The Constant Church of God presents clear answers to your questions, directly from the Bible!

What is it that we hope for the most?

In this time of rampant crime; unspeakable violence; war; drug addiction; deepening moral crisis, it is becoming increasingly difficult to be hopeful.

But, the Bible says we have a reason to be HOPE-FUL.

Not HOPE-LESS!

Don’t believe me.

Prove it for yourselves.

Open your Bibles and turn to Genesis chapter 1.

These are not my words.

These are the words of Almighty God Himself.

Turn to Genesis chapter 1 and read what God Himself tells us in verse 26.

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness . . .

The Hebrew word for IMAGE refers to mind and character.

And so, from the beginning, God purposed to reproduce Himself —— HIS mind, HIS character —— in humans.

Character requires a commitment to do the right thing even when it is difficult.

Especially when there is intense pressure to do what is wrong.

Character is very important to God.

It is the one attribute, the one quality He cannot create in us by divine decree or directive!

It is a choice WE have to make.

It is a choice only WE can make.

Godly character cannot be instantly created.

It takes TIME!

Layer upon layer of Godly character is developed and acquired only through adversity, tests and trials.

It cannot be learnt or acquired otherwise.

It is built through a lifetime process of OVERCOMING.

OVERCOMING sin by obeying God’s law!

OVERCOMING by resisting Satan the devil.

OVERCOMING by rejecting the lust of the flesh. The lust of the eyes. Pride and vanity.

But, you will say, “That’s impossible!”

And it is.

We cannot do it by our own abilities.

Our own power.

But God —— with Whom nothing is impossible —— promises, “I will help you. But you have to yield and submit to Me. You have to obey Me and do as I say.”

And when we do, God will work the most magnificent, awesome miracle of all.

He will fashion and mold us into HIS very image, HIS very own character!

But we have to do OUR part!

He’s not going to do it all for us.

In 2nd Peter chapter 1, the chief apostle Peter enumerates the various layers of character God wants us to develop.

Beginning with verse 5.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

We need faith, not doubt.

Virtue, not immorality.

Knowledge of right living, not filthiness and indecency.

Temperance or self-control, not overindulgence.

Patience, not impatience.

Godliness, not worldliness.

Brotherly kindness, not harshness.

Charity or love, not hate or lust.

Now turn to 1st John chapter 3, and begin reading in verse 2.

2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

By building, developing and putting on these layers of Godly character, we will become partakers of God’s divine nature.

And we will be LIKE Him!

And at His glorious and triumphant return, we will be instantaneously transformed from mortal flesh to immortal spirit.

And we will see Him as He is.

Look at verse 3.

3 And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

This hope is not some pipe-dream, fantasy, happily-ever-after fairy tale.

Our hope is real.

Because God says so.

And God says what He means. And He means what He says.

And we believe Him.

So because we have this hope in us, we obey God.

We submit to His will and not ours.

We go His way and not ours.

We keep ourselves pure and unspotted from the ways of the world.

We aspire to a life of virtue and moral excellence every single day of our lives.

Our language is kind and gentle.

Our conduct and behavior honest, noble and upright. Without even the appearance of impropriety.

Living God’s way of virtue and moral excellence requires us to stand our ground.

Be bold, strong and of good courage.

Regardless of the intense pressures to conform to the ways of the world.

Looking to God to help us stay firm and unshakeable.

And He will.

Although there is so much chaos, turmoil, trouble and upheaval in the world, we have this hope from God Himself.

Not an empty hope.

But, a living, dynamic and magnificent hope that God Himself has promised.

From the very beginning, God intended to reproduce Himself.

A glorious purpose He has revealed to His Church.

His called-out ones.

And eventually to all of mankind.

Please turn to Jeremiah chapter 29 and verse 11. From the New King James Version.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil [or disaster], to give you a future and a hope.

God wants us to develop and cultivate the same holy, righteous, godly character He has.

He is not going to force us to do it.

We must yield to Him and freely choose to go HIS way, adding layer after layer of HIS holy, perfect character.
And God will then fashion us in HIS own image and likeness to become partakers of His divine nature.

Members of the Family of God!

THIS is our GREATEST hope!

This is Ross Abasolo with the Constant Church of God.

Join us again next time to hear more about what the Bible actually says!