What is Hope from a Biblical Perspective?
Hope is a word used in the Bible both as a verb and a noun. It has a range of connotations, but mainly points to a future expectation of fulfillment. In fact, according to BDAG it means, “…to look forward to something, with implication of confidence about something coming to pass.”
What is the Object of Biblical Hope?
The object of biblical hope is God. He created, He sustains, and He will bring all things to completion. In a phrase, He is the Alpha and the Omega…the beginning and the end. That’s why Paul could say, “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers” -1 Timothy 4:10. And Peter could say, “...fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” -1 Peter 1:13. In other words, there is a future in Christ that will not disappoint, and it is based on His grace which will not run dry.
Putting it All Together.
As the academic year of 2020/21 came to a close in May many high school graduates asked themselves–at some point–what is my hope for the future?
Some answered: academics…athletics…job…friends…relationships…school…fun…time to myself…finding my purpose in life…etc. While all these are wonderful and fruitful experiences and endeavors, they ultimately will run dry.
The educational route ends. The professional route ends. The relational route ends. The friendship route ends. Everything in this life is temporary except for God, His Word, and our souls. The greatest hope is the hope found in knowing, loving, sharing, and waiting for our Lord to return.
As parents, as churches, and as those who are discipling this new generation of adults, one of the greatest gifts we can give our graduating seniors is our hope in Christ…His return…and His establishment of a kingdom wherein righteousness dwells.
And this begins everyday with our time fixing our hope on my Lord…through His Word.
Thus, we can say with the Apostle Paul…
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”
Titus 2:11-14 (emphasis mine)
