Hope, Faith, and Love. They form the trinity of Christian virtues outlined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13. He tells us love is the greatest of the three, and how without faith, it is impossible to please God. So, what do we say about hope?

            Human hope and Biblical hope are two different things. Human hope is based on time. We find ourselves in the present, and we expect something in the future. But the Bible uses hope as an action—to hope, to trust. For believers, we can be assured of God’s help both in future times of trouble and for the measure of faith and strength for the present. In the New Testament, Paul speaks of hope more than any other Biblical writer. He teaches us that God is the source of a believer’s hope

            According to 1 Timothy 4:10, the KJV translates the Greek word for hope as “trust.” Regardless, Paul teaches us that trusting in the living God is equivalent to placing our faith in Him for salvation. Your salvation is not tied to your works or words but to the grace of God through Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. The present hope we have is the trust we place in the saving power of God.

            Hope is a lot like faith. It is based on the belief in God’s promises that are currently unseen (Romans 8:24). When trials come and darkness seems to overtake our journey, we know that we can face our difficulties with assurance and peace through the blessed hope. Paul tells those in Rome to patiently study the scripture and take comfort in the inspired Word to increase hope. This hope will lead to perseverance even in the most difficult of circumstances.

            The great “roll call of the faithful” in Hebrews 11 admonishes us to remember the reward that comes to the faithful if we respond in total trust and commitment to the ways of holiness and righteousness. Just as it was with those in the Old Testament, it will be the same for you if you will hold on to hope.

            Finally, for Paul, hope is an indispensable part of the coming end of the age. Titus 2:13 uses the beloved phrase “blessed hope.” One day when Christ appears, all of creation will be changed, and every believer will see their blessed hope in His fullness. Paul tells us, “for the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:20-21, KJV). In other words, when Christ returns, he will put an end to the curse placed upon the world brought by Adam’s sin.

            Paul continues this idea when he links Christ’s return to the resurrection of believers. He told those in the Thessalonian Church not to grieve for those loved ones who had died believing in Christ Jesus. Paul comforts the grieving, letting us know we have hope, whereas others (nonbelievers) are hopeless (1 Thessalonians 4:13.) He promises us in the Word, by inspiration of the Spirit, that all who are dead in Christ will rise with new bodies, and those who are alive will be caught up and transformed (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17). What a blessed day! What a blessed hope!

            When we face times of death and despair, I know that I have hope beyond all earthly hopes that grants strength for today, bright hope for tomorrow, and if I’m alive or dead at Christ’s return, I will see in the fullness that which I see now faintly. I encourage you, brothers and sisters, to be anxious about nothing in this life—pandemics, politics, or predicaments. These are just some of the challenges believers face that make us question God’s love. Believers do not lose hope, rejoice despite the tribulations (Romans 12:12). Learn from these challenges and allow them to produce endurance (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Remember, that current suffering is nothing compared to the future glory (Romans 8:18).