I heard it mentioned this weekend that a portion of Ezekiel that was read lacked hope. So that sent me off to find a proper definition of hope as displayed in the Bible. And, more importantly, I needed an answer in case the problem was ever presented to me.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines hope as "the theological virtue defined as the desire and search for a future good." That didn't quite represent the meaning for which I was looking. Biblical hope isn't biblical wishing.
We Christians use words like love, peace and hope and assign definitions that are "warm and fuzzy" or "pie in the sky" dreamy. They are hollow words without substance similar to the definition above.
If we read through Ezekiel and other prophetic works beginning with Jeremiah, we find plenty of messages of warning, judgment and disaster. God's prophets call for repentance and righteousness. If there is no repentance, then there is stored-up wrath. In these books, you see God's justice at the point application—in essence, where the "bullet hits the bone."
In our reading, what hope does a wicked and unrepentant nation have? A rebellious and unapologetic sinner? None.
So to give the words like love, peace and hope substance—or “meat”—God directs the rebellious to recognize their error. God instructs the wicked to become aware of their pitiful state. And now, if we recognize our detestable situation, and we honestly run and seek The Refuge, enter hope.
Hope, then, is better defined is “confident expectation” or “full assurance” because the word now has a target and carries some weight. And we come across remarkable assurances like:
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5) With repentance comes hope. With God’s fulfilled promises comes hope. With a Savior comes hope. With an expectation of His promised return comes hope.
Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether or by word or our epistle. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. (2 Thessalonians 2:15-17)
To relegate the Lord's spiritual gift of hope to merely a "future state of happiness,” or worse yet, to only an unsure “possibility” of future happiness, is simply wrong.
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