One passage in Scripture starkly contrasts the idea of hope in the Bible with the idea of hope that is pervasive in culture. Before we get to that passage, let’s make sure we understand the cultural explanation of hope.
Culture and hope
Hope, according to culture, revolves around wishing and wanting with no certainty of outcome. Consider these phrases:
- “I hope you get better”
- “This [job, relationship, income, etc) brings me hope about the future”
- “I hope you have a good day”
- “I hope it works out”
- “I’m hopeful about the outcome”
- “I hope you understand what I’m saying”
In each of these statements (and many more like them) we wish for something to occur or we want a result from someone/something – but the common thread is that there is no guarantee. They may not get better. The job may result in a layoff. The relationship may end. What’s most important here is that the Bible knows nothing about this kind of hope. This is where our passage comes into play.
The Bible and hope
The best passage on hope in the Bible is 1 Peter 1:3-9. Let’s break it down and see why.
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… (1:3)
What kind of hope do we have as Christians? A living hope that is made possible through the most significant event to ever occur in history: The resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This tells us something extremely important. Hope in the biblical sense only exists for those who have experienced a new birth. This also means that for the Christian, there is never “hopelessness”. To be hopeless is to be Christ-less. We can be mournful, we can be fearful, we can be saddened or even discouraged at times. But our hope is untouchable. The next verses explain why.
…and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1:4-5)
We’ve seen the object of our hope is Christ and His resurrection. Here we see the result of our hope and its location. The result is a guaranteed inheritance that no earthly inheritance of wealth, land, or possessions can compete with. All of those things can eventually end, they can have corrupt loopholes, and they diminish over time. But our inheritance is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading. How is that possible? Because our hope is not even located on this earth. It is kept in heaven for you. It is not only beyond this world, it is beyond the demonic realm. Satan himself has no say or sway over our hope, as this hope is protected by God’s power! How do we respond to such a magnificent truth? The next verses tell us.
You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials so that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1:6-7)
We rejoice! But we don’t rejoice as those who pretend that all is “sunshine and rainbows” as they say. We rejoice in the full knowledge of difficulty in this world because we know that our pain has a purpose. Look at the three things we’re told about these trials. First, they are for a “short time” in comparison to our inheritance. Second, “you have had…” is a powerful phrase. Some translations state, “if necessary…” This means the only trials we face are necessary according to the Lord. 3) The trials exist so that the genuineness of our faith may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. When we see Him, how much more will we praise Him after our full rescue from this world? Carrying this thought forward, the final two verses we’re about to look at are so critical as they speak to us specifically as those who have not seen the risen Jesus.
You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls (1:8-9)
This is true and you can say it with me: “I did not see Jesus in person when I trusted in Him, but I love Him. I do not see Him now, but I believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, because I am receiving the goal of my faith, the salvation of my soul.” I love the capstone on this section so much because it brings it all full circle. My hope that is through Christ and results in a guaranteed inheritance is so much more than a future state. I am, at this very second, receiving the goal of my faith – the reason for my hope – the salvation of my soul.
Because of the extremely significant truth put forth by this passage, we can boldly claim that the Christian is forever hopeful. This is not wishful thinking. This is a guaranteed certainty that we can look forward to and rejoice in now.
My recommendation for you: Memorize this section of Scripture (1 Peter 1:3-9). Hide it in your heart. Hold it up to any temptation or accusation from our common enemy that tries to deceive you into believing that hope is found anywhere else than in Christ. Then, live it out in visible rebellion to all the sources of false hopes that surround us. In doing so, you’ll find yourself becoming the kind of person that someone knows they can come to when they feel hopeless. Not just because they know you’ll hear them out; but because they see your source of hope is different than what they see in others. What an incredible opportunity it opens to then share the eternal, imperishable, incorruptible, and unfading hope you have in Jesus.
