Focus: Sure Hope

Text: Heb.11:1

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Our Christian Faith is the bedrock on which our hope is founded. It is concretized on the solid rock of faith. Our faith in Christ is evidential. It is neither sentimental nor superficial. Our hope in Christ is sure. The author of Hebrews says that faith is the substance of what we hope for. Substance here is a kind of foundation. It is something solid on which something else stands upon. Faith is the underlying structure of hope. Hope as a superstructure rests on the underlying structure of faith.

Paul tells us that we have a hope that will never disappoint us. Yes, it will never put us to shame! And why is that so? It is because we have the assurance of Scripture that our God is the God of hope. The psalmist says, "Hope in the LORD… Hope in his mercy… For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth" (Ps.31:24; 33:18; Ps.71:5 Ps.31:24).

Paul says, "Now the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may ABOUND in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost" (Rom.15:13). God is the source of our hope. Our hope is anchored on God, and for that, we abound in hope. Not only do we hope in God, we also hope in His word. The psalmist says, "Remember the WORD unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope" (Ps.119:49). God causes us to hope in His word. God says through Jeremiah, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" (Jer.29:11).

The promises of God provide the ground of our hope. Peter calls the promises, "Exceeding great and precious promises…" (2Pet.1:4). Paul calls them, "These promises," and tells us that "all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us" (2Cor.7:1; 1:20).

The Christian hope is for time and eternity. While we live there's hope for us, and when we die there's still hope for us.

Jeremiah says, "And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD…" (Jer.31:17). Paul says, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1Cor.15:52). He says again, "Looking for that BLESSED hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Tit.2:13). Our hope is blessed. Our hope is also good. Paul tells us about "good hope through grace" (2Thes.2:16). Our hope is also eternal and heavenly. Paul says, "For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven…" (Col.1:5). Paul tells us about "the hope of the gospel," and "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col.1:23,27).

It's about time we hoped totally in God. The psalmist says, "My FLESH shall rest in hope… I wait for the LORD, my SOUL doth wait, and in his WORD do I hope" (Ps.16:9; 130:5). Again he says, "My SOUL fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word" (Ps.119:81). The psalmist's flesh and soul are hopeful. Again he says, "But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more" (Ps.71:14).

The psalmist makes a plea to Israel, "Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption" (Ps.130:7). He has plenteous redemption in store for us. He says again, "Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever… Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God" (Ps.131:3; 146:5). Our sure hope is in Christ. Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter