For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Romans 8:23
We use the word hope a lot. I hope to one day travel to Italy. I hope my daughter marries the right person. We hope the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl. I hope I get a good grade on the test. I hope our house sells for what it’s worth. These are more like wishes and dreams than what the Bible calls “hope.”
Don’t put your hope in circumstances.
The Bible says you can have “vain hope.” Vain hope is when we place our hope in a circumstance or a person. That is always a wobbly foundation for Biblical hope. God may not show up the way you think he should, and people may let you down.
I believe we can even mistakenly put our hope in good things that are the wrong hope. We can hope for revival. That’s a good thing, but the wrong hope. We can hope for change by electing the right candidate or for the healing of a loved one. Again, these aren’t wrong to desire, but they are not the source of our “hope.”
Our hope source is God’s character.
Biblical hope is built on the immovable foundation of God’s character. Psalm 33:18-19 says, “the eyes of the Lord are on those…whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death.” God’s faithful love is unchanging. He has proven his goodness, and he promises to never abandon us. God may not rescue us from afflictions and suffering (yet), but he promises to walk with us through every fire and flood. His faithful, loving companionship is steadfast. That is your hope.
Our hope is in what Jesus has already done.
God has proven, once and for all, his faithful love. If my heart is genuinely inclined toward him, my inadequacies, sins, and incompetencies can never disconnect me from relationship with my heavenly Father. His patience and compassion towards us is steadfast. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That is a fact of history no one can steal. God is not dissatisfied with you because of your failures. He calls you his child and invites you into his joy and friendship.
Our hope is in the eternal reality to come.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as a promise to the ages that no matter how terrific our sin, decay, and destruction, God’s goodness has the final word. Here’s an excerpt from the last book of the Bible (Revelation 21:1,3-5).
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ’Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new!’"
That is the immovable hope of the Church. Your Father is bigger than your failures. Bigger than a world of failure. He is making all things new according to his faithful love. Don’t get discouraged in the moment. Your hope isn’t in the present circumstance changing for the better, but rather in the unshakable future redemption promised by God! For an eternity after, nothing will separate you from the perfection of God’s enduring love.
Tags: resurrection, hope, trials, eternal life, circumstances, god's steadfast love, vain hope
