Occasionally we will say of this person or that, "He is hopeless." Or we might comment, "He can't win for losing." Our comments mean that the person in question seems to constantly make bad choices in life.

If you take a Bible concordance and look up the word "hope" you will find many references to people having hope in the Lord and the benefits that flow from trusting the Lord.

For example, we gain strength by hoping in the Lord (Psalm 31:24).

We obtain God's mercy through hope in Him (Psalm 33:22).

God listens to those who hope (Psalm 38:15).

We are redeemed through hope (Psalm 130:7; Lamentations 3:26).

God takes pleasure in those who hope in Him (Psalm 147:11).

Blessing comes through hope in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7).

So we see that tremendous blessing is on those who place their hope in the Lord. The wonderful things that belong to the children of God are not known by those who do not know the Lord.

As you read the writings of atheists and agnostics, there is a hopelessness in what they say about the future. Philosophers who do not accept the Christian view of life have no hope to offer their readers.

It is tragic to listen to people speak of how hopeless life is for them.

They see death as the termination of their existence. Death robs them of any permanent significance. As one person so vividly put it, "When I die I will be nothing but dust."

It certainly is true that those without God are without hope.

Christians have the remarkable hope of eternity with the Lord in a new earth that does not know conflict, hatred, corruption, disease or death. This is a hope worth all of the trials of this life. Because of our hope, we are able to endure the sorrows of this life in view of the glories that will be ours forever.

Do you have this hope? Are you looking for a better world to come when Jesus returns to set up His eternal kingdom?

Do you recognize the truth that humanity is much more than merely the evolution of apes? Has the Lord convinced you that we are made in His image and therefore possess enormous dignity and worth?

Look again at the opening chapters of Genesis to see the worth of the human soul to God. Study the life of Jesus as recorded in the Gospels and learn what a truly godly person is like. Read again the incredible suffering of Jesus to redeem a lost humanity.

If you place your hope in the Lord you will never regret it. If you refuse to hope in the Lord you will have no hope for all eternity.