Hope
I hear every day from our culture and sometimes from those in Christ about how terrible the world is and how hopelessness abounds. I know that to the world, the word hope means only a wish or desire, but that is not the biblical definition of hope. Biblically, hope is an anticipation and expectation of something good. It is sure confidence. Hope is held out in the gospel.
“Christ in you is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
The need for hope is seen all around us. Gambling offers false hope. Sickness and depression can lead to losing hope. Suicide is the reality of hopelessness. Negative and discouraging talk is used to quash the hope you have for a better life. We cannot create hope, but we can find it in Christ. As the old song says,
“My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…”.
However, there are enemies and obstacles to hope, such as losing focus. Like Peter who walked on water full of hope in Jesus, he lost his focus when looking at the waves and the storm. Do the storms and circumstances of this life distract you, too?
Sometimes it’s our personal failures and defeats that steal our hope. We wrestle with weaknesses over and over again, we make vows only to break them, and our character flaws never seem to improve. This leads us to think things will never get better.
What we don’t realize is that it’s not our love for God but His unfailing love for us that gives us hope. Our hope is centered on his faithfulness, not ours. God has the power to fulfill his promises and the faithfulness to provide for his children. God’s word was written to give us hope. Consider these verses:
Romans 15:4: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.”
Hebrews 6:19: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…”
Hebrews 10:23: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Romans 5:2: “…and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God,”
Romans 5:5: “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”
I am concerned that the anxiousness of the culture has bled over into the hearts of believers. Disciples are the very ones who should be giving hope to the world through the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Politics will provide you no hope. Our legal system will provide you no hope. Success will provide you no hope. The only solid hope for this life and the life to come is the story of Jesus. You and I cannot labor our way into having hope, because hope is a gift to be received from God through Christ.
My hope is not in my ability to be holy, but it is in the ability and faithfulness of God who offered His holy son for me. Do not be overtaken by the storms or troubles around you—walk on top of them. Get out of the boat with your eyes on Jesus, the hope of glory.
Romans 15:13: “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.”