Rev. Dave Heller
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
Over my many years, I have heard people say, “I hope this happens” or “I hope that doesn’t come be.” It has always bothered me that folks confuse hope with something you wish for. According to the Scriptures, hope something that will come about in the future. The old hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”
Hope is not something that we wish for, instead, it is something that we know will come to pass. I have a hope for my future in heaven. This is a certainty because of what Jesus did for me on the cross of Calvary. My hope in Christ is not a wish and a prayer. My hope in Christ is as certain as the sunrise. It is as certain as the ground beneath my feet. I know that I know and that gives me hope!
Let’s put this another way. According to the online dictionary, “Hope” is commonly used to mean a wish: its strength is the strength of the person’s desire. But in the Bible hope is the confident expectation of what God has promised and its strength is in His faithfulness.
I have this hope of heaven because of what Christ has already done. It has nothing to do with what I wish or desire to happen. It is a done deal, because of His great promises, as laid out in the Scriptures.
So, the next time you are feeling down or feeling defeated, remember – if your life is in Christ, then your hope is secured! You don’t have to wish it to happen. Your hope is guaranteed because of what God has already promised! It gives a brand-new meaning of “being hopeful.”
Blessings.
