Hoping in God's Word

To hope is more than to desire. So often we say, "I hope so," and merely mean that we would like to have this or that happen. But the word "hope" means "expect." It means that we are absolutely sure that this or that will happen.

Do we not in Hebrews 6:19 read that we have hope as the anchor of our soul, both sure and steadfast? Surely an anchor is not a wish, but an object that holds the ship in a particular place. A wish is not sure and steadfast, and can quickly be dropped. Hope is sure and steadfast.

Bear that in mind, then, when in Psalm 130:5 we read, "I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope."

The psalmist was not different from us. We are deeply embedded with guilt, and we deserve everlasting punishment. But by God's grace we have been given hope of escape from that punishment. We are given the certainty that it is ours by God's grace. And we expect to enter heavenly glory instead of the hellish punishment for which our sins call.

We wait with confidence because of that hope, but also because of certain knowledge. Who would wait on a street corner for a bus, if he were not sure that buses come down that street and will stop there? To have hope we must and do have God's word that our salvation is coming fully when Christ returns.

Wait then for Christ to come back, convinced that because He died for our sins, He will come back with that full salvation. Believe that He did earn it for you. That faith will give you hope. Expect it because the almighty, unchangeable God promises it to you.

The psalmist says it; but we also have reason to say it. Believing, as the psalmist presents it in verse 4, that there is forgiveness with God, we have reason for hope. When God speaks we have the truth. His sure Word builds up hope in His children's hearts.

Read: Psalm 130

Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism

Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
2 Chronicles 24 ; 2 Chronicles 25:1-28 
Romans 12:1-21 
Psalm 22:19-31 
Proverbs 20:8-10 
****
Quote for Reflection:

"We hear about identity theft and corporate fraud. Yet, two violations of the eighth commandment are continually overlooked in society. They are gambling and the institution of labor unions. Both of these are allowed and promoted by the government of America. They are ‘legalized theft!’"  – The Reformed Perspective [Summer 2004]