GLIMMER OF HOPE
INTRODUCTION
Glimmer of hope is what one can perceive with limitations imposed by circumstances besetting an individual or nation. When one holds on to hope; intertwined with faith, it can materialize into a victorious moment!
Scripture reveals: Faith is the substance (realization) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is the substance of things hoped for but unseen at the moment, difficult to be obtained through possible, otherwise there would be no hope. Scripture reveals: With God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37); invisible realities later become visible results!
Glimmer of Hope
Anchor of the Soul
Scripture reveals: Hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil (heaven itself) (Hebrews 6:19). It was noted that this demonstrates the security of being in God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, as an anchor that is sure and steadfast, a well-placed anchor not in the deepest sea but in heaven itself!
It was noted that the world is as a sea; the church in it, and every believer is as a ship; the port bound to is heaven; Christ is the pilot, and hope through Christ is the anchor in troubled waters. We are seeing many difficulties in these latter days; with more coming, but there is more than just a glimmer of hope; when one is anchored in the Lord, looking upwards towards heaven!
Darkest Will Fade
In a poem entitled: "Too too will Pass Away" by an unknown author are found these words: If I can endure for this minute whatever is happening to me, no matter how heavy my heart is or how dark the moment may be. If I can remain calm and quiet with my entire world crashing about me secure in the knowledge God loves me.
If I can but keep on believing what I know in my heart to be true that darkness will fade with the morning and that this will pass away too; then nothing in life can defeat me. For as long as this knowledge remains I can suffer whatever is happening, for I know God will break all the chains that are binding me tight in the darkness trying to fill me with fear. For there is no night without dawning and I know my morning is near!
Hope In God
The Psalmist noted: Why are you cast (bowed) down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted in me? Hope in in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (presence) (Psalm 42:5). It was noted that the psalmist corrects himself; depressed in spirit though present circumstances, expressing the means to remove such by saying: Hope you in God!
Hope is as an helmet, an erector of the head, which keeps it upright, and from bowing down; it is an anchor of the soul (through Christ), sure and steadfast, and of great service in the troubles of life.
There is an abundance of scriptural references that gives more than just a glimmer of hope in troublesome times; with an assurance of who the Peace-giver is: Jesus said: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27).
Committing Oneself
to the Lord
Prophet Jeremiah wrote: Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is (Jeremiah 17:7). It was noted that those who have a spiritual knowledge of the Lord, trust in Him as their refuge, as their Savior; and commit themselves to Him! They trust Him with all their concerns for protection and preservation.
A glimmer of hope is all that is needed in a world of turmoil; as long as that hope is placed in a heavenly Father; provider of the Savior of mankind, His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! Scripture reveals: God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
A Peculiar People
The Apostle Paul wrote: The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ!
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem (deliver) us from all iniquity (sin), and purify to himself a peculiar (special) people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:11-14). It was noted that salvation has appeared to all men is based on God's grace that has provided salvation universally for all mankind through the unlimited atonement (salvation) of Christ.
The Ungodly
Have No Such Hope
Glimmer of hope does not apply to the ungodly, unsaved of the earth, who hold not respect towards the provisions of God for a heavenly gain. Scripture reveals: The eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope shall be as the giving up of the ghost (the last breath of life) (Job 11:20).
It was noted that the hope of the wicked man is a dying hope, a lost hope; not hope but despair, being lost and undone (unsaved category). Their only hope is death to relieve them from their present troubles and agonies; but even that will not allow one to escape Judgment Day. Scripture reveals: It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
Standing Before God
Apostle John wrote: I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God: and the books were opened; and another book was opened which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things written in the books, according to their works (Revelation 20:12).
Whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire (a literal burning hell with no longer even a glimmer of hope) (Revelation 20:15). It was noted that the dead are the unbelieving dead of all ages. The books contain the record of every unsaved person. Each unsaved person is judged in accordance with their works which clearly shows that each one is a guilty sinner; having forsaken the Word of God, and any effort to point one to the way of salvation.
Prolonging or Shortening
One's Days
Scripture reveals: The fear of the Lord prolongs days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness; but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. When a wicked man dies, his expectation (glimmer of hope) shall perish (Proverbs 10:27-28).
It was noted that the fear of the Lord prolongs days of this life and of that to come; the means of preserving the believer from those things which are detrimental to the health of men, through sinful mannerisms, which would cut them off before they lived out half of their days, as coming before a judge, and condemned to die before one's time (without a glimmer of hope), due to a lifestyle that advocates such.
No Hope Beyond
Death
Scripture reveals: When a wicked man dies, his expectation shall perish; and the hope of the unjust men perishes (Proverbs 11:7). It was noted that such a person's expectation of a longer life, getting more riches, attaining more honor, enjoying more pleasure here, of having happiness hereafter, and of being delivered from the wrath to come; he will find, when he comes to die, that his expectations in this world are vain, and those with respect to another world, are ill-founded.
For the hope (even a glimmer of hope) of the unjust perishes; for there is no hope beyond death, as the righteous man has! It is unfortunate that many believe heaven awaits them; without the benefit of Jesus as Lord and Savior. Apostle Paul wrote: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Any glimmer of hope has to be in Jesus as one's Lord and Savior!
Grasping for the
Wind
Scripture reveals: I (King Solomon) was great, and increased (excelled) more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. And whatsoever my eyes desired I kept not from them and withheld not my heart from any joy (pleasure); for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion (reward from) all my labor.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought (produced), and on the labor that I had labored (toiled) to do: and behold, all was vanity (futility) and vexation (a grasping for the wind), and there was no profit under the sun (Ecclesiastes 2:9-11).
King Solomon pursed fulfillment through pleasure, wine, great works, wealth, artistic pleasures, and fame. All of these failed to bring lasting satisfaction to the wisest man of all time, yet people are still trying them in search for fulfillment.
Conclusion of the Whole
Matter
King Solomon later acknowledged; what hopefully others will find out before it is too late: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear (submit to) God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing (supposedly committed in secret), whether it be good, or whether it be evil (whether one will be rewarded in a way of grace or punishment) (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
It was noted that Solomon believed in a future state and judgment; that man, whether high or low, rich or poor, of every age, sex, and condition will be rewarded according to his works (as previously mentioned). The glimmer of hope is in the opportunity, given by Almighty God, that one's final resting place is of a heavenly kingdom (though His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ) rather than a literal burning Hell!
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