Hope (intransitive verb) - 1. to cherish a desire with anticipation. 2. trust. (transitive verb) 1. to desire with expectation of obtainment. 2. to expect with confidence (See Merriam-Webster: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope).
When you think about hope, what do you think about? Hope is one of those abstract concepts that can sometimes be hard to wrap your head around. If you're like me, you are used to hearing the word "hope" used in a selfish context. Phrases like, "I hope I get that iPad for Christmas," "I hope that guy calls me back," "I hope that teacher gives me an 'A'," and the like are how we usually hear the word used. This use of the word matches the definition above, "to cherish a desire with anticipation." It is a use of hope that is associated mostly with strong desire and wishful thinking. While that use of the word hope is by no means wrong, I think our society has in many ways all but forgotten a more important type of hope.
In the Bible we read about hope that is defined differently. There are numerous passages that mention hope. In fact, the word is used roughly 72 times in the New Testament. While several of those occurrences are used like the definition mentioned previously, many times it is used differently.
You have probably heard people talk about how Christians have the hope of salvation and the hope of heaven. It is crucial that we not confuse definitions when we talk about hope in these contexts. To say that Christians have a hope of salvation does not mean that Christians desperately want to be saved and are hoping God decides to save them. Salvation is not wishful thinking for Christians. Instead, this type of hope is full of expectation and knowledge. Christians know that they have been born again and are washed in the blood of Christ on a continual basis. They fully expect that God will fulfill his promise of salvation both in the present and in the future. The same is true when the Bible talks about Christians having the hope of heaven. Hope of heaven is not something as shallow as wishful thinking. On the contrary, Christians have full knowledge that they will be in heaven and hope is the expectation of heaven that they live with on a day-to-day basis.
Having hope as Christians is an amazing thing. Knowing fully that we are saved people on our way to heaven is knowledge that can do great things for us.Our hope and expectation that Christ will, indeed, return is a comfort to us as we face many trials in this world that is not our home.
When you think about your hope of salvation, are you unsure? Do you think in terms of "I hope I go to heaven when I die"? Christians have no reason to think this way. We are given plenty of assurance when it comes to our salvation. God did not intend for His children to feel as though they are walking on eggshells all of the time. We need to stop wondering if we are really saved and focus our energy on more important things. He made a promise and it is time that we trust Him. None of us is saved based on our own merit. None of us will make it to heaven without relying on Him and trusting in God's grace fully and completely. Ultimately, we either have faith or we don't. I suggest that Christians stop trying to work their way to heaven. Instead, we need to live like Christians, trust God, and accomplish His will.
We have every reason to expect God to fulfill his promise of salvation and to live in hope of that expectation every single day.
My prayer for you is the same as Paul's when he wrote to the Ephesians: "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance to the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." (Eph 1:15-23)
