“Hope” is, by no means, an uncommon concept in today’s day and age. Generally, “hope” is considered within three contexts: a desire for something good in the future, the thing in the future that we desire, and the basis or reason for thinking that our desire may indeed be fulfilled. In this way, people often relate “hope” to optimistic thinking or positive outcomes.

However, in the Bible, “hope” is not merely wishful thinking or a desire for something good to happen; rather, it is a confident, faith-filled expectation in God and in His goodness. It is “what” the believer clings to and “how” the believer finds strength to live. It is the “when” the believer looks for and is assured of, and it is “why” the believer persists through the trials and tribulations of this life. It is “where” the Holy Spirit is. And, most importantly, hope is the “who” of Jesus Christ – born, crucified, and resurrected – and the promise of salvation that comes through Him and Him alone. To this point, Apostle Peter writes, “According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” The Christian proudly declares that Christ, in His glory and extraordinary lovingkindness, is hope for eternity.

Both the believer and non-believer benefit from maintaining a hopeful mindset; however, the Christian is changed by the Biblical promise of salvation. As Christians cling to the hope of eternity with Christ, they view themselves as sojourners on the earth and recognize that the circumstances of the world are temporary. Apostle Paul writes, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” With this revelation, Christians begin to adopt different values and desires than the rest of society; in other words, they become focused on the glory of Christ and the interests of heaven as opposed to the fame, fortune, and futility of the world. What they spend their money and time on changes, as do their priorities in life. To this point, apostle Paul also writes, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Essentially, the believer’s heart, makeup, and very nature are changed by the conviction of God and the hope of glory, and his priorities shift to align with those of God in response.

As the believer abides and roots himself in the hope of Jesus Christ, he learns to seek and inquire of God in every circumstance and situation; and as he devotes himself to the cause of Christ, The Lord is faithful to meet and respond to him. The Bible says in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” In this way, the hope-filled perspective is the wisest perspective, as the believer is receiving insight, instruction, blessing, and opportunity from the very one who set the universe into motion: God, Himself. The believer learns to invest in and pursue things of God, and those things of God prove to be both worthwhile and fruitful not because of his own efforts but because of the magnitude and grace of God.

This reality – that God is the one who opens doors and shows grace to His people – is demonstrated throughout the Bible, both in the Old and New Testaments. Joseph, a boy sold into slavery by his own brothers, becomes a favored, governmental official in a foreign land by the grace of God. The Israelites, an enslaved and downcast people group, escape the rule of the Egyptians and enter the Promised Land by the grace of God. David, a rejected son, and shepherd defeats the strongest enemy soldier and becomes king of Israel by the grace of God. Fishermen, tax collectors, prostitutes, and widows draw near to Jesus and become His disciples by the grace of God, despite having no qualifications or social standing. While the world would say that these individuals are at a disadvantage, the presence, and nearness of God is shown to be their greatest advantage. As it says in Isaiah 40:31, “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Even in challenging and otherwise impossible circumstances, God shows Himself to be the maker, worker, and ruler of all things time after time, and His omniscience continually outwits even the “smartest” of men.

Many people – regardless of faith orientation or lack thereof – participate in charitable actions, whether that be through supporting a charity or donating to a food bank or blood drive. When people believe that there is a cause worth supporting or hope for a better future, they are more inclined to contribute to those efforts. Both Christians and non-Christians often demonstrate their hope in these ways.

However, when believers gain hope and fix their eyes on Christ, their way of doing life changes. They read about God as a Father who tends to the fatherless, widows, and orphans, and their hearts go out to those groups as well. They learn about a God who fed the hungry and provided for the sick and poor, and they want to practice these same acts of charity. They meditate on the beauty and extravagance of the Gospel and a desire grows to share that message of redemption with those around them. Essentially, when Christians seek the heart of God and celebrate his character, they start to care about the things He cares about and gradually become more like Him, and this translates into an ongoing desire and tendency to serve without receiving anything in exchange.

Furthermore, the hope-filled Christian will invest in efforts to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whether that be through mission work, financially supporting efforts of different ministries, or otherwise proclaiming the Gospel to those around them. As previously stated, the hope of Jesus Christ transforms the believer, so his priorities are shifted and reoriented to God.