Hope, as a word, can be intriguing in many ways, especially as to the applied objective. A person may place their hope in a lottery ticket. Chances are slim that their dreams of being financially secure will materialize using this method, but the opportunities abound with the seemingly endless supply of tickets. Hope becomes diminished simply because of the objective it is therein placed. The number of things we place our hope in are as varied as well as the chances of realized expectations. Serious considerations, should abound. One might hope to retire at a certain age, but just as easily could be squashed by circumstances he or she can't control. Still, we all have a tendency to cling to hope of one kind or another.
To hope or to succumb to hopelessness seems to be a relevant issue in life and it's causing me to rethink where my hope may be misplaced. After all, at this point in life, things considered not, seem to be slipping off the back burner. Life, has not dismayed me, but there are things that need to be finalized. As I'm saying this, I find myself hoping. Hope seems to envelop just about every corner of my life, and that has led me to doing this biblical study of hope. As I was doing this I found out that "hope" is the helmet of salvation.
But let us, who are of the day, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ 1st Thessalonians 5:8-9
The truth revealed here is that hope becomes the realization that the import of where hope is placed "rules the day." The next question that arises is how do we get to that realization.
"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? Romans 10:14
This question Paul poses is often overlooked. What we always hear is, "Call on the Lord and you will be saved." The sequence overlooked is; belief, which leads to faith, which leads to confession, which leads to repentance, which culminates in the Hope we cling to. This may sound like I'm placing my hope in hope. I'm not! My hope is in the person of Jesus the Christ and the work of the cross. Oh, how audacious that sounds. So, what's the point in all this hoping and where does it lead. If it's not to righteousness; you're probably satisfied with saying your sinners prayer and getting baptized.
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3
We don't think to much about purity these days. If this hope doesn't lead in this direction, you're probably satisfied with saying your sinners prayer and getting baptized.
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7
Being justified by His grace pretty much slams the door on any work that we could have done to obtain salvation; and after we see the impossibility of doing this on our own, this hope remains steadfast and faith in Jesus becomes the rock on which we stand.
Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Psalm 119:116
Hope, at some point, should impact on where our consideration and direction joins with belief and the resulting faith it imparts. My hope comes from God. What more do we need if we truly believe God to be faithful?
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given us. Romans 5:1-5
The adequacy of our hope is not impugned by the simplicity in which we receive it from our Lord. Hope becomes the burning catalyst of our faith given by the very word of God. We, on our part have to be faithful. Creeds and works won't save you. Job taught us that. Trust in the living Word that imparts the faith we have unto hope.
And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6: 11-12
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope; by which we draw nigh unto God. Hebrews 7:19
And now abideth faith, hope, charity,these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1st Corinthians 13:13
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Galatians: 5:5
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope. Romans 8:24
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, our hope; 1st Timothy 1:1
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house we are, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Hebrews 3:6
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works, yet now he hath reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard, which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; where of I Paul am made a minister; Colossians 1:23
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. 1st Peter:1-23
I recommend re-reading the above scriptures in context with those preceding and following for a firmer grasp of this hope God has, through grace, so graciously gifted us with. Audacity and adequacy are strange bedfellows; but never donned better in the searching out of God's precious gift of hope, through Christ, a living risen Saviour and redeemer. The man that places his hope of riches by the purchasing of a lottery ticket does indeed understand the nature of hope. Still, if he were to win, he's destined to lose without the hope vested in the Lord. I do know many who would be willing to give it a try even though it's nature is fleeting. Money promises a security that is rarely realized and leaves ones life riddled with unforeseen pitfalls and still; I'm guessing many would love to see this for themselves forgetting that what has real value is unseen. Life, for me, has left me wanting for treasures not found in things but relationship. Good friends and family, a best friend [my wife], and my bestest friend, [Father Son and Holy Spirit] fill my life with true joy and real hope for a real life in eternity. I truly hope, your hope, finds itself basking in truth and life.
Forget the lottery tickets and direct your hope in the direction that leads to a life affirming relationship with the one that conquered death and the hapless hopes of this world.
