The Power of Hope

 

“And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”

—Romans 5:2b

Hopefulness represents a quality that supports our faith while we live in the muck and mire of a troubled world. All around us, the setting in which we live our daily lives seems destined for anguish and destruction.

In our lifetimes, has politics ever seemed more rancorous? Have the poor seemed more neglected by God’s people in spite of massive programs of social welfare designed to keep poor people dependent on government handouts? Have relationships between people of different races and ethnic origins ever seemed more strained, even hostile? Have incomes seemed more flat?

In the world of religion, have churches ever seemed less effective? Has the focus of the church ever seemed more on entertainment and less on making mature disciples? Has the principles of successful business ever seemed to have more greatly invaded the decision-making of ministry?

This is a time in the history of our nation where a hopelessness has become pervasive.

And yet, for those of us who hold fast to the life-changing power of the Gospel, hope does indeed leap forth. The Apostle Paul captured this anchoring reality when he wrote the words recorded in Romans 5:1-5:

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

We must remember that Paul was writing to believers whom he had not yet met face to face. He had heard of their faith. He longed to see them and fellowship with them. But for now, this letter would have to suffice. For this reason, Paul’s letter to the church at Rome stands as a masterpiece of systematic theology.

Do we feel hopeless in our present circumstances? Then we must turn to Jesus. We must allow the Holy Spirit to breathe hope into our beings this very day.

If we surrender—and fall back into His mercy, grace, and love—hope will, indeed, rise within us.

 

_{Copyright © 2014 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

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