How futile life would be without real hope! Hope is cause for joy (Romans 15:13)! Little wonder then why many in our world lack joy. Sadly, far too many people live day by day not ever discovering real hope. Real hope, in contrast to false hope, is anticipation, a surety. It is not a “wish” or “guess,” but rather it is a sure guarantee. According to God’s Word, real hope involves at least three concepts.
Firstly, real hope involves a condition. Hope can be lost by a person walking away from the truth of God’s Word. “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…” (Colossians 1:23a). The conditional “if” is a serious part of lasting hope. My eternal hope depends upon my everyday obedience. If a person decides to walk away from hope, hope is gone until that person decides to come back. Thankfully, God is always waiting for the apostate’s return (Luke 15:11ff).
Secondly, real hope involves an expectation. Far too many Christians face each day as though they “may have hope” or they “wish they had hope.” However, real biblical hope is not a wish or a guess, but it is a promise! What kind of life would the Christina life be if we only guessed or wished for our eternal hope? John promised, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life…” (1 John 5:13a). Our hope in Christ is as sure as anything of which we can be assured! “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” (Titus 1:2). “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us; Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil” (Hebrews 6:18-19). If you are faithful to Christ, you must be “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
Lastly, real hope involves a foundation. The difference between the Christian’s hope and the “hope” of the world is that the Christian’s hope is undergirded and protected by a sure foundation (contrast Ephesians 2:12 with Ephesians 2:20ff; cf. 1 Peter 1:3). The fact that Jesus is the Son of God secures and strengthens the hope of the one who belongs to Him.
Life can now be lived with joy and peace because of the hope we have in Christ. Oh that all would have this hope! The difference between a futile life and a fantastic life centers on real hope. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).
