READ: Romans 5:1-5
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope“ – Romans 15:4
Many times, people come to church not knowing what the other person has been through that day. Many people come to church with hopeless and discouraging situations hanging over their heads.
As the Word of God comes to them, discouragement and hopelessness are driven away . Like chaff before a strong wind, discouragement and desperation are forced to fly away. The preaching of the Word, brings good news and hope which keeps a man alive.
I once read about an experiment in which a mouse was put into a bucket of water in a dark room. There was absolutely no light in this room, and after about three minutes the mouse died.
A mouse of similar weight and size was put in the same bucket of water and in the same room. This time, a little glimmer of light was allowed to seep through. This mouse kept swimming for about three days before it finally drowned. What was the difference between the two mice?
The thin ray of light, which the second mouse saw, gave it so much hope which kept the mouse swimming. This is a wonderful story that illustrates how hope can keep a man alive until his miracle comes.
“…that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1:21).
We hardly talk about hope, but without hope there can be no faith. Faith is the assurance of the things you are hoping for. As people receive hope through preaching, faith is built up.