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Hope is an essential ingredient in a positive attitude. It reaches down to the discouraged and lifts them from the pit of despair. Hope enables
people to walk again in the high path of possibilities yet to be; therefore it is a most blessed word and beneficial subject.
Our world today desperately needs more hope. In our affluent society most people have adequate food and clothing, yet there is a shortage
of hope. Among other nations which are not so affluent, there are fewer necessities and even less hope. With all man's inventions and
ingenuity, we have not yet solved our problems. Within our nation there are many problems which plague us in spite of our prosperity.
We face the threat of nuclear war, sometimes feel the effects of a shaky economy, and are made afraid by the rampant violence and crime
which fill the land. In the midst of all the problems, we have pursued solutions, pleaded with government, and probed our very heart and
soul for the remedy. Though our standard of living is high, our hopes are not; therefore we need to search the Bible to discover all we can
about this most precious commodity called hope. As we look at the Scriptures with regard to hope, we discover that the hopes of the
righteous and those of wicked are not the same. Solomon said, "The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the
wicked shall perish" (Prov. 10:28).It is obvious that not only are their hopes different, but the end results are also. This may be an oversimplification,
but the wicked get worse and hope not to get caught, while the righteous see their flaws and hope to be better; therefore
some hope for what they can get while others hope for what they can become. Some of you may have already discovered that your hopes
are different from the hope of others. Perhaps the real difference lies in the one upon whom we rest our hopes - self or God.
Even though there are many different kinds of hope present in this world, I want to focus on the Christian's hope. The Christian may
express a variety of hopes; but they generally have one common denominator; they are anchored in God. The writer of Hebrews
proposed the idea that hope is an anchor. He said, "Wherein in God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the
immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might
have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul,
both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil" (Heb. 6:17-19).The anchor of a ship reaches down beneath the surface
of the water to the unseen rocks beneath and thereby securely holds the vessel. Even so our anchor of hope securely holds us amidst the
storms of life, but it reaches up to God and holds us to the unseen. David, the Psalmist of Israel, expressed his hope in God in Psalm 42:5,
"Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of
his countenance." Today the Christian hopes in the same eternal God in whom David hoped. Because of His word and His oath, He cannot
lie; therefore our anchor holds secure in God. As Christians who hope in God, we can easily understand why the ancient symbol of hope
was an anchor.
Those who hope in God can do so with regard to this life and the life hereafter. Whether in time or endless eternity, God is able to meet
our needs. The Jews once divided time into two parts: the present age, and the ages to come. Outside of God, there is no hope for this
present age or any yet to come. The staggering effects of sin afford us little hope for the present or future of man. Our world is a dying
world, with every cemetery and tombstone reminding us that this world is filled with death and decay. Nevertheless, there is a God
who rules and reigns in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth (Dan. 4:35); therefore, the Christian has a hope in God.
He can hope both in life and death, for all time and eternity. The eyes of hope have the remarkable ability to look in two directions
at the same time. One eye of hope looks now at a God who can affect all things in this world and work them out for our good (Rom.
8:28),but the other eye of hope looks at the power of God and eternity.
The Christian's hope can be accurately described as a "blessed hope." Paul said that we are "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). Such hope is founded upon Christ, who suffered, bled, and died for
our sins, thereby saving all the elect of God. Though founded upon an act of grace in the past, it continues to view the future with full
expectation that Jesus will come again and we shall then enjoy His blessed presence in glory. What greater hope can the Christian
experience?The second coming of Jesus is the event that Paul declared all creation to be waiting for (Rom. 8:22~23).He added, "For we are
saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not,
then do we with patience wait for it" (Rom. 8:24~25).Thus the Christian hopes for what is to be. Because we do not now possess
all we want or, want to be, we patiently hope and wait upon God.
Having glanced at the concept of Christian hope, we should have discovered something of vital importance about hope. Hope is a
miraculous mixture of two ingredients: expectation and desire. It is then something that you both desire and expect to receive.
Because of the nature of hope, people often refer to salvation as a hope. Have you ever heard anyone say, "I hope I am saved"? It
is true that by the Scriptures we can know that we have eternal life (l John 5:13; 1 John 3:14), yet such knowledge does not dispose of
hope. Paul wrote these words, "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began..." (Titus 1:2).There
is a noticeable difference between knowledge and hope. There are some things which we may know and yet not hope for; while there
are other things we may hope for and not yet know. I know I will die unless Jesus comes first, but I am not hoping to die. On the other
hand, some people are so diseased and disabled that they hope to die soon, but as yet they do not know the experience for which they
hope. But with regard to salvation, we can enjoy both.
Because hope is both desire and expectation, it is not merely fantasy or imagination. Sometimes people think of hope in terms of wanting
something or dreaming about having something, but they have no confidence in the fantasy for it seems too impossible. Hope on the
other hand binds the objects with the ropes of reality, and desiring the blessing, they expect that they will receive it in God's good time.
Jeremiah said, "It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord" (Lam. 3:26).
We may feel we know we are saved, but all the benefits of salvation are not yet enjoyed by us; so we may hope for that which is yet to
be enjoyed. I believe that it is most beneficial for us to both know and hope. Salvation is not an either-or situation (to know or hope)
for it should be both. I know what God has done, but I also have hope in what He is yet to do.
By now you should have discovered some of the benefits of hope. Yet with all that I have presented, I have only begun to explore the
subject. The Bible has much more to say with regard to hope, and I shall at this point share with you some additional scriptural references
for you to read: (1)Job said there is security in hope Gob 11:18); (2) David said there is also rest in hope (Ps. 16:9); (3)We can hope for
both mercy and redemption (Ps. 33:18,19); We have a hope through grace (2 Thes. 2:16); and hope brings happiness to life (Ps. 146:5).
I regard hope as a very special blessing for which I am thankful to God. I trust that your awareness of hope has been increased and that
you will have a greater appreciation for it in the future. Even though it is a small word, it holds a rather large position of importance,
especially to the believer. Hope helps us to face the trials and disappointments of life,by reassuring us that God will help us thus enabling
us to believe that better times will come. Even when we are weary and worn with worry, a new surge of strength bursts forth as our
hope rises. Thank God, hope helps!
When you share your hope with others, you communicate the eager expectations of your soul. Endeavor to express them in such a way
that you arouse hope in others and acknowledge the goodness of the Lord. Hope shared is help given, and with our giving to others, let
us also give glory to God. Without Him we have no reason to hope; therefore, let hope be our motivation to greater service in His kingdom.
Keep in mind that thanksgiving leads to "thanksliving." If you are truly grateful for this immeasurable blessing of hope, then live a life
that manifests your gratitude by magnifying your God.
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