In school we learned that hope is when we feel that something we desire will be achieved. Perhaps it will not be, but we certainly want it to be, or not to be. We are not sure. There is always the possibility that what we hope happens will not happen, or what we hope will not happen does happen. Life is so filled with uncertainties that we cannot speak positively. The common expression, “Only death and taxes are sure,” is not true. Some people do not pay taxes, and there are many Christians who will not die when the Lord comes.
In the Bible, hope is described as waiting for something that is not seen but which has been promised: “We are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it” (Romans 8:24-2524For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24‑25)). When man makes a promise, there is always the possibility that he will be unable to fulfill it. When God promises something, it is sure to come to pass. There is nothing uncertain in the Christian’s hope. God’s Word is an anchor for our souls, sure and steadfast, because the Lord Himself is our hope (1 Timothy 1:11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; (1 Timothy 1:1)).
How sad it is to go through life “having no hope, and without God” (Ephesians 2:1212That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Ephesians 2:12)), and yet, that is the condition of all those who do not know the Lord Jesus. Such are like a ship adrift on a wild sea without an anchor. It is only a matter of time before they come to destruction. We who believe God and His Word have a sure hope set before us as an “anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:18-1918That 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: 19Which 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)). Also, we are “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-1413Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Titus 2:13‑14)). Dear reader, do you have such a hope?
1. According to the truth of the gospel, where is our hope laid up for us?
Colossians 1:___
2. What does it say about the hope of unjust men? Proverbs 11:___
3. If we have hope in God, why will we not be ashamed? Romans 5:___
4. Who is the blessed man in this chapter? Jeremiah 17:___
5. The breastplate is faith and love. What do we have for a helmet?
1 Thessalonians 5:___