HOPE

“HOPE”

Here is how Webster’s dictionary defines hope: HOPE, n. A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. Hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.” How many times have we sat around thinking we were hoping for something when actually we were wishing for something we want to possess or wanted a certain event to take place in our lives. God’s Word has a lot to say about hope [the word “hope” occurs 129 times in 121 verses]; let’s look at as much as space will allow.

If you are a Christian where should your hope be? IN GOD: (Psa 39:7) "And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee." (1 Pet 1:21) "Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." For those of us who are Christians we have no problem in placing our hope in God. Yes, we believe in God and we believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. Yes we believe that God has glorified Jesus Christ by raising him from the grave and our “faith and hope” is in God.

Paul not only had “hope” in God, he also had “hope” in Jesus Christ; (1 Tim 1:1) "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;" Paul’s “hope” in Christ went beyond the life he was presently living; Paul’s “hope” extended to heaven. Paul knew that Christ had gone to prepare and eternal home for him and that Christ would come again to receive him “unto himself” [Jn. 14:2]. This is the “hope” that Paul had; do you share this “hope” with him?

Do you have “hope” that God will keep His promise to give us salvation? From the time of man’s first sin in the Garden of Eden the remainder of the Bible is written to inform us that God will keep His promise to save us. Are you aware that it was God’s intention to save mankind even before the world began? (Titus 1:2) "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;" Knowing that God “cannot lie” is what gives us our hope. We can feel assured that God will keep His promise. Brethren, we should never forget that this is made possible through the “mercy” of God: (Psa 33:18) "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;" Nor should we ever forget that we obtain this hope through the “grace” of God: (2 Thess. 2:16) "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace," How do we learn about this “hope”? It is through the word of God that we become aware of the Christian “hope”; (Psa 119:81) “My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word."

Perhaps you would like to strengthen your “hope”; can this be done? Paul has a few words of advice for us which I believe would be beneficial to help us strengthen our hope: (Rom 15:4) "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." The word “patience” and the practice of “patience” is a virtue and it could be difficult for some to attain, however, if we but remember that God will keep His promise and that God “cannot lie” it will become much easier for us to strengthen our “hope”. Another help is the gospel: (Col 1:23) "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" Our hope lies in the gospel; that being true I would like to suggest that you don’t forsake any opportunity to hear the gospel [whether it be Bible classes or sermons]. Another suggestion is to study your Bible. All too often Bibles have to be dusted off before you carry them on Sunday morning.

We can have hope! Hope that God will keep His promises. Hope of spending eternity in heaven. How much hope do you have?