HOPE TOWARD GOD – Acts 24:15
Acts 24:15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Where is your hope? Where is your expectation? Are you relying upon your own strength; or are you relying upon God? It is easy to say that you are relying upon God, but does your life demonstrate that you are living in accordance with his principles?
Paul not only said that his hope was in God, but he actually lived his life in accordance with this principle. Throughout the book of Acts, you see how Paul puts all his trust in God. Paul does not expect man to save him from all his troubles. Paul faced many trials, but doing the perfect will of God was always the top priority of Paul.
Even the religious leaders had their hope in God. They were waiting for the day when the Messiah would come and would deliver them from the bondage of the Romans. They were not relying upon their own strength, but they understood that it was God who directed the steps of the country. They knew that God started the nation of Israel from a promise made to Abraham, and because of that promise, they claimed to trust God.
Nonetheless, even though they claimed to put their hope in God, because their hearts were not pure towards God, they actually missed that which they had set their expectations upon. The religious leaders had a false perception of the Messiah and as such, their Messiah came and they crucified HIM. They destroyed that which they so anxiously hoped for.
The children of this world place their hope in their own power, prestige, and prosperity. However, you must place your hope in things of God. Those who do that which is right in their own eyes will face the judgment of God and they will be accountable for their action. Because you choose to hope in God and live according to HIS standards, you will spend eternity in heaven. Heaven is your future home, and living with God for eternity should be all the motivation that you need to live your life here on earth in accordance with HIS principles.
There will be times in your life where you are forced to make hard decisions. Solomon was asked of God what he desired. Solomon did not respond as most would respond and ask for things that we can consume; instead Solomon asked for wisdom to help to do the job that God had assigned to him. Solomon understood that God had selected him to guide the nation of Israel. Solomon understood that it did not matter what others thought of him; that it was God who he needed to serve and it was God that he needed to please. Solomon never would have asked for wisdom except he was living his life with his expectation from God.
It is very easy to become entangled by the things of this world. Satan is constantly trying to use the things of this world to distract you from pursuing the things of God. If your hope is in God, then the most important thing to you will be the praises of God and not the praises of man.
When you diligently add knowledge to your life, you learn what is important to God. The closer you are to God, the more you will live your life as God desires you to live. Knowledge of the ways of God should cause you to desire to please HIM and to live according to HIS principles. How can you live for God if you do not first take the time to understand who HE is? How can you have true contentment in life if you do not know the source of contentment? Put your hope in God, do not allow yourself to rely upon the things of this world.