I have mentioned in an earlier post that my “word” for 2021 is HOPE. This choice came about because of the overwhelming sense of hopelessness poured out on us from all directions in our society. The media loves to sell hopelessness because it keeps people tuned in to see if they can find just a glimmer of hope. The battle against the pandemic is presented as hopeless. The situation in our US government seems hopeless, not matter which side of the aisle you sit. We are told the educational system is failing which leaves our future in doubt.
In the face of all this negativity, I want to be the one that chooses to hang on to hope. This is not just a pipe dream or the foolish wish of an old guy not willing to face reality. My hope is built on the enduring and infallible Word of God. This firm foundation cannot be altered by a virus, governmental officials, or the overall state of our society. The fact remains that we each have a choice. We can allow Satan to cause fear, anger, frustration, and hopelessness through the circumstances of our lives, or we can choose to keep our eyes on the true hope offered by an all-powerful God.
As men who are set apart by our Lord to lead families, oversee businesses, work side by side with hopeless people, or just ones pursuing the righteousness of Christ, we must choose hope. We can make this decision when we grasp how adamant God is in his effort to provide hope.
The word hope appears around 300 times in the Scripture. These are not describing wishful thinking, “I hope we win our game on Saturday.” Instead, these are statements of assurance that what is being offered is a done deal, it will happen. Hebrews 11:1 sums it up best, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
As we know, the translation of Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) are often dependent on the context in which the word is found. This is true of the words used for hope. Along with the 300 times we see the word hope in Scripture, there are other instances in which the same words are translated differently. This does not remove the meaning of hope but clarifies what biblical hope is all about. Some of the alternate translations are to wait, to be patient, to endure. These are all elements of what it means to hope. God’s promises are definite, they will come true. However, they are not based on our timing or desire. They are exclusively dependent on the will of God.
This is great news. Although our pride would tell us we have the ability to plan our lives in a positive way, history has shown that when men are left to their own devices, the results are not always positive. The problem is, because of our different circumstances, what is right for me may not be best for you. My garden may need rain on the same day your baseball team needs to defend their championship. God is not limited by circumstances. He sees our world’s entire existence, from the beginning of time till the end, in a single glance. Along with this ability, he has perfect knowledge and wisdom. The frosting on the cake is that God makes his decisions with perfect love.
It may be difficult at times to decipher what God is up too in our lives. This is not because he is confusing, it is because we do not have the ability to understand his superior wisdom. This is why hanging onto hope is so vital. When I place my hope in the Lord, I am releasing my worry, confusion, and frustration over things I cannot control or change anyway. In doing so, I place my confidence in One who has a track record of doing all things well.