Hoping in the God of Hope (Part 1)
July 24th, 2007
(By Nathan Busenitz)
Our society is plagued with broken promises. They can be found in the family, at school, and in the workplace. They are present in the government — often in the campaign pledges of one or more aspiring candidates. Sometimes they even come to our very own mailboxes — with false assurances of instant winnings and millions upon millions of dollars.
Saying one thing but never following through has become an American epidemic. In fact, according to the book The Day Americans Told the Truth, 86 percent of Americans routinely lie to parents, 75 percent to friends, 73 percent to siblings, and 69 percent to spouses. As a result, our nation has developed a healthy sense of skepticism. Those who believe everything everyone tells them are derided as gullible fools. After all, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. Promises are easily made, says our world, but don’t get your hopes up because you’ll only be disappointed.
The Bible, on the other hand, invites us to get our hopes up. Of course, Scripture is very specific as to what true hope includes. Hoping for instant riches to land in your mailbox is foolhardy. Hoping in the promises of God, however, is nothing less than the essence of faith. Unlike the broken and empty promises of greedy politicians or shady publicity stunts, God’s Word never fails. In fact, the Bible says it lasts forever (Psalm 119:52). But how can we know that we can trust God completely? What guarantees do we have that God’s promises are legitimate?
Thankfully, God’s Word gives us many reasons to take solace in His promises. Over and over again the Scripture commands us and compels us to trust God, both for the present and the future. The assurances that comprise our hope are not too good to be true — and they are infinitely better than any earthly guarantee. They are certainties upon which we can build our lives and our eternities. They can be trusted because they come from a God who can be trusted.
Over the next few days, we will consider five reasons Christians can confidently hope in God.
“Unlike the broken and empty promises of greedy politicians or shady publicity stunts, God’s Word never fails. In fact, the Bible says it lasts forever (Psalm 119:52).”
Did you mean Psalm 119:152?
Good stuff!
So is there a definition of the word “hope” for the believer?
“I’m standing on the promises of Christ my King! Through eternal ages let His praises ring! ‘Glory in the highest’ I will shout and sing, standing on the promises of God!”
Nathan……all I can say is, AMEN!
I don’t trust people…….I TRUST GOD! Not only do I know intellectually that God keeps His promises…..I know experientially. I have faced my Red Sea all alone, like Moses did, and I have stood still to see the mighty salvation that God showed me! He definitely keeps His promises, which is one more reason to long for Eternity!
“Absent from this body…..present with the Lord”
I’m now reading the Islamic ahadith of Bukhari, and what a strengthening, confidence-inspiring difference is the faithfulness of our God who cannot lie with “taqiyya” and other lies allowed and even encouraged in Islam.
Nevergall,
Thanks for the catch on the reference. Other verses could be added to support that same point … such as Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8; and 1 Peter 1:25.
Kelvin,
Thanks for your question about the definition of biblical hope.
Throughout Scripture, we find that hope is a settled confidence in the person, power, and promises of God even when the fulfillment of those promises is still in the future–or unseen (Heb. 11:1). When used as a noun in Scripture, “hope” refers to the object of what we are hoping in (namely, God and His promises). When used as a verb, it is essentially synonymous with “faith” and underscores our trust in the object of our hope. Thus, when we hope in God, we fix our eyes on Him and His promises rather than on our personal circumstances or the false hopes of this world.
“Hope” is, of course, only as good as the object in which one is hoping. Because the object of biblical hope is God Himself (Titus 1:2), believers can be confident that their hope will never be disappointed (Romans 5:5). Hence, the hope of resurrection and the hope of heaven, for example, are not mere fantasies or figments of imagination. Rather, they are absolute certainties because they have been divinely guaranteed.
Thanks again for your interaction. This is one of my favorite themes in all of Scripture, so discussing it is a true joy.
- NB
Nate,
So when we hope in God, are we anticipating His promises with absolute certainty that they will come to pass because they have been divinely guaranteed?
Sometimes I have to say it myself so that I can get it into my heart
Is this correct?
One great thing to think about is that our hope is not merely head knowledge. It is transforming and has a purifying work in our lives.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
By fixing our gaze upon Him, loving His appearing and abiding in Him, we will practice righteousness and not practice sin. By this “you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 Jn 5:13)
This word of HOPE I think you wrote a book on the subject. Right (By Nathan Busenitz)?
Kelvin,
Nate’s answer was good. There is more to hope. The word elpizo (hope, a confidence in the trustworthiness of its object) is juxtaposed to pistis (the knowledge of hope, its very essence, the conviction and possession of the object) in Hebrews 1.1. The connecting noun is hupostasis. Hupostasis means the very substance, or the thing which is the essence of what is under consideration. Since faith is given us, and we possess it presently, hope is not a far of promise but a present possession in current reality. Though it is true that we earnestly wait for our future hope and its unveiling, it is not just that God has promised it though that would be enough, but he goes further and gives us the earnest, the seal of the Holy Spirit who makes us to be in vital union with our Saviour who we patiently wait for in his appearing as the triumphal King. We have three witnesses, the Word of God, the Spirit within us, and the great cloud, who are the saints that surround us, confirming for us that He is now present with us, and though we do not yet see except through the shaded vail of our flesh, we will see then, face to face, our hope in the resurrection. In Christ, all answers are yes and amen.
Thanks Thomas.
I hope you did not misunderstand my last comment. Maybe I should have said “repeat it myself” instead of “say it myself”.
I have found that when I can repeat what I’m learning then I have gained a measure of understanding of what it is that I am learning.
Thanks again.
Kelvin,
I don’t know if I was considering your last comment. We are to meditate in God’s Word day and night. Rehearsing what is said in the Word of God is a necessary exercise and a defense against unbelief. Every time I read the Word, I am repeating to myself the gracious promises of God and God by the Holy Spirit calls back to my memory what He has said when I am removed from study. I thank God that he causes me to repeat to myself what he has said, over and over. It is by His Word, that we are kept. The access to the heart is through the mind, a mind that God gave us and has renewed so that we might fully comprehend the promises that He has made. We are to worship Him in Truth, according to John 4, in what we know, with all our mind and heart.
You are welcome.