I have Hope – 2

Hope – what is it?

 

I have meditated on this word for the last few weeks. We all know the scripture that says:

 

Now faith is the things “hoped” for. Hope and faith are twisted together in a beautiful dance.

 

Faith and hope work together, yet they are two separate ideas. Hope gives power to faith. Faith is there because of hope. If you remove hope you affect your faith. Hope is where we start but faith is where we end.

 

Faith can be demonstrated by someone pushing a wheelbarrow on a tight rope across the Niagara Falls. Will you get in the wheelbarrow? Most people won’t but some will stand and watch and cheer the person on. That is not faith. That is believing in someone. You are a spectator watching while someone else is doing it. Faith is getting in the wheelbarrow. Faith is active. Now you are no longer a spectator but a participator. Faith works like that. Faith without works is dead. Are you watching or are you participating? Doing this is not having hope. You better have faith in the person pushing you across the great divide. But what is hope?

 

Hope is different. Hope can also be described in the same way. The only difference is this time we tie you to a safety rope, then get you to get into the wheelbarrow. Would you do it now that it is safer? That is what hope means in its original context. It means to have an expectation but also to be tied to something. Put on the safety harness and then get in. Now you have a backup plan. Should you fall then there is something that can keep you safe. Hope means to be tied to something.

 

If we see this we will understand why Peter says:

 

1 Pet 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

 

What Peter is saying is: Be able to tell anyone that asks you, why are you hopeful. Give them the reason why you still have hope. If we understand that hope means to be tied to something or someone, Peter is saying that we need to be able to tell people what we are tied too. Where do you anchor your hope? Remember that if you lose hope you lose faith. People that say that they feel hopeless, struggle with their faith.

 

There are a few things that I tie myself to that gives me hope.

 

1. His Word is true.
2. He will never leave me or forsake me.
3. My salvation is secure and complete.
4. His love is unconditional.
5. All my sins have been paid, past, present, and future.
6. He has prepared a place for me far above anything I can ask or think about.
7. He has given me eternal life in his son.
8. Nothing can separate me from his love.
9. He wants to bless me and conform me to the image of his son.
10. He is my king and soon he will return to come and unite us as his bride.