Eternal hope
When we talk about hope, many think it to be some indefinite, wishful thinking, such as saying: “I hope so”. But it is much more than that. According to I Corinthians 13.13, hope is one of the qualities that will endure forever. It is more than just an expectation of eternal reward, but rather a positive mindset. Hope is based on the fact that God is Good. This mindset allows no negative thoughts to create a place for doubts or fears. Just as God is Love, God is Hope. Just as there is no fear in Love, there is no fear in Hope. Hope is focusing our mind on things that are above. It is seeing ourselves above the circumstances of life; seated with Christ in heavenly places. Hope is the mindset of Christ. It is the helmet of our salvation.
Hope is only for those who are in Christ. (Ephesians 2.12) Hopelessness is a life dominated by the fear of death. It is a life centered on temporal pleasures and selfish ambitions. In this sense, hope is reduced to a wish of a better life, but not believing that it will ever come about. It is like playing the lottery; one daydreams of being rich with no certainty that it will ever happen. This temporal view of hope is easily deferred, which results in disappointment and despair. (Prov. 13.12) Hope, for those who are in Christ, is quite different. It is the very foundation of faith. Faith is: “the assurance, (certainty), of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb. 11.1) No one can have faith, when they are bound by fear. No one can believe in God, when their mind is set on the things of this world.
Hope is seeing the end from the beginning. It is having a vision for the future that is not determined by space and time. Faith then takes what is hoped for and brings it into space and time. It is calling that which is not as though it were. (Rom. 4.17) With a hope set before us we can endure the pressures and problems of life. Instead of them becoming roadblocks they are opportunities for more faith. Instead of stumbling stones they become building stones. Hopelessness, panickily, seeks for detours, whereas with hope, one rises to the challenge. Jesus embraced the cross, because of the hope that was set before Him. (Heb. 12.2) Hope gave Him the courage to endure suffering and hope will also strengthen each one of us in our darkest hour.
Hope is given to us by grace. It is not a result of our own vain imaginations. Hope comes from God. With hope, God strengthens us for every good work. (II Thes. 2.16) He sets our eyes on eternal rewards rather than temporal expectations. Through His hope we gain purpose, by His faith fruitfulness and by His love motivation. These three, (hope, faith and love), are eternal. The psalmist saw his hope as coming from the Lord and even said to the Lord: “You are my hope”. (Ps. 71.5)
We need to be careful of the little foxes that spoil the vine; the little worries of life that get our eyes of Christ. This thief, who comes to rob, kill and destroy, is after your hope. (John 10.10) The enemy knows how important hope is, so we need to guard our minds from all anxiety and fear. Set your mind on things that are above. Set it on the hope that is before you.
Scriptures to meditate on:
I Cor. 13.13; Rom. 12.12; Heb. 10.23; 11.1; 12.2; Eph. 6.17; Tito 3.7; I Thes. 5.8