The Hope of Hope

The Hope of Hope

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NKJV)

…lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

The sorrow of humanity is a controlling reality. Humans, by nature, seem prone to sorrow. It’s no wonder they project this trait on their Creator, if they in fact believe in one. It seems no matter what religion one follows, people find comfort in projecting their sorrow back on some divine  purpose as this seems to give them hope.

Yes I said it, it gives them hope, hope, that there is purpose for their pain. Strangely, humans find comfort in this which is why it’s not hard to believe in a God who gives and takes away. The problem for us however, is that we are Christians. We’re the people of truth, brought forth by truth, that we should continue to live in truth. As the people of truth, why do we continue to live separately from it?

I believe the answer is found in our failure to live by Romans 12:2. This scripture says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” If I am honest, I could preach this scripture weekly and never exhaust its importance. Where most people miss it is not allowing their mind to be renewed. To be renewed is to be completely renovated and in this case, from the world, its thoughts, its ways, and its ideals as much as they do not conform to the Word of God.

As much as we are the people of truth, we are the people of hope or Godly expectation. 1 Corinthians 13:1 says, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Love is the greatest but note that faith and hope are still listed here. To understand it better consider this: God is love, but to interact with love you must do so by faith and hope. Essentially Paul ends the great love chapter with the focus on these three areas.

Faith is the trust in hope or expectation of what God has promised. This is what we are to renew our minds to. This is also the greatest assault to all that is God. Everything the devil does has its purpose in eliminating our hope. Every attack on our faith, if you look, will always be trying to undermine our hope.

Look what we are shown in Colossians 1:23. Paul says here, “if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…” Indeed the Bible declares that those who are just live by faith. We understand that faith is needed to get into Heaven, and here we see it’s possible to get moved away by losing hope.

If you are going to continue in the blessings of God and in the faith He says moves mountains, you will have to fortify your hope. Your expectation has to be more in the Word than even what you see. How do you do this? What ever area of Hope needs fortified, focus your attention in the Word, in the area attacked. If the attack is in finances, your focus must be in financial scriptures, or if you need healing, in healing scriptures, for example. Faith comes by hearing so return to the Word as often as you need, until your hope cannot be moved by anything, even and especially by your own thoughts.

Be Blessed,

Pastor Jeff