In life’s hardest moments, people instinctively seek something or someone to cling to for strength. We crave assurance, a reason to press forward, a way to see how life has meaning. But only one source can truly satisfy that need, offering lasting purpose and hope: the God of hope (Romans 15:13). By turning to His Word, we find powerful reminders of His enduring promises. We will look at His Word to see what has already been established for us regarding the hope of Christ’s coming. Three examples of God providing hope to His people to help them move forward, especially in challenging times, are (1) His plan of redemption in the stars; (2) the promise of a redeemer; and (3) the promised return of the redeemer.
First, when God originally put the heavens in order as He prepared for man, He purposed for the stars to depict His plan of redemption. God has consistently communicated the truth of Christ’s coming in order to encourage His people to keep looking forward and advancing, especially during challenging times. He planned for our redemption to be communicated in the stars before it was ever put into writing. He arranged this wonderful news for all to see.
Genesis 1:14:
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs….
The Hebrew word for “signs” is used of marking someone significant to come. This would be our redeemer—Jesus Christ. The stars are one way that God chose to communicate His plan for the coming redeemer. God had the first coming of our savior planned out with precision.
In the challenging times after the fall of man, God graciously gave a much-needed hope of a redeemer. When God makes a promise, He backs it up.
Genesis 3:15:
And I will put enmity between thee [the serpent, the Devil] and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it [the seed of the woman, the redeemer] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This verse presents a promise, the coming of a redeemer. Despite Adam transferring the rulership of the earth to the adversary, our God gave Adam and Eve this prophecy in Genesis 3:15, giving hope for generations to come. This hope was fulfilled by the first coming of the redeemer, Jesus Christ. Like the first coming of Jesus Christ that gave Old Testament believers hope, we also have a great hope. We can endure because our redeemer is coming back.
After Jesus Christ ascended, God helped the believers move forward with the Hope, the promise of Christ’s return. We are now in the Age of Grace, and this is our opportunity to move forward with hope. The Greek word elpis, most often translated as “hope” in the New Testament, means “a gladly and firmly held prospect of a future good.” It refers to a believer’s “joyful and confident expectation” of the future that comes with salvation. Biblically, elpis can also refer to “the expected good, that for which we hope.” God will keep His Word regarding the promise of Christ’s return. God is faithful.
Hebrews 6:17-19:
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope [elpis] set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast….
Hope is an anchor that we can depend upon to hold us. God’s Word has integrity. “God is not a man, that he should lie…” (Numbers 23:19). We can be “both sure and stedfast.” Whatever comes at us in life, this Hope is a sure boost to keep us moving. Not only does God guarantee the Hope, but He desires for us in the Grace Administration to “abound in hope” (Romans 15:13). The promise of Jesus Christ’s return gives us purpose in life.
Life’s hardest moments are temporary. God gives His people a hope that is permanent: an expectation of a good future. It’s something we can live for today and that will be fulfilled in the future. What a blessing! With a firm knowledge of this Hope that the God of hope has given us, we can keep moving forward, anticipating a victory that’s guaranteed. With God, we have the answer for a complete life because we can abound in hope!
Looking for more information on this topic? Check out Titles of God in the Bible on “The God of Hope” from the September-October 2016 issue of The Way Magazine.