Hope

Christian hope is a central point of our faith.  But, what exactly is hope?  Hope for the Christian is not the sort of hope we had as children at Christmas.  We hoped for a doll or a toy truck.  The hope for the Christian is the expectation of a certainty.  We await the fulfillment of God’s promises.

It’s interesting that the Greek word for hope is only used as a noun or verb in the New Testament.  It is never used to describe something else, “Hopeful,” “Hoping,” etc.  Hope is something in itself for the Christian.

So, just what is the Christian hope?  Our hope is both present and future.  Our Christian walk should display an attitude of hope, of a certainty that Christ will come back for His own, that we are the children of a king and should act according to His commands.  It is the Holy Spirit within us Who does this for us.

Cullman, in his book Christ and Time, says “Thus Christian hope has both already and not-yet dimensions.”  Our hope of Christ’s return produces a holy life in its expectation.  We live a life of godliness because we know our Savior will either take us home or will come for us.  With that in mind, the Christian joyfully walks the narrow path.

Paul describes this duality of hope like this:

Titus 2:11-13  For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,”

So, our hope in Christ’s return and for the salvation of others teaches us, trains us, to resist temptations and live a godly life.

“But,” as the TV salespeople say, “there’s more.”  Our hope is not limited to a godly life here on earth.  Our hope is in the certainty of eternal life with Christ in His dwelling place, heaven.  The better we understand God, Who He is and the sort of Being He is, the more we can understand the sort of place in which a pure, holy, and loving God would dwell.  And, He is going to share that place fully with us.

John 14:1-2   “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to where I am going.”

Our hope as Christians is not simply in Christ’s return but also in the certainty of living eternally with Him in His kingdom.

Why is this important?

The Christian life is not a sort of club membership.  We don’t gather together to exchange recipes or book recommendations.  The Christian life is one of dedication to the One who provides our hope.  He is there to comfort us when we hurt, uplift us when we fall, strengthen us in our weakness.  In this way, He confirms the reality of our hope.  He is here with us showing us we will soon be there with Him.

1 Cor. 15:19-22  “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”