Integrity- People of God

Hope, what is Hope? In the Biblical context Hope is always attached to God! There are several words that are translated into the word hope in the Old and New Testament. With most of these words there are common themes which expressconfidence; a cord as an attachment; anticipation with pleasure;something waited for; something longed for; watching with expectation; to wait; to trust; to be confident and sure and to be bold. All of these expressions are rooted in Jehovah, God Almighty, who is able to perform that which we hope for. These cords of attachment are attached to the faithfulness, goodness and lovingkindness of God and His word.

Isaiah 49:23 Kings shall be your foster fathers, And their queens your nursing mothers; They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, And lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD, For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me.”

Romans 4:17-18 (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”

The dictionary gives a more natural or worldly identification of the word, which is a watered-down definition of hope, as a feeling or a possibility of luck. It speaks to what is wanted or can be had; to believe or desire something; to feel something desired may happen or to place trust. The things related to our feelings are of the shallowest part of mankind’s existence in relationship to our mind, soul and spirit. With the mind we grasp understanding and come to a saving knowledge of God;the soul defines who we are as we develop our character, integrity and reputation; the spirit is the gift of life from God who is the source of life. Our feelings though they are a part of what makes us unique they are constantly changing as we grow in knowledge and experience life, but God is our constant, He never changes. 

Hope in the biblical context is attached and connected with a cord to faith in God and Jesus Christ our Savior. Therefore, it is impossible to have hope in God without faith in Jesus the Christ. Faith is credence and a moral conviction to the truthfulness, the faithfulness and trustworthiness of Jesus Christ and our reliance upon God for our salvation, assurance, belief and hope for our future.  

Our hope is rooted and grounded in faith in Jesus, He is ourhope and we are not ashamed to stand against the winds of doubt, uncertainty and the skepticism of people around us. Biblical hope is embedded and ingrained, founded and established in the knowledge and truth of our assurance in Christ. 

Though we may experience the same troubles, misfortunes and sufferings as the world, our responses and reactions are different. This is because we know in whom we have believed and know that He is able to keep us and bring us out with peace according to His purpose and calling for us. 

2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Philippians 1:20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 

The Bible tells us to not be terrified, alarmed or to panic when we are faced with dangers, difficulties and harsh conditions or when we stand before opposition from our adversaries or foes. Because when we stand in complete faith and hope without wavering in our Lord, it is a confirmation, a testimony and a clear verification to our adversaries of their destruction and punishment. While at the same time, this confidence speaks to our hope, salvation, deliverance and rescue that is coming from our Almighty God and Savior. 

Learning to trust in faithfulness of God is a practiced skill that we develop over time by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we are in a spiritual battle, or in a spiritual confrontation with our attackers we must learn how to stand in hope without hesitation, wavering or indecision as to whether we will trust God with this battle. 

Philippians 1:28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

Those who are familiar with hand-to-hand combat understand that they cannot blink or take their eyes off their adversary during the fight or conflict. A split second of indecision or losing sight of their opponent can cause them to lose the battle. “We don’t blink,” we are not terrified by our adversaries in the face of battle, but we stand firm in our hope and confidence in our God and that He is able to save us and give us the victory.  

Psalms 25:2-3 O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed; Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

Psalms 71:1-3 In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame. Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape; Incline Your ear to me, and save me. Be my strong refuge, To which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress.

As followers of Christ, our hope is fixed, joined and attached to the Almighty God Jehovah who is preeminent over all things. Unlike the world whose hope is that things might get better, or changes might come, like the roll of the dice, or through coincidence. Only to have their hope disappear like a vapor when things do not turn in their favor. Those who believe in Christ have the Holy Spirit living in them to empower them to stand and not waver. They can be still and wait on the Lord to settle the matter. 

Ruth 3:18 Then she said, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”

Philippians 1:19-20 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 

We will wait and see how the Lord settles the matter!

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