Most often, when we read the word
hope in the word of God; it does not have the same meaning of how we commonly
use the word hope today in our conversation.
For example, when we say: “I hope I get an A, or I hope it doesn’t
rain”, etc.
The Bible word hope is actually stronger than faith, of believe. The word hope is used in Titus 2:13 “Looking
for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ;”
The next prophetical event on God’s
calendar is the coming of Jesus Christ; or more properly: our going to meet Him
in the air. And as the scripture teaches
us, it is that blessed hope. It is with a confident expectation we look for the
appearing of our Saviour.
This is the very same word Paul uses
in his writing to the church at Corinth, in II Corinthians 1:7 “And our hope of you is stedfast,
knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the
consolation.” It is the very same word for hope. This he speaks to them after teaching them
and trying to console them concerning their personal sufferings. He speaks to them with the hope of their steadfastness,
even after going through some troublesome times, and heart aches.
He is saying to them ”I know you’ve
had some tough times, I know some things have happened… but I also know, not
only that you will be partakers of God’s great consolation, but also, I have
confidence in you, and in your steadfastness, that you’re not going to faint.”
This is a great testimony of the
relatively young Christians of the church at Corinth, that Paul would have such
confidence in their character.
Oh, that the dear Lord Jesus knows
this of me. That if and when I go
through some very tough times, He has confidence in me, knowing me and my
character better than I know myself.
This is very similar to what God used
Paul to write to the church at Phillipi in Philippians 2: 12a “Wherefore,
my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much
more in my absence,”
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