Why do so many people feel hopeless? Christians and
non-Christians alike seem to wallow in doom and gloom. Are we looking in the
wrong place for hope? Are we misaligning our hope to things other than the only
one who can give us hope? Taking a global look at hope, the first thing we
notice is that the Torah, the first five books of Moses, do not mention hope.
This is interesting. While Job was written before Moses penned Genesis, hope is
not mentioned in Moses’ books. The Torah is not a book of hope. Yet hope is a
main theme of Job. The obvious observation is that Job speaks of hard times for
an individual who is looking to God, while the Torah is history and instruction
for the people coming out of Egypt who were living the hope of entering a
promised land. As times changed, hope changed as well. The hope of the Promised
Land gave way to living in peace surrounded by enemies, which gave way to the
Messiah, which gave way to the Messiah’s return. Hope is not stagnant, it flows
and changes with the ages, times, and dispensations. To hope is to wait
patiently for something expected. It is to look ahead to something exciting. It
is assurance or a refuge of security or trust.
Faith and hope go together. Our faith is confidence in
the legal and binding document, the Bible, that something will take place in
the future. We are confident because we have the agreement. Hope is the
expectation of the fulfillment of the agreement. If one were to sell one’s
home, an agreement is reached, then after several days the sale goes through.
The time period between the agreement and the close of the purchase is the time
of hope.
Heb 11:1 NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation,
the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do
not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what
is not revealed to the senses]. AMP
The books that were written to us are our legal binding
agreement. If we adhere to its principal obligations we can hope for the things
promised. Solomon says this:
Wisdom 3:1-5 But the souls of the righteous are in the
hand of God, and there shall no torment touch them.2 In the sight of the unwise
they seemed to die: and their departure is taken for misery,3 And their going
from us to be utter destruction: but they are in peace.4 For though they be
punished in the sight of men, yet is their hope full of immortality.5 And
having been a little chastised, they shall be greatly rewarded: for God proved
them, and found them worthy for himself. KJV
Hope is in full immortality. Paul tells us that those who
died will not spend eternity in the grave, as the corruptible body will put on
incorruption and the mortal human will put on immortality. Though we suffer as
aliens and foreigners on earth, Christians are not of this world and are not
subject to eternal death, but instead of eternal life. While we live here we
are persecuted on all sides, but that is simply because the devil insists on
tormenting humans who commit mutiny against his kingdom. We have to recognize
that that will happen so that we strengthen ourselves with the knowledge of our
eternal hope. There are several words that are translated hope in the Bible;
let’s look at a few.
OT:3176 yachal (yaw-chal'); a primitive root; to wait; by
implication, to be patient, hope: KJV - (cause to, have, make to) hope, be
pained, stay, tarry, trust, wait.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers
and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003,
2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Ps 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your
heart, all ye that hope [3176] in the Lord. KJV
David writes that God will strengthen our hearts. Our
hope, or waiting, is in the Lord, not for deliverance but for strength. If we
come under spiritual pressure we can be brave because God will strengthen our
heart.
Ps 33:18-22 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that
fear him, upon them that hope [3176] in his mercy;19 To deliver their soul from
death, and to keep them alive in famine.20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is
our help and our shield.21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have
trusted in his holy name.22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we
hope [3176] in thee. KJV
In the time period David was writing, people were looking
for the Messiah to come. In the meantime, they trusted in God’s mercy to help
them through difficulties. Declaring God as our armor, we can rejoice in Him
because he delivers our souls from death. It doesn’t mean we won’t die, it
means we won’t stay dead. Remember Jesus’ mission was to the righteous dead as
well as to the living. Jesus set the righteous dead free because they were not supposed
to be held in a separate part of hades called Abrahams Bay or Creek. The righteous
dead went to paradise after Jesus spent three days and three nights witnessing
to the imprisoned spirits. Since that time, the righteous dead go directly to
paradise because Jesus has the keys to hell and death. One day the dead in
Christ will rise first and the living will join them in the air.
OT:4009 mibtach (mib-tawkh'); from OT:982; properly, a
refuge, i.e. (objective) security, or (subjective) assurance: KJV - confidence,
hope, sure, trust.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance
with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft,
Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Ps 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his
trust [4009], and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. KJV
Another way to translate hope is trust, and a better idea
of this is communicated in the word refuge,
a “guarded place”. Make the Lord your refuge, your safe place. We cannot trust
the proud or the liar, but we have a safe house in the Lord. We take our
concerns, problems, and frustrations to the Lord not to other people. Jeremiah
says this in a stronger way.
Jer 17:5-8 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that
trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the
Lord.6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when
good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt
land and not inhabited.7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and
whose hope [4009] the Lord is.8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the
waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when
heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year
of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. KJV
Humans who trust in humans are cursed, and humans who
trust in God are blessed because their refuge is Jehovah. When God told people
to spread out over the earth, this is what he wanted, humans to trust in Him
enough that He could be their hiding place. God wanted a spiritual connection
with humans, giving humans’ safe harbor when they connect with Him. However,
this simple principal evades humanity. Instead of living a life of hope or
refuge in the Creator, humans live a life in parched places. If you are in a
parched place, the devil will help to keep you there because you lack the relationship
that comes with the knowledge of God the Creator as a safe place. You will not
cease to bear fruit when your hope is in God. But think of the precarious
position humans are in even today. God is our hope, but we don’t know the exact
plan for the future in our human lives, but whatever happens with us isn’t
important, we are safe in God. That is a hard pill for all people to swallow.
Many people do their best to be in control of their lives and destiny, but hope
in God is hope in the unknown for our specific time on earth. That scares
people. Individually, we don’t know what tomorrow brings, but hope in God as
our refuge gives us something to lean on. Hope for the future of the world and
humanity is mapped out in the Bible.
OT:4268 machaceh (makh-as-eh'); or machceh (makh-seh');
from OT:2620; a shelter (literally or figuratively): KJV - hope, (place of)
refuge, shelter, trust.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Ps 46:1 God is our refuge [4268] and strength, a very
present help in trouble. KJV
One of the sons of Korah understood this idea and used a
slightly different word which we translate hope, the word is shelter. A refuge is a place you are
surrounded on all sides with forceful protection, but a shelter covers you like
a house. Your house may not be guarded like a refuge, with armed guards or
impenetrable walls and moats. The implication here is that God, as a shelter,
gives one a place to rest, then that person can get back into the fight (which
is life), while a refuge is an extended place to heal before returning to the
spiritual battle humanity is surrounded by.
Isa 28:15-17 Because ye have said, We have made a
covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing
scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies
our refuge[4268], and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:16 Therefore thus
saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation, a stone, a tried
stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not
make haste.17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the
plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge[4268]of lies, and the waters
shall overflow the hiding place. KJV
Isaiah’s comparison is the same as Jeremiah’s in that
people think making a deal with the devil shelters them from evil, and while it
does shield them from evil for a time, the people who do this are actually
cursed. God will destroy their house of lies and expose them. If your hope is
in a non-permanent dwelling, just like the man who built his house upon sand,
it will fall down. How do we know if our hope is in a temporary edifice or a
permanent one? We have the Bible to help us. We know the devil’s rule on earth
is temporary, therefore selling out to the devil’s ways and then hoping for
safety is foolish, yet people do it.
OT:8615 tiqvah (tik-vaw'); from OT:6960; literally, a
cord (as an attachment [compare OT:6961]); figuratively, expectancy: KJV -
expectation ([-ted]), hope, live, thing that I long for.(Biblesoft's New
Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew
Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International
Bible Translators, Inc.)
Jer 29:10-13 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy
years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word
toward you, in causing you to return to this place.11 For I know the thoughts
that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to
give you an expected [8615] end.12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go
and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.13 And ye shall seek me, and find
me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. KJV
Our Heavenly Father is very merciful. Even after all the
deals with the devil the Jews made, Jeremiah says that God will only exile them
for seventy years, then they will call upon God and it will be like they were attached with a
cord. God will reel them in, that is their hope that when they call on God and
pray, he will hear them and they will find Him. Have you ever seen the leashes
that are sold for children? Usually the child has a harness or a wrist band,
and the parent holds the other end of the leash so that the child can have some
freedom to walk on their own without getting into too much trouble. So if a
child who is leashed tries to run into the street or touch something dangerous,
the parent can keep them safe. That is the connotation of this word. God
allowed the Jews a seventy year leashed
exile to find out just how bad life could be without Him. If we remember,
Daniel was expecting the time of the seventy year exile to be over and he
prayed and sought God for the people. Daniel was expectant, hopeful, for a
return to Jerusalem.
The New Testament is the timeframe we live in and our
hope is different. We are not in exile, nor are we awaiting return to a
homeland or Promised Land from Babylon, Assyria, or Egypt. The Messiah has
already come, and gone to prepare a place for his people. Therefore our
expectancy or hope is in His calling us to join him. The next hope is for us
coming back as his army to take rule on the earth. A further hope is in the
millennial reign of Christ, and an even further hope is in a new heaven and
earth. Today, we anticipate the next
step in the process for humanity, to be joined with the Lord.
NT:1679 elpizo (el-pid'-zo); from NT:1680; to expect or
confide: KJV - (have, thing) hope (-d) (for), trust.
NT:1680 elpis (el-pece'); from a primary elpo (to
anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or
confidence: KJV - faith, hope.(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and
Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006
Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Rom 5:1-9 Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:2 By whom also we have access by
faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope [1680] of the glory
of God.3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience;4 And patience, experience; and experience,
hope[1680]:5 And hope [1680] maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.6 For when
we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.7 For
scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some
would even dare to die.8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9 Much more then, being now justified
by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. KJV
There are some very big points in Paul’s letter to the
Romans. First, we are to rejoice in hope of the Glory of God. Why? Because we
have been justified, legally we are vindicated and acceptable because we
believe on Jesus Christ. Therefore we rejoice over the coming of Jesus in
glory. Now comes the part we don’t like, we boast in tribulations. I’m sure we
have all seen people who show off their physical scars, as if they were
trophies, to prove how tough they have been. People comparing how many stiches
to how many broken bones they have had seems silly, but that is what we are to
do regarding the tough times we live through since we have been saved. Now
there is a difference in self-imposed tribulation and non-self-imposed
tribulation. If one juggles knives there are inherent hazards to that action;
any harm, then, is self-imposed. Non-self-imposed tribulation is when someone
simply walking down the street is skewered by a stray knife from a knife
juggler. Non-self-imposed trials are executed by the devil, not God. Yet
learning to endure trials helps us to become patient, which in turn helps us to
gain experience which also causes us to anticipate Christ’s return. Because we
are expecting Christ’s return, which is a legal surety, a guarantee, we do not
need to be embarrassed. God is pouring out benevolence into our hearts via the
Holy Spirit.
This is a key point. We have the generous infilling of
the Holy Spirit. This leads our hearts to hope. The Holy Spirit is our earnest
money on the future of Christ’s return. The Holy Spirit has only in-dwelt
humans since ten days after Jesus left; Pentecost. The Holy Spirit is our
deposit on the future. And not only that, we are justified, made acceptable, by
Jesus’ blood and are saved from the wrath to come. That is a far better hope
than simply returning to our previous city. Being saved from the wrath to come
means just that; we are saved from the wrath of the Lamb and the wrath of God.
That is a greater hope than simply rising when he calls from the clouds,
because we know that the tribulation is a very harsh time on the earth designed
to bring people to a decision either for or against Christ Jesus. Yet, because
we have confessed Jesus to be our Lord we are saved from the wrath to come.
Whatever tribulations the devil does to people here on earth at this time, it
is not wrath, and it most certainly is not the wrath of God.
Rom 8:18-25 For I reckon that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be
revealed [apocalypse] in us.19 For the earnest expectation of the creature
[creation] waiteth for the manifestation [apocalypse] of the sons of God.20 For
the creature [creation] was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by
reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope [1680],21 Because the
creature [creation] itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of
corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.22 For we know that
the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.23 And
not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the
redemption of our body.24 For we are saved by hope [1680]: but hope [1680] that
is seen is not hope [1680]: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope [1679]
for?25 But if we hope [1679 ]for that we see not, then do we with patience wait
for it. KJV
All of creation suffers, and all of creation waits with
hope and expectancy for the sons of God to be revealed. Who are the sons of
God? You and I, the people who believe on Jesus and make him Lord. All of the
Creator’s creation groans and corrupts, and all of the Creator’s creation
travails in pain along with the sons of God waiting for the day of Jesus’
apocalypse of the sons of God. What does that mean? There will be a day that
Jesus comes with his armies and that will be the day the sons of God are
revealed, it is the apocalypse, literally, the off-covering, or the day Jesus takes the covering off. The
creation, the earth, will be put right and won’t be decaying and in pain any
longer. There are people on earth today who are clandestine operatives, they
are the sons of God. On earth, each person who confesses Jesus as Lord is an
undercover guard to the humans and creation of earth. The sons of God on earth
are not uncovered yet. One day the people who mocked Jesus will see the sons of
God. Those who were used by the devil to be a thorn to others, will know who
the true sons of God are. We all, all of the redeemed and all of creation,
await for the unveiling of Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings. That is our hope. I imagine that after the
rapture, we the redeemed will still be hoping for the revealing of Jesus on
earth.
1 Thess 2:19-20 For what is our hope [1680], or joy, or
crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at
his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy. KJV
Again Paul reiterates the same idea. Here he says his
hope (and his fellow evangelists’ hope) is that the Thessalonians will be in
the presence of Jesus at his coming to earth to punish the earth. Paul is
looking ahead to the day Jesus comes with his armies, that is his hope, the
expectancy that keeps him motivated to evangelize people. It might be that
Paul’s hope for the Thessalonians (and all of Asia Minor) was due to the
recognition that not all the redeemed come back as the army of Christ, the
bride. Paul wanted them to have that vision. It isn’t enough just to confess
Jesus as Lord but to live it until death.
1 Thess 4:13-14 But I would not have you to be ignorant,
brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope [1680].14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. KJV
Here Paul tells them not to be like the unsaved who have
no hope or expectancy for their future immortality. Paul is now directing their
eyes to the present reality of those who died and are not in hades but in
paradise. He is saying God will bring the dead with Jesus when he calls from
the clouds. The unsaved have an end in their minds, death is an end and
therefore they do not look forward to eternal life. The reality is we have
eternal life but where we have it is determined by who we confess as Lord. Here
Paul is dispelling the myth that only the living are called up when Jesus
snatches people from the earth, but Paul is saying that the living do not
precede the dead. Instead the dead redeemed rise first, and the living redeemed
join them. This was a slight distortion that entered into the Thessalonian
church, and Paul is setting the record straight. That is why we are to invite
or invoke one another in these words. These words inspire hope, a clear
expectation of what is to happen in the future.
The legal document, the Bible, is already established.
Whether we believe it or not, is not the point. If we believe it, we have a
token, the Holy Spirit, poured out in us. This is just a small piece of the
puzzle, it proves to us that the rest is certain to come to pass. In the
meantime if we stay faithful until the end, we will come back with Jesus. To
Paul and all fellow evangelists, that is his hope, and joy, and crown of
rejoicing. Imagine the party of celebration when the redeemed are called up.
But don’t set your eyes on that only, set your eyes on coming back with the
Lord on the Day of the Lord. That vision, that expectation, that hope, will
help us to endure all trials on earth until that time. With patience we can
endure living as persecuted aliens. And we can also laugh at our trials because
we have a far better future. Set your eyes in the legal document, the Bible,
there you will find your hope. But do not set your vision short. Hope for the
gathering, but also hope for your own participation in the army of the Lord.
