Reflection on Hope

1 Corinthians 13:8 if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away…..13 But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Introduction

This morning I want to continue our Summer Reflections’ look at the three great virtues: Faith, Hope, and Love.

And what I want to know is this:

         ·       Why is each one of these virtues so important (singled out)

         ·       And why does each one abide eternally?

Now last week, we began with faith. Therefore, immediately, our passage had us facing God. Not only that, this focus on God never changes throughout this entire passage.

This morning we turn our attention to hope. And as we do so, we start by asking: what is true (Biblical) hope? Not only that, how is true hope supposed to impact my everyday life (especially when things are bleak)?

So, let’s begin. And to do so, I want us to begin by comparing and contrasting what true hope is with what true hope is not.

I. True Hope versus false hope

A] True Hope is not blind optimism: True hope is not wishful thinking. It is not simply a positive outlook on life; it does not ignore difficulty; nor is it dictated by favorable circumstances. In fact, the hope that God gives is not first and foremost a matter of our inward disposition at all. That is, true hope is not based upon our feeling hopeful.

2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight

Instead, True hope is first and foremost an external reality. In fact, true hope defines the very cosmos in which we live and is the deciding factor in all the events we encounter. How? God’s plan and purpose govern all creation; and God is Good.

Ephesians 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance (hope), having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,

Notice the result: true hope is the fundamental underlying disposition of Scripture and the Christian walk. Again, it is not blind optimism, ignoring trouble, or feeling positive. Instead, true hope is the fundamental assurance that God is Lord of all you face, that His promises will not fail, and that His commitment to you never wavers.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

 ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Notice then what this means: true hope is the work of God in the believer’s heart. That is, God interweaves hope and the desire to turn to Him into the very core of our new nature. Thus, our prayers and our looking to Scripture amid life are not misguided optimism nor are they merely wishful thinking. Instead, they are God prompting the believer to turn to Him in the midst of whatever they face because He is an ever-present help in trouble (Ps 46:1).

Psalm 22:2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but I have no rest. 9 Yet you are He who brought me forth from the womb; you made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. (also Ps 19:49)

Bottom line: so what is true hope? First, true hope is not a feeling; nor is it our endeavor to ignore harsh realities. Instead, true hope is a God given tool of navigation: That is, true hope aligns you with the governing reality behind every situation you encounter (which is God’s plan, God’s commitment, and God’s character). As such, true hope enables you to rightly assess and navigate the circumstances you face.

1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  

Now, with all of that said, why does true hope abide eternally? Simply put, true hope abides eternally because God’s goodness and His plan abide eternally. In other words, for us as finite creatures, God’s infinite plan will always unfold in stages (step by step). Therefore, there will always be aspects of God’s plan for which we must wait in trust and hope, anticipating new instances of God’s amazing goodness and love for us. And that is why hope abides.