Find real hope
by MICHAEL CISLER
North Kent Bible Church
I am learning more and more in life that words have great meaning and that the use of some words can change, bringing a significant change in their effectiveness. Love is one of those words. In one sentence I can say, “I love my wife.” The next, “I love ice cream.” In no way are my priorities, desires or affection the same for both my wife and ice cream. The word love, through use, sometimes loses its rightful meaning. I have realized recently that another word like that is hope.
The Bible tells me I can put my hope in God (Psalm 42:5 and 11, and I Timothy 6:17). When I compare that to other things that I hope for, I begin to question its certainty. I hope it doesn’t snow again this winter. I hope the Tigers win the World Series. I hope my children grow up to be responsible teenagers and adults. Where it is my hope it doesn’t snow again this winter, history would suggest it probably will. Where it is my hope the Tigers win the World Series, their achievements last year mixed with off-season roster changes do not stir in me much confidence. Where I hope my children will be responsible in the future, I recognize they will have the ability to make their own decisions and if they are like me, will make some irresponsible ones along the way. If this is the kind of hope the Bible talks about putting in God, it is uncertain, unsure, and in it we can have little confidence.
That is not, however, the kind of hope we have in God. Hope has become a word that is much more synonymous with desire than what it really means as we look at the Bible. In the Bible there is certainty and confidence in hope. When we put our hope in God, we are not simply desiring He will be with us, but we are relying on Him to be with us.
Part of Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Our hope in God is like an anchor that will hold through all of the storms of life. Therefore, put your hope in God, for in Him is found real hope.
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