Exhortation, August 28

Hope is one of the traditional “theological virtues” – faith, hope and love. Hebrews 11 defines faith as hope, and for Paul “hope,” like Victor and Faith, is another name for Jesus (1 Timothy 1:1). In our sermon text, Paul encourages hope by saying God is able to do “exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to the power that works within us” (Ephesians 3:20).

Hope is one of the marks that distinguishes believers from unbelievers. Those outside of Christ are without God and without hope (Ephesians 2:12). For unbelievers, death is a cause of unmitigated grief, because they have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13). “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” says Solomon (Proverbs 13:12), and for the wicked hopes are always deferred because they set their hope on things that cannot deliver.

“All very well and good,” you may be thinking, “but I don’t feel particularly buoyant this morning. I’m supposed to be full of the joy and hope in the Lord, but I’m not. I hope for many things – for a repaired marriage, for peace with your kids, for a job, for deliverance from this dark shadow that hangs over me all the time – and at every turn I’m disappointed.” If you are thinking that way, you may even have run through the syllogism of despair: “The wicked are without hope; I am without hope; therefore . . . .”

When you think yourself into this kind of corner, it’s a sign that your thinking is backwards. We expect to ease through our trials on a floating cushion of hope. That is unrealistic and, more importantly, unbiblical. Listen to Paul: “We exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance proven character, and proven character hope, and hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5).

Hope doesn’t come all at once; hope doesn’t come at the beginning; hope may not even come in the middle of your journey through the valley of the shadow. But you are in Christ, and that means hope lies ahead. Persevere, and hope for the dawning of hope.