Hope, the Christian Motivation
Biblical hope is desire with expectation. It is not “hope-so” or “maybe;” it is a certainty. It is better than any earthly hope. Earthly hope is a maybe at best. When God offers hope, it will happen. Since biblical hope is so great the question to ask is, “How does one get this hope?”
How to Get Biblical Hope
First, one gets hope by studying the Holy Scripture – the Bible. Paul wrote, “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). Even though he speaks specifically about the Old Testament, the principle is the same. The more we know about the Bible, the more we see God fulfilling His promises. This gives us confidence that since He has promised that we will be with Him after life on this earth ends, we have hope. Paul speaks about this hope and the perseverance one must manifest to receive it. He also wrote, “If indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I Paul, was made a minister” (Colossians 1:23). Note that Paul speaks about the “hope of the gospel.” God gave us the scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21; John 16:13; I Corinthians 2:6-13) and those New Testament scriptures are “the gospel.” Therefore, just as the Old Testament Scriptures gives us hope, so do that New Testament Scripture. The Bible also tells us, there is just one hope (Ephesians 4:4), that is to be with God in eternity. Fulfilling hope is not going to be found on this earth. It does not matter what your dream is, that is not the true satisfying hope which Christians have. In fact, the principle is, if in this life only we have hope, “we are of all men most to be pitied” (I Corinthians 15:19).
Second, hope is centered around Christ. Paul summarized our hope when he said, “God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Christ in us is “the hope of glory.” If we want this hope, we must be in Christ and surround ourselves with Christ. This all begins when we obey the gospel which offers us this hope and it is obtained by putting Christ on in the act of being immersed in water. Paul wrote, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Speaking of that act Peter said that we were “born again to a living hope” (I Peter 1:3). Jesus explained to Nicodemus that baptism is the way one is “born again” (John 3:1-8).
This great living hope motivates us so that we are “waiting for the hope of righteousness” (Galatians 5:5). Heaven will only be filled with righteousness. We look for that day since we have “put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation” (I Thessalonians 5:8).
No Hope
How sad it is that many people do not have this hope of eternal life with God. Paul described those who had not been baptized into Christ as having “no hope” (Ephesians 2:12). In another scripture he contrasts those who died without being in Christ and those who died in Christ. We grieve for loved ones when they die, but he said we do not grieve as deeply for them as for those who die out of Christ, “who have no hope” (I Thessalonians 4:13).
Conclusion
For the Christian there is just one hope just like there is one Lord and one God, the Father (Ephesians 4:4-6). The desire for heaven is so strong that Paul says we are saved by hope (Romans 8:24). Hope keeps us motivated. Paul goes on to explain, “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it” (Romans 8:24-25). Sometimes the Christian life is difficult, but because we have this hope, we persevere. Notice that two passages speak of Christians having to persevere to reach that hope (Romans 15:4; 8:24-25). Do you have hope? You do not unless you are in Christ. You are not in Christ unless you have been immersed in water so that God can forgive your sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; I Peter 3:21). Hope or No Hope – which is it? Let us assist you in having this living hope.