One of the great joys I have had has been at various times watching my little grandchildren blow bubbles in our kitchen or outside the back door and seeing them gaze in wonder as they looked up at the floating bubbles, with fascination and big smiles on their faces. And the more bubbles the better! And then to watch them chase the bubbles seeking to “catch” them!
Often a child blows a bubble and chases it and upon touching, ”catching” it dissolves, and bursts, the pretty Bubble is no more. Evaporated. Gone! The pause, and then the chase of more before they hit the ground.
Like Paul says, “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to FIX THEIR HOPE on the UNCERTAINTY OF RICHES, BUT ON GOD, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.”-(1 Timothy 6:17). The “uncertainty of riches” is such a deceptive “Bubble” that dissolves, and evaporates in contrast to Hope in God!
And so often with us, we too see what we believe is a “hope” that will satisfy, and offer us security, and happiness, and pursue it wholeheartedly but as soon as we lay our hands or heart on “it,” it dissolves, evaporates, gone, like a “bubble.”And such are the many misplaced, deceptive “hopes” offered or held out before us in our lives for they just don’t seem to have any sustenance to them, because they don’t! God has not designed for them to! There is no solid foundation in “false hopes.” The chase often ends up in disappointment, at times bewilderment, and a sense of letdown if we do manage to achieve the fulfillment of the supposed “hope” or at best it doesn’t last. But Biblical Hope is different for it is the confident expectation- assurance- of future good such as God fulfilling all of His promises.
“Hope,” means “confident expectation.”
- “The New Testament consistently uses the verb elpizo [ejlpivzw] and the noun elpis [ejlpiv”] for hope. Just as the Old Testament emphasizes hope as trust…”-{Bible study tools}
Biblical “Hope” is a Certainty!
- “The biblical definition of hope is “the sure and confident expectation of receiving what God has promised us in the future.” The believer’s hope is not a faint or obscure wish but “an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19). In Scripture, hope is a virtuous quality because it contains no doubt, always trusting in God’s faithfulness and presence no matter the circumstances, whether good or bad (Psalm 71:5).”-{Gotquestions.com}
For the followers of the LORD Jesus Christ, who have repented of their sin towards God and entrusted themselves to The LORD Jesus and His finished work on the cross on their behalf to pay the penalty of sin and rescue them from the wrath of God and bring them into a right relationship with God based on His perfection, His sacrifice on their behalf to satisfy God. We are “born again to a living Hope through the resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ.”-{1 Peter 1:3}. As a result, we can and are to Praise the Father for such amazing mercy, grace, and “a living Hope“ as the verse teaches… We have “Hope…” certainty, assurance, and confident expectation that comes from God!
1.- We Hope in God. –
“For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers. “-{1 Timothy 4:10} -“…Put Your Hope in God…” –(Psalm 42:5)
2.- We Hope in Jesus Christ. –
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope,” –(1 Timothy 1:1)
3.- This Hope Does not Disappoint because of His Love.
Even amidst suffering, we have the foundation of hope through His love that has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit gifted to us –( Romans 5:3-5)
4.- We Are Gifted Hope from God-
“Now may the God of hope fill you …”- ( Rom 15:5)
5.- We Receive Hope through the Scriptures-
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.“- ( Rom 15:4)
6.- We Receive Hope Through the Holy Spirit-
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” –( Rom 15:13)
7.- We have a Hope laid up for us in Heaven according to the Scriptures –
“the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel” – (Colossians 1:5)
8.- We are to Rejoice in Hope amidst tribulations. –
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”-(Rom 12:12)
9. – Hope is God’s answer to despair–
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”- (Psalm 42:5)
10. – Hope imparts Courage-
“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”-( Psalm 31:24)
11.- Hope in the promises of God at times brings opposition, and adversaries –
“And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. For this hope, O king, I am being accused by Jews. Why is it considered incredible among you people if God raises the dead?”- ( Acts 26:6-8)
12.- The widow fixes her Hope in God.-
“Now she who is actually a widow and has been left alone has set her hope on God, and she continues in requests and prayers night and day.””-( 1 Tim 5:5)
13.- Hope is the Proper Response to the Promises of God.-
Bubbles burst from the slightest touch. as do false “hopes,” But not Biblical Hope!
There are “hopes” that capture our attention and tempt us to pursue and we waste energy, resources, and time, and often we discover they evaporate, there is no spiritual or eternal benefit to them. But not so with God, His Word, His promises!
One type of “hope,”evaporates, the other establishes confident expectation in God and to fulfill future goodness, in all He promises.
“Paul’s hope was so secure in his eternal future that he was willing to suffer and die for it: “I stand on trial because of the hope of the resurrection of the dead” (Acts 23:6; see also Acts 26:6). Paul said that without faith and hope in God’s promise of resurrection life, Christians “are more to be pitied than anyone in the world” (1 Corinthians 15:19, NLT).
The biblical definition of hope includes not only the act of confident expectation but also the object of it—“Christ Jesus our hope” (1 Timothy 1:1). The psalmist writes, “For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth” (Psalm 71:5). Jesus Christ is the “hope of Israel” (Jeremiah 14:8; Acts 28:20) and of all nations and peoples (Isaiah 42:4; Matthew 12:21; Romans 15:12–13; 1 Timothy 4:10).
Having only temporal hope in people and things of this life is, in reality, to live in a state of hopelessness, “without hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12). By contrast, the believer’s hope cannot be frustrated or hindered by anything in this life. We know what we have safely “stored up for [us] in heaven” (Colossians 1:5), where our treasures are kept secure (Matthew 6:19–20).”-{Gotquestions.com}.
Hope in God!
Take time to read each scriptural reference and put yourself in the place where the Holy Spirit can strengthen your faith in His Word!
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will ABOUND IN HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.”-(Romans 15:13)
God bless
Aidan.