Hold on to Hope Hebrews 10:23
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
We are encouraged to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess. When we think about hope we need to understand that there is a difference between what we would commonly define hope as and Biblical hope.
The way we use the word hope often conveys a sense of doubt. We regularly add the word ‘so’ to ‘hope’ in response to difficult questions and say “I hope so”. We might also say something like “I hope my team wins” or “I hope it won’t rain tomorrow” but that is not what the word translated as hope in the Bible means. Biblical hope has as its foundation, faith in God. For instance, look at how the word hope is used in Hebrews 11:1:
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
This verse actually starts the passage of scripture in Hebrews Chapter 11 that is often referred to as the faith chapter. This hope comes with the confidence of knowing that God is faithful to His promises. It links the actions of the heroes of the faith listed in Hebrews 11 with their hope in God. Their faith was based in this confident assurance that God is faithful.
Our understanding of Biblical hope is not simply a wish or desire for something good to happen. It is a confident expectation based on the promises and faithfulness of God. Biblical hope carries no doubt.
In particular, then, our drawing near, our worship, must be accompanied by a firm grip on our confession of hope, the hope that looks forward eagerly to what God is finally going to do for us, the hope that we confess as part of who we are as new creation people.
Revelation 21:1-5 (NIV)
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Our hope is tied to the faithfulness of God. To be faithful is to be reliable, steadfast and unwavering. God is completely trustworthy. Faithfulness is an essential part of who He is.
Psalm 89:8 (NIV)
8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
2 Timothy 2:13 (NIV)
13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
God is always faithful. It is who He is. He remains faithful, even if we are faithless. As we start each day, we need to remember that He is faithful, He is good, always good, only good. He wants us to experience real abundant life now and forever.
Steve Lawes is the founder of the Online Bible Institute and Pastor of Keys Vineyard Church.
