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Hope is one of the three abiding graces mentioned by the apostle Paul in I Corinthians 13: 13 – “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”  “Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (I Pet. 3: 15; Heb. 10: 23)” – Easton.

In the Old Testament, the psalmist spoke much about his hope in God.  In the midst of life’s trials, he asked, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?” (Ps. 42a).  As he waited upon the Lord, his faith was strengthened; triumphantly, he proclaimed, “…. hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”  It was his hope in God that sustained the psalmist in his time of need.

In the New Testament, the blessed hope of the believer is founded upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Pet. 1: 3).  The word “lively” means “living.”  It is not a speculative or vain hope but one that is active, vibrant and powerful.  Because our Saviour rose from the dead, we are assured that we will also rise with Him.  This is the blessed hope of every believer.  “The hope of eternal life in a true Christian is a hope that keeps him alive, quickens him, supports him, and conducts him to Heaven.  Hope invigorates and spirits up the soul to action, to patience, to fortitude, and perseverance to the end” – Matthew Henry. 

What other qualities of “hope” can we glean from Scripture?

o “Hope maketh not ashamed” 
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh 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 unto us” (Rom. 5: 3-5).

This blessed hope will not disappoint or deceive, but will be realised:   “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15: 4).  What we hope for, we shall obtain (Philp. 1: 20) because it is sealed by the Holy Spirit Who graciously sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts. 

o Hope sustains the soul in the midst of trials

Hope keeps the suffering saint stedfast in faith as he clings to the promises of Scripture.  The afflicted soul rests in God’s sovereignty and humbly bows before His will.  As he faced life’s adversities, the psalmist could confidently declare,  “Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Ps. 4: 7-8).

o Hope is the soul’s sure anchor
“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; Whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (Heb. 6: 18-20).

Albert Barnes comments: “Hope accomplishes for the soul the same thing which an anchor does for a ship.  It makes it fast and secure.  An anchor preserves a ship when the waves beat and the wind blows; and as long as the anchor holds, so long a ship is safe, and the mariner apprehends no danger.  So with the soul of the Christian.  In the tempests and trials of life, his mind is calm as long as his hope of heaven is firm.  If that gives way, he feels that all is lost.”

o Hope inspires to holy living
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure” (I Jn. 3: 3). 

Every true Christian has this hope of seeing the Saviour and of being made conformable unto Him.  Motivated by this blessed hope, the believer makes earnest efforts to live a holy life.  Daily he strives against his fleshly lusts and sinful tendencies.  The end result is Christlikeness.

o Hope cheers the saint’s final hour
“The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death” (Prov. 14: 32)

The wicked, under the guilt and bondage of his sins, dies unjustified and unsanctified (Job 27: 8; Eph. 2: 12).  On the other hand, the believer, having the grace of hope in him, finds comfort as he walks through the valley of the shadow of death: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (I Cor. 15: 55).  He awakes to the glorious reality of seeing his Saviour face to face.

o Hope looks forward to an eternal heavenly inheritance
We have “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (I Pet. 1: 4).

On that glorious day, the soul will be made perfect and the body made fit to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light (Col. 1: 12).  How joyous will be that meeting with our Lord in our heavenly Home “where there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Rev. 21: 4).

o Hope looks forward to Christ’s coming
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2: 13).

Soon, the Lord will return for His redeemed people. The signs of the times are upon us.  While we wait expectantly for that happy day, let us live soberly and be faithful to do the Lord’s will.  Let us also occupy ourselves meaningfully as we await the coming of our Lord.  Yes, Christ in us, the Hope of glory (Col. 1: 27).  Amen.                           

- Pastor