There are some senses of “hope” out there that can be flimsy.
Pop-Culture “Hope”: “Wishful Subjective Feeling” – Wishful thinking (that involves doubt), based on feelings, and is concerned with mere positive events and circumstances.
God with us in hope.
Biblical Hope: Grounded Confident Expectation – Assurance based upon a sure foundation in objective reality, rather than subjective feelings, concerned with eternity.
Foundation of Christian Hope:
(1) Whole of God’s Word and Promises
(2) The History and Entirety of God’s Character (e.g. sovereign plan)
(3) Jesus’ Work (Cross, Resurrection, sending Spirit, and return)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Peter 1:3)
According to the his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)
Christians are born again into Living Hope, by God’s great mercy, and through the Resurrection of Jesus.
… to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:4-5)
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 6-7)
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
In this lifetime, it is inevitable that we will have various struggles.
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:8-9)
Hope always involves a view of the future.
Human beings are absolutely shaped by their understanding of the future. What you believe the future to be completely shapes how you’re living now. – Tim Keller
“I think I heard a good man say
God is love and love has mad us
But have you seen the news today?
I have, and I think God has gone away
If he was ever there anyway…
We’re just born, and we are dying…
This is all we have
This is all we are
Blood and bones no Holy Ghost
Empty from the start
There’s nothing you can do honey
Nothing you can do that would save me”
– Noah Gundersen, Empty From the Start
But with God, He completely changes the situation.
Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.” (John 21:18-19)
Our salvation in Christ is our ammunition for hope.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10-12)
… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19)
