesus Christ is the perfect Son of God and the perfect Son of Man, and that He is the only way to eternal life. Do you believe this?

The Bible says: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:24

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, died for our sins. We also learn that Jesus rose from the dead to rescue us from death and to give us eternal life. Do you believe this?

The Bible says: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that we must trust in Jesus’ death on the cross as the only satisfactory payment for our sins. We must abandon our trust in other things that we formerly relied upon to save us. Do you believe this?

The Bible says: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?'” John 11:25-26

Our Faith Response: From the Bible we learn that only Jesus has power over death and that He gives eternal life to those who trust solely in Him for the forgiveness of sins. Do you believe this?

Where are you?

As you read these next verses, which part describes you?

John 3:16-18
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."

Are you one who "believes" or one who "does not believe"?

If your answer was one who does not believe, is that where you want to be?

If no, I would encourage you with the following:

If God is leading you to believe:
Talk to God today.
Confess your sins to Him.
Trust in the death of Jesus to pay for your sins, (not any of your good works).
See Jesus' promise in John 11:25-26.
Get connected to a local church that teaches the Bible.

If you are still not sure:
1. Keep praying. Ask God to help you understand.
2. Find a Christian that can help explain more of the Bible to you.
3. Keep reading more in the Bible.

Reading the Bible: Where to Start?

Questions? Get in Touch With Us

This is an abriged version of "The Story of Hope". You can purchase full copies HERE

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