The Bible in our opening scripture says, "remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ..." (1 Thessalonians 1:3). There's a work of faith. Faith comes first because it is the beginning of any Christian work. Then it says, "patience of hope". Patience is necessary to achieve this hope; without it, one cannot finish God's work. Trials will come to make him walk away. Ask Abraham, Joseph in prison, or David in the wilderness after being anointed—none saw their thrones immediately. The anointing brings problems before blessings. Between problems and blessings, there is patience—a walk of faith.

But the Bible tells us, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God...hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope..." (2 Thessalonians 2:16). This is eternal hope—the expectation of Heaven. You are supposed to have this expectation even in your evangelism and missionary work. Those who shook the world with the Gospel, but did not have this hope, did not finish well.

Think about your missionary work. What is on your heart? What is on your mind when you serve? How can you do evangelism without the thought of Heaven, without hope, without the joy of seeing what lies ahead? Without hope, circumstances will make you stop, discouragement will set in, and challenges will overwhelm you. Faith is good, but hope is greater. Faith is about the now; hope is about the future. While love is greatest, a man with hope is stronger than one with faith alone.

The Bible says God has given us everlasting consolation and good hope.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 says, "...let us who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation". Again, it talks about the hope of salvation.

The Bible, referring to when a Christian dies says, "...I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope" (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Handling trials, losses, and even the death of loved ones show how mature a Christian is. There is no reason to grieve as if they are lost sinners. Any Christian who has died went to a better place than where we are now. A mature Christian rejoices, even though we may miss them. To cry endlessly shows a lack of understanding. Where that Christian is now is where we all want to go. Who wants to remain here?

Hope keeps you standing and focused. Hope ensures you stay faithful, patient, committed, and joyful, no matter the pressure, because what lies ahead is far greater than what is behind. Hold fast to this hope, keep your eyes on God's promised future, let Heaven motivate your work, let eternity strengthen your walk, and let your daily service be fueled by this hope that cannot fail.