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One of my favorite Christian songs right now is called "I Have This Hope" by Tenth Avenue North.  Its a song that reminds me that - as I walk through the unknown, even as questions come and go, that I can rest in the hope that I have in Jesus Christ. 

This song asks questions like "Was there purpose for the pain?  Did I cry these tears in vain?".  Every one of us ask these kinds of questions on a pretty regular basis.  And what I have discovered over my 35+ years of being a Christian is that I have this hope in Jesus Christ, that whether I experience triumph or tragedy that He is my hope.  It's a hope that is deep within me that no one can take away. 

A couple of weeks ago my family and I toured the Ohio Reformatory, which was the filming location for the movie Shawshank Redemption.  In the movie the character Andy Dufresne sits down in the mess hall after spending 2 months in solitary confinement.  When asked how it went?  He mentioned that losing his freedom to move about for two months was difficult but there was no way that his hope could be taken away.  He mentioned music that still played within his heart that no one could take away.  He spoke of the hope within his heart that no one could touch.  Andy's friend Red, played by Morgan Freeman, was dumbfounded as he listened to Andy speak.  Red didnt have the hope that Andy enjoyed.  Two men in the same physical prison, one had hope and one did not. 

Over time Andy's mindset, words and friendship with Red began to create a shift in Reds' thinking.  And by the end of the movie Andy's hope of being freed from prison was realized and Red got to experience freedom as well.  One man had hope, he shared with a friend and the result was two men living with hope and in the end they were both in a wonderful paradise called Zihuatenejo.  Both men experienced "Redemption" because of the hope that was within them. 

"I have this hope" Chorus...

I have this hope, from the depth of my soul

In the flood or the fire, You're with me and You won't let go.

If you are a hopeful person, what is the object of your hope?  Is it your family, your job, your health, your bank account?  If your hope is in anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ then you are going to be severely disappointed. 

Our hope needs to be in Jesus Christ and in Him alone.  The writer of Hebrews in chapter 6:7 shares this very word with us "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul". 

Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal savior?  Do you have this hope?  The hope that He offers through the free pardon of sin.  If not call on the name of Jesus today, believe that He died for your sins and rose from the dead, call on him and ask him to save you.