BE HOPEFUL
During
my recent encounter with acute abdominal pain and a subsequent seven-day
hospitalization, I saw and met more people suffering from pain. Amid my
unbearable pain, I cried out to God for help through the prayers of family and
friends. I eagerly looked at teams of young doctors and nurses, hoping that
they would help me be free of pain and be healthy again.
I
even told the doctors, "I am emotionally and spiritually doing well, but
my physical health is in your hands, and I trust that you will make me well."
A couple of times, I felt as if I was not going to make it, especially when I
was being driven in the ambulance. Other nights staying up in the hospital bed,
both arms poked with IV vials, with an accelerated heart rate and
uncontrollable blood pressure, I thought perhaps this may be my last night. I
may die alone here!
I
was not afraid to die because I knew with certainty where I would spend the
rest of my life when I die, in heaven with God. But what was more unbearable
was the thought of not being able to see and hold my lovely wife, my children,
and especially our five-month-old grandchild, and the one that is yet to be
born soon. All along, I have not given up trusting God for a miracle. What kept
me going was my Hope in God and my determination to stay alive for my family.
Lo
and behold, God heard our prayers. He intervened! The pain was gone. Through
all the incredible efforts of these efficient young doctors, nurses, and a
supportive own and my church family, I was healed and on the road to normal
health. However, some of my doctors are still working with me to address specific
concerns related to my health. It's an ongoing process.
When
people are emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, relationally, and
socially hurting, the only thing they can hang on to is a rope of Hope. As long
as they keep their hopes up, they could be helped. But once they give up Hope,
no one can help them. Today, we will explore why Hope is such an integral part
of living, how Biblical Hope doesn't disappoint us, and how we can Be
Hopeful when everything around us seems hopeless. I Peter 1:1-9
I. Why
Hope Is an Integral Part of Life?
We had two young
girls join us at our Thanksgiving table. During our conversation, they both
said how the past churches they attended had changed their names to Hope Church.
It is no coincidence that whenever our Church's name was changed from
Evangelical Baptist Church to Hope Church, God saw it coming. People need Hope
more than ever, living in a world that is unstable, uncertain, and frightening.
It is not by having Hope either in our name or in the name of our Church that
we would find Hope, but by trusting in the God who is our Hope.
Why is Hope such
an integral part of life? Before we define what Hope is, here are what certain
famous people in the world said of Hope: "Hope is being able to see that there is light despite
all of the darkness." Desmond Tutu
"It's always something, to know you've done the
most you could. But, don't leave off hoping, or it's of no use doing anything.
Hope, hope to the last!" —Charles Dickens.
"Hope
is the last thing ever lost." Italian proverb. "And now these
three remain: Faith, Hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." The
Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 13:13
When
we give some thought, we agree that Hope is essential for living; without it, people and
the world will not exist. If
Hope is one of the three things that will remain, and it is the last thing we
have lost, what is Hope? Where can we find Hope to stay hopeful?
II.
What is Hope? A Biblical View
The dictionary defines Hope as a feeling of expectation and desire
for something to happen. We often use the word 'Hope' this way, for instance,
if someone asks you, 'Do you think the Sun will shine tomorrow?' We will
respond, "I hope so." In other words, we desire and
expect a bright and sunny day, but given the gloomy and dark days, we are not
confident. You are going for a job interview, and your close friend asks,
"Do you think you will get this job?"
We cross our fingers without saying the words, but in
reality, we're saying, "I may not get it." The word Hope in English
often conveys doubt and uncertainty. In this world, people hope for something,
but they do not know whether they will get it, given their disappointments. In
contrast, the Biblical Hope is quite the opposite, as it is based on God who
doesn't disappoint us.
The very words for Hope, both in Hebrew and Greek, exude confidence
and certainty. In the OT, the Hebrew word batah
conveys confidence, security, and a sense of being without care; therefore, the
concept of doubt is not part of this word. Consider these scriptures: Psalm 16:9. "Therefore, my heart is glad,
and my glory rejoices; My flesh also
will dwell securely." (NASB).
Psalm 22:9. "Yet You
are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother's
breasts." (NASB). "In
these scriptures, the word Hope denotes: trust, confidence, security, joy, and
reliance on God and His word. In most New Testament instances, the word Hope is
the Greek elpis/elpizo. Again, there is no doubt attached to this word.
Therefore, we could define biblical Hope as a
confident expectation or assurance based on a firm foundation, for which we
wait with joy and patient endurance. That sure foundation is God and His
promises. When the
Psalmist said, "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within
me? Put your Hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
Psalm 42:11.The Psalmist is not saying, "I hope so, or I am crossing my
fingers." No! Based on God's past deliverances and provision, he preaches
to his soul to wait for God to come through.
For
many OT believers, putting their Hope in God is not only a personal experience
but also a collective practice. When calamities hit them, they collectively
would cry out to God, saying, "We wait in Hope for the LORD; he is our
help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our Hope in you."
Psalm 33:20-22. When troubles hit us, where do we place our Hope, in people or
God?
III.
Be Hopeful
For
many in this world, it is hard to remain hopeful as they witness so much chaos
and uncertainty, placing their Hope in human leaders who often fail to deliver
what they promised.
On
the contrary, the followers of Christ can be hopeful in the midst of a failing
economy, famine, earthquakes, and wars. What is the difference? The difference
is in whom you put your Hope. Biblical Hope begins and ends in God Himself and
His eternal Word. Isaiah prophesied to a distressed people, those whom God
humbled as they came through several wars.
He
prophesied that people living in darkness would see a great light at the birth
of God's Son and the dawn of His eternal Kingdom of Peace and righteousness. Isaiah's
prophecy made God's people Hopeful. After centuries, the Apostle Peter, a
broken man himself, wrote to God's elect, scattered throughout the world,
living under the threat of persecution.
Some
traditions say that soon after writing the letters, Peter was crucified upside
down by the emperor Nero between 64 and 68 AD. He gave them three Biblical
truths that would help them remain hopeful and endure persecution joyfully.
These truths can also help us stay hopeful.
Truth
Number One: Vs 3, Our Father God, in his mercy, through Christ's resurrection,
gave us a new birth into a living Hope. We, as Christians, are people born of
Hope. Truth Number Two: Vs. 4. We have an eternal inheritance of God's presence
which can never perish, spoil, or fade. Unlike the gold and the riches of this
world, what God has for us endures forever.
Truth
Number Three: We rejoice when we face trials as they strengthen our faith,
which is of greater worth than gold. How could we rejoice during our struggles?
By fixing our eyes upon Jesus, who is the author and the finisher of our faith.
All these years, it is the believers in other parts of the world who have suffered
persecution for their faith, yet they remained faithful.
Now
it is the time for the Christians in the Western world. What gives us courage
and strength amid challenges and possible persecution? Remember these
hope-giving scriptures: Jer 29:11, For
I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you Hope and
a future. Psalm 33:18, "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose Hope is in
his unfailing love." Psalm 130:5, "wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in
his word I put my Hope. On this first Sunday of Advent, my prayer for all
of us is this: May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and
peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with Hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13.
