A Sure Thing

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the
greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).

Somehow, we have known that faith and love
remain. We have had our doubts about hope. Perhaps it is because we have
placed a 21st-century definition on hope. For instance, we
may say something like, “I hope so,” meaning, “I wish it would happen, but it
probably won’t.” To us, hope is wishy and doubtful. That is why it doesn’t
sound like it belongs with faith and love.

In the Bible, hope is not wishy; it is a sure thing.

“God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which
it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope
offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the
soul, firm and secure” (Heb. 6:18-19).

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to
all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to
live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we
wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior,
Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to
purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good”
(Titus 2:11-14).

Notice:

·      
Hope is firm and secure.

·      
Hope is blessed.

·      
Hope is future.

·      
Hope is centered on the appearing of Jesus
Christ.

In other words, hope, as spoken about in the Bible,
is a glad anticipation of a future certainty, the return of Jesus Christ.

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a
Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).

This post coordinates with today’s reading in the To
the Word! Bible Reading Challenge. If you are not in a daily reading plan,
please join us at TotheWord.com. We would love to have you reading with us.