What is Hope?

My friend Mike asked me last night why the Bible used the word “hope” so often. We were specifically looking at Colossians 1:27 which reads To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. As I’ve considered it for a good part of today, a question has continued to nag me. Why does my understanding of the word hope involve wishful thinking or crossing my fingers “hoping” that something will happen? Isn’t that how the word hope has come to be used in conversation? “I hope that it doesn’t rain today” or “I hope my friend doesn’t get mad at me for that.”

I believe this is grounds for concern because the true definition of hope and especially how it is used in Scripture does not have the slightest hint of wishful thinking. The hope that God speaks of throughout Scripture is more than an expectation. It is a guarantee of what is to come! There is no doubt about it. When our hope is in Christ, we can be sure that we will see His face and be welcomed into His Kingdom.

Let’s take a look at Scripture and see specifically how “hope” is used in God’s Word.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

The writer of Hebrews is describing our faith as assurance and conviction of things not seen and things that have yet to take place. The correlation of faith and hope is amazing to think about. As we have a clearer picture of our hope, our faith grows. As God convicts us as to His coming glory, we are more able to walk by faith and trust God. When our hope is in Jesus Christ, what is left to do but step out by faith and expect God to use us and guide us?

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end.
Hebrews 6:11

The hope that the writer of Hebrews is describing is that of salvation. He is writing to encourage the Hebrews to take hold of the full assurance of salvation and know that the payment has already been made. The hope of eternal life is ours to live now by the Spirit of Truth. We continue to press on towards the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus holding true to what we have already attained because of the Cross. We must be eager to share this hope with the world and continue to proclaim that Jesus Christ alone is the way, the truth, and the life! The writer of Hebrews is encouraging the body of Christ to hold fast to the hope until the end. Don’t waiver but remain steadfast in hope because we are already victorious.

So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf...
Hebrews 6:17-20a

Isn’t it amazing that God Himself made an oath with the heirs of the promise? If there was any doubt among God’s people, God squashed it. Our loving and merciful Father ensured that we would have no reason to question the hope we have in Jesus Christ. He is faithful even when we are not because He cannot deny Himself. Our hope is more secure than the multi-ton anchors that U.S. Naval ships use! We can be sure that when we stand before God Almighty, Christ has secured us with His own righteousness to the praise and glory of God.

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who believe.
1 Timothy 4:10

Why should we toil and strive for godliness? Because Jesus Christ is our hope. He who was tempted in every way imaginable and still remained sinless. Why should we aspire to the unattainable? Because Christ has attained it for us. How much is that knowledge worth to us? To me, it is priceless. There is nothing more important than Christ and knowing Him. We must all toil, strain, strive, and press on towards godliness. It is the only legitimate response to the hope that God has blessed us with!

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans 8:24,25

Romans 8 is all about the celebration that we who are in Christ are free from condemnation. The hope referred to above is the hope that all creation would be set free from the bondage of sin and gain freedom as children of God (v. 20,21). We were saved because of God’s loving decree that Jesus would pay the price for our sins so that we may become righteous in God’s eyes. What a great promise. What a great hope!

I can’t help but ask myself how I’m doing with the last part of verse 25. Am I awaiting Christ with patience? Am I enduring the momentary struggles with my flesh, the world, and Satan with patience? Am I loving my enemies? Am I focusing on the founder and finisher of my faith, Jesus Christ, or am I focusing on me? Hebrews 12 tells us that Jesus patiently endured the Cross for the joy that was set before Him. I can’t imagine exhibiting patience in a time like that. But Jesus did and He did it joyfully because of how much He loves us! Amazing.

So what is hope? God defines hope as a guarantee. It’s a sure thing. It’s a done deal. How are we doing at living confidently in the promises of God? Do we believe that Jesus is coming back? If we do, how is it affecting our lives? Are we doing what the Bible tells us to do? Don’t be fooled. If we believe that God’s promises are unchanging, we will live like it.

Let’s get busy showing our faith in the hope of Jesus Christ by our works! There is only one adequate response when we confess Christ as Lord. And that is to live as if our lives depended on Him. What a hope we have in Jesus! By God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, may we show the world what the word “hope” really means!