When the Apostle Paul was writing to the Corinthian church in the mid first-century, he addressed many issues to help the church become more of what God intended. Some of the church members in Corinth had become selfish, others had lost sight of the essentials of the gospel, some others had gotten caught up in hero worship. Listening to and Reading 1 Corinthians is a great way to begin to get a feel for what Paul was talking about with them. The letter most likely would have been read and re-read publicly to the group as they gathered. They might stop the reader and say - "Wait! What did he just say..." and they'd re-read a section so as not to miss an important concept. Listening to scripture is how 99% of the early church grew and developed. So - get out your Bible App, or website that plays spoken scripture and listen a few times to 1 Corinthians. You'll begin to appreciate how many issues Paul was addressing, and how lovingly he confronted some pretty significant errors in this young church.

In Chapters 12-14, Paul discusses what goes on when the Corinthian Church gathered together. The famous listing of some of the Spirit's giftings are in chapter 12, then Paul launches what is one of his most famous chapters on the importance and supremacy of love. However, it is interesting that Paul describes three characteristics in the final verse of the chapter: 1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV) "So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" Certainly Paul was emphasizing love in the entire chapter, but the two other things mentioned were faith and hope. So - what is this HOPE that Paul talks about? Why is it mentioned as one of the three things that "remain"?

Paul, as an Apostle who had seen the resurrected Jesus, and clearly had experienced the freedom from sin and the death of the law already, knew what hope was. The Hope that we many times look for is temporary, "in this lifetime" hope. It is what we hope happens before the week is out, or in this year, as new year's resolutions tell us. The Hope that Paul was talking about was way more powerful and long-lasting. You see, the early Christians didn't have a lot of earthly success to speak of. They were not even recognized as loyal citizens because of their refusal to bow to or worship Ceasar. The early church had its hope in eternity, and in the coming of Christ. They were sustained through difficulty by the hope that God Almighty had made them new, called them, and was going to keep them until the end. Abraham had hope that fueled the faith that he exercised. Anytime there is something that you are not seeing now, but think there is even the remotest of possibilities that it might come to pass - that is hope.

I can't emphasize enough that the Hope of Christ is the hope of heaven, the hope of eternity walking with God the Father, the hope of restored health, relationships, and truth completely. Read the last three chapters of Revelation, and realize that our hope can be in an eternal, new heaven and earth, re-made by the same God that wants to give you hope. Now These three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love. The greatest is love. But without hope, the others are impossible to act upon.

Read the last three chapters of Revelation. What hope can you find in there? How about that there will be a day when those who belong to God will live in a new Heaven and Earth, with no more sickness, death, pain, or sorrow. And God will live among us. Hope in Heaven sustained those who faced difficulty throughout the ages. It can sustain you. Let God the Father call you home with Him - Give your life to Jesus Christ and repent of your sin - Give up chasing hope only in this world - Receive the Hope that comes only from God. You will find a power of Hope from Him that will sustain you on through anything in your life.