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September 1 Daily Devotional

The Only Hope

Frans Bakker

Jesus Christ, which is our hope. —1 Timothy 1:1b

Bible Reading

1 Timothy 1:1–5

Devotional

When Paul wrote his letter to Timothy, he was close to his death. It was nearly certain that he would die the death of a martyr but still he had great hope. He had a hope that reached beyond death and grave, for his hope lay in a living Christ. Paul did not emphasize that Christ gives hope but that He is hope. He is the foundation of hope. He is the life of hope, and He is the door of hope.

Yes, Jesus is the foundation of hope. Without Christ, only despair remains. Without His suffering and death, His resurrection and ascension, the house of hope would totally collapse. If man truly believes that there is no Christ, and consequently no redemptive works of Christ, and yet still believes that there is hope for him in this life and the next, his hope is grounded on sinking sand.

Christ is the solid foundation of hope. Paul does not say, “God is our hope.” Outside of Christ there is nothing to hope for in God. They who hope on God outside of Christ will be eternally mistaken. Without Him, God is a consuming fire. Christ, not man, is the foundation of hope. The anchor of hope has to be cast outside of the boat. It can never be grounded in man. Blessed is the man who experiences that all his hopes in himself are vain. God’s Spirit causes him to see more and more how hopeless things are without a firm anchor.

Christ is also the life of hope. If there were no bond with Christ, then hope would be dead. The branch of hope withers if there is no life sap flowing from the Vine. Without a living bond with Christ the soul withers and hope dies. Hope is rooted in Christ and will only flourish when it is in living communion with Christ. We know the saying, “Man lives by hope.” Without hope there is no life, but also, without life there will be no hope. When life is cut off, hope dies.

Christ is also the door of hope. We must think of the valley of Achor (Hos. 2:15) in the wilderness, where we see that because of our own guilt, all doors are closed. Hope ceases to exist. There is no door to God, no entrance to Him, and no access to Him. That is all because of our guilt. As a result, everything becomes hopeless. There is no deliverance in sight. Yet it is exactly there, in our hopelessness, that Christ becomes the door of hope. In hopelessness unworthy people receive perspective and view their need for Christ. Even if that door is only opened a little, how blessed to receive a ray of light from the Sun of righteousness shining into the desperate, sinful night. We ourselves have shut all the doors to God. Yet in Christ a door is opened that people could never open themselves. Never is it too much for Christ to open the door to a sinner who is knocking.

Can you also say, “Jesus Christ, which is our hope”? Is Jesus your hope? Is He your solid foundation in which you rest your faith? Is He the source of life for you? Is He the open door that leads to your salvation? Is your hope found in man or in Christ? Is hope found in you or anchored firmly in Christ?

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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