Scripture Reading: • Romans 8:22-25 NKJV For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. [23] Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. [24] For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. • 1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Hope is a difficult concept to define. Just ask someone to define “hope” without using the word hope or any derivative thereof. Many people think of hope as wishful thinking. We wish for a certain outcome in the face of a crisis. We wish for the challenges of life to become less challenging. Sometimes we wish that all of our troubles would simply go away. (Can I get a witness?) But Biblical hope is more than wishful thinking. The Apostle Paul reminds us that the three greatest virtues of the Christian faith are “faith, hope and love;” with love being the greatest of all. This places hope in the middle of some powerful company. Having an understanding concerning hope and hope’s role in our lives is crucial. Let me try to explain my view of hope. Hope is different than faith because faith has substance. (Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen) What is the substance of faith? It is “assurance.” The assurance that the things we hope for “will” come to pass. So…what is hope? In general, hope is desiring a positive outcome—an outcome that is working in our favor. Biblical hope is a step beyond this: Biblical hope is desiring a positive outcome while trusting in the good character of God. Perhaps the greatest hope verse in all of the Bible is Romans 8:28: “All things work together for the good of them that love God and are called according to His purpose.” According to the words of the Apostle Peter, our hope is based on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Let me remind you: Jesus Christ, the One who conquered death, hell and the grave. Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life. Even as a young child—as far back as I can remember—I carried with me a sense of well-being. This sense of well-being was based on the goodness of God. For that reason, I was always convinced that life would work out for my good—that even when I lost, or had a setback, I would ultimately end up in the winner’s circle. This hope was not based on my ability to make things work in my favor, it was anchored in the good character of God. My hope can be boiled down to this simple formula: “God loves me, and I love God”—and it has resulted in a life filled with hope!
1 Comment
Carol Silva
2/14/2024 08:54:39 am
Thank you. I needed to read this today.
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