“Hope” is one of those squishy, slippery words! Is it an intense desire that something good could possibly happen? Is a dream that you’d like to see fulfilled? Or Is it an optimistic outlook you’ve chosen to have on something that could turn out either good or bad? What is it? What is it from a Biblical, faith-generated, God-given revelatory perspective?
Well, it’s none of the above! … In fact, a definition of Biblical hope is the following: A confident expectation based upon God’s promises and revelation of Himself! There’s no maybe about it – no ambiguity – no uncertainty! God will keep His word – His character is behind it – what He has said and promised will be fulfilled! Now there may be conditions He has spelled out – but His side of the covenant is sure! Nothing is in doubt… “HOPE” is a CONFIDENT EXPECTATION!
So in my Bible reading today, I jotted this in the margin of my Bible beside the wonderful passage I read… “I want to have a HOPE-DRIVEN LIFE!”
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed! We are perplexed, but not in despair! We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God! We may get knocked down, but we are not destroyed! …That is why we never give up! Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we have now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever!” (From 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 NLT)
A HOPE-DRIVEN LIFE! We take the long view, the ultimate outlook, we anchor to the promises and provision of God – the eternal perspective! That’s the way I’m going to live! How about you?
Waiting for someone or something is NEVER easy! (Ever had to do it?) But it’s especially difficult for “Type A” personalities (and I happen to be one)!
