Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man: A Daily Devotional

by Walter A. Henrichsen

APRIL 11 Day 102 Hope “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13 When it comes to hope, people divide themselves into four categories: No Hope – These are people who have lost a reason to hope in anything. Since everyone is motivated in the direction of their hope, they are unmotivated. Certain existentialist fits this category, for they see no purpose for existence, considering life futile. In the United States during the 1960’s a number of young people lost hope, wasting themselves on drugs and alcohol. Illegitimate Hope – These are people who embrace an unbiblical hope; they hope in the promises of the world with all of the trappings of success, and leave the world empty-handed. “Like wilted leaves, they slither down the drainpipe of history,” is how one author describes them. Divided Hope – This category catches a great number of those that call themselves Christian. They hope in heaven, while also hoping in the promises of the world. Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters:.. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”1 The Bible calls this double-mindedness. These people, although they wouldn’t want to admit it, believe that Jesus is mistaken. Legitimate Hope – Possibly the smallest group, these embrace the biblical promises, living for the eternal rather than the temporal. Of the four categories, those with an illegitimate hope and those with a biblical hope are most likely to be happy; biblical peopl...