WHAT we have we do not hope to have, because we have it. When you desire to have something which is good for you, and you have received it, you are not expecting to receive it: you rejoice that you have it.
At a children’s meeting, a short time ago, I was speaking about John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), in which the word “HATH” occurs. Now “hath” and “hope” are quite different words, and they do not mean the same thing. HATH does not mean HOPE, and HOPE does not mean HATH. While hope refers to something we have not, hath refers to something we have.
Some persons read this twenty-fourth verse of John 5. as though the word “hope” were in it, but it is not. We will print the verse, and you will then notice, as did the children at a meeting lately, that the word “hope” is not there. Here is the verse: — “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” No, the word “hope” is not in the verse; but there is the word “hath” in it, for it says, “hath everlasting life”!
Well, that is just what we were speaking about at our children’s meeting, and, as I knew there were some little ones present who did not know what the Lord Jesus meant when He uttered those words, I asked the question, “What is the meaning of the word hath? Does it mean hope? for the Lord says, hath everlasting life.’”
“No, it did not mean hope to get,” several answered.
“Then what does it mean?”
For a moment or two there was no reply. There were children present who knew what the word meant, but they did not quite know what to say. However, the silence was soon broken by a boy, who had been very attentive at our meetings; he seemed a very happy little boy, I thought, and he answered, “Has got it.”
The answer gives the meaning in a simple way.
“Yes,” I said, “it means present possession, or, as you have expressed it, has got it. This Scripture tells us that he who believes has everlasting life — shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”
And now, dear little reader, you will remember that it is the word hath that is in that verse — not the word hope.
Many little children believe in their hearts— they trust in the living, loving Lord Jesus, and are saved — saved, not because they have done any good, oh! no. They know they are sinners; but they believe in Him who died to save sinners, and because Jesus died they are saved. They have heard and believed His word.
“He that believeth on the Son HATH ever-lasting life” — “has got it.” R. K.