What Ever Happened To Hope?

Clete Snellenberger

I Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now abide Faith, Hope and Love, these three, but the greatest of these is Love.”

When Jesus makes all things new and His followers are ushered into the eternal state, “Faith” will no longer be necessary because the redeemed will see God face to face. “Hope” will no longer be necessary because their hope will have been perfectly realized. But “Love” will remain, and it will finally be known without the taint of sin. But for now these three remain, so let us look at the word called Hope.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now Faith is the substance (tangibility), of the hoped for (or anticipated), the evidence (proof) of things not seen.” It is an absolute conviction—based on the assurance of God’s unchangeable and perfect character that God’s promises will be fulfilled.

To Father Abraham, God said in Romans 4:17-18 “(I have made you a father of many nations), in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the Father of many nations, according to what was spoken.”

“Hope” has no substance in itself, as a person who says “I’m just hoping and praying.” It is better to say. I am believing, trusting and praying God’s truths and receiving results. But, don’t throw away hope.

Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred (put off) makes the heart sick, or hopeless, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.”

Romans 8:24-25 refers to our relationship and maturity through the Spirit. “For we are saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope, for why does one still hope for what he sees. But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

So, where does hope fit in? Hebrews 6:18-19 –“These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he makes a promise, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath. These things encourage us who came to God for safety. They give us strength to hold onto the hope we have been given.” (NCV)

Don’t ever lose your Hope. It is an anchor for your soul. Grasp by Faith that it is done. God said it—that makes it so! All things are possible to them that believe!

First we have to have Hope in order to give substance to faith. Don’t ever lose your Hope. Faith is made up of hope. God’s word tells us that the main ingredient that makes faith work is love. But, hope is the beginning.

Our hope has to be in God and His promises. And why can we trust in God and His promises? Because God is not a man that He can lie and He is true to His Word. Our part is to believe! We have to put our hope in God.

The Bible is full of scriptures about hope. Listed below are just a few:

Psalm 31:24—“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

Psalm 38:15—“For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God.”

Psalm 71:5—“For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.”

Psalm 119:114—“Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.”

Psalm 146:5—“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God…”

Lamentations 3:24—“The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.”

Romans 15:13—“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Keep on hoping, believing and trusting in God.

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