Thoughts From Romans 15 - Part 3

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 15:13

              In Andor Season 1, Andor is sent to a prison camp where he and his team of inmates are forced to make parts for Empire ships. There were quotas with competitiveness and rewards, so the Empire was trying to cover the "having a purpose" need that is in everyone. The also incorporated the need for friendship and human interaction that everyone needs. The other thing that everyone needs is hope. They were given the false illusion that they were going to be freed but one day, it came out that no one is ever freed, they are just transferred to other prisons. When this came out, people were willing to risk death and a number died to stage a revolt because people can't live without hope.

           That being said, without an afterlife, there is no hope. That's why such a small percent of the population are atheists because religion offers hope. Karl Marx called it the "opiate of the masses" because if people have hope, they can tolerate a miserable existence. Of all the religions, Christianity offers true hope - John writes, "These are written that you may know that you have eternal life". We can know that we will live forever in Heaven not because of anything we've done, because frankly we can be as bad as we are good, but because of what Jesus has done on our behalf. The only other religion that offers true hope caused 9/11. Islam says that if you die in Jihad you will go directly to Heaven with numerous virgins at your disposal. Which faith seems more acceptable?

          So how do non-believers go through life without hope? I have no idea. Maybe they try to repress it. Maybe they find their meaning in their kids and grandkids with hope for a better tomorrow. Maybe they think that when they die they will probably go on to Heaven because they can always find a person that is worse than them. But I do think that this is a way to reach people for the gospel. Play the "what then" game. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? What then? What then? What then? What then? What then? It finally ends up that you die and then the last question is What then? Make them think about hope. Will they ever be free or are they stuck in this prison until death?