Hope

Ephesians 4:4b

In the latter part of verse four it addresses hope, “just as you were called to one hope,” what is that all about?  If you give it a little thought, you will come to this conclusion, the word “hope” is habitually used in our conversation.  As a small child, I hoped dad would take us to the ballgame, and as a student I hoped to pass any test, as a teenager I hoped the manager at H.E.B. would give me one more chance.  In my twenty’s, I was hoping Jan would marry me, and after ten interviews, I was hoping that Scott Van Warmer would give me a job with the 3M Company.  Yes, hope has been a big part of my vocabulary; it is often used to express the desires of my heart, and my greatest fears, but is that the hope the Bible is addressing in this Scripture?

The apostle Peter gives us a clear picture of the hope that is being referred to in Ephesians 4:4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you,”  (1 Peter 1:3-4) Now that is a promise that any one who understands it, could turn down. 

As I looked at the word hope, it became clear that God, our Father, in His mercy and love has been from the beginning of the Scriptures painting a picture of hope.  It also has become clear that we who are growing in Christ have an obligation to the unbeliever, and the babies in Christ, no matter what age they are, to show them the signs in Scripture pointing to this hope.  Paul tells us in Romans 15:4, that the Scriptures are the source of hope.  They are our teacher, God in His mercy had the Holy Spirit to direct prophets, and kings to write down His words, and every one of them was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

I once considered myself an undercover Christian, if you put me on the spot I would testify about my love affair with Jesus Christ, but a true love affair cannot be kept quiet for long.  The apostle Peter told us, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice