Where Hope Is Found

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,

set your hearts on things above, where Christ is,

seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

(from Colossians 3:1-4)

Every once in a while, I’ll ponder the desire to purchase a new laptop which mans I’ll go to Consumer Reports for their evaluations.

Then I discover laptops of all types with all sorts of internal data I know nothing about ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousands.

At this point my thrifty inner self says, “Do you really need that?” You have a good computer and smartphone.

Life in the “earthly things”, our secular age, is about looking to our concrete, material accomplishments for satisfaction, without expecting God to be part of their lives.

Sooner or later, it seems, we’ll be asking “what’s the point?”

So, I have the latest, newest, or best laptop, is it as meaningful as I’d hoped?

If it’s not, what significance is there in our daily routine, relationships, and even our lives?

Where’s the hope?

What I understand Paul to be saying is when you “Set your minds on things above” you are trusting in God’s promises.

Hope is in God promise that when we are striving but failing to find meaning in our efforts, God is there.

Hope is when God is with us as we blunder through the “things below” and then using them for some greater good.

Hope means it doesn’t matter how deep the pain or suffering; no tear shed, no frustration, hurt, or loss, no tragedy –is ignored or unnoticed by God.

Paul says that this kind of hope does not disappoint.