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Love, faith, hope. The three are universally termed as the three pillars of the Christian faith. Hope is a Christian tenet seen throughout the Bible. This quality, which means looking to the future praying for a positive outcome or depending on powers outside yourself for a positive outcome builds a foundational basis on very important aspects of life. Hope stands out as what Christians and Jews in the Old Testament hold/held on to as an assurance that God is/was working in their favour and for their good. Hope is the one pillar of the Christian faith that tests the faith of believers and their belief in the faithfulness of Yahweh.
Adam and Eve are the first people in the Bible to have hope built up in them. In spite of their treason, God shows His exceeding mercy in making coverings for them and even making a promise! Amidst the pronouncements of curses that was due their disobedience God does not outrightly kill them, instead He gives an announcement that a descendant of Eve will put to a stop the tyranny of the devil.
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.' (Gen 3:15 ESV)
This pronouncement clearly shows that an offspring will greatly injure Satan. He will bruise Satan’s head while Satan will bruise his heel. This positive announcement found in the middle of the pronouncement of harsh judgements it is sure to create a longing and hopefulness in a people that had directly disobeyed God’s instructions. Although exiled from the Garden, Adam and Eve could look to the future with a glimmer of hope. They knew that their troubles and the troubles that were sure to meet their descendants now ,that they were out of a perfect garden into a broken world were only for a matter of time before a saviour came onto the scene. Here is an offer of hope to an undeserving couple. This hope of a future Messiah echoes throughout the Old Testament with people looking forward to a day when the schemes and oppression of the devil would stop courtesy of a saviour sent by Yahweh.
Captivity of the Israelites by their enemies consistently appears in Egypt and later by the likes of Babylon. Oppressed, mistreated and even killed the Israelites are a desperate lot in desperate need of divine intervention during these periods of intense suffering. In Egypt, the Israelites suffer intense work and oppression at the hands of a tyrant king, they make straw and do menial work under increasing pressure and ruthlessness at the hands of their captors. They are a desperate lot. They have their hope almost put out with the heavy hand of a cruel Egypt. Promises made to their father Abraham seem far off until Moses comes along and speaks on behalf of Yahweh. When Moses continually confronts the Pharaoh, Israelites see that God has not forgotten them and they look forward to being free in hope. When taken into captivity in the book of Jeremiah, God continually reminds them that they can hope in Him for deliverance. One of the most famous verses in the Bible actually in context is a pronouncement for the Israelites in captivity that they should look forward to the future with the assurance that God will get them free.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me, come, and pray to me, and I will hear you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 ESV)
God does not relent in His assurance of this beaten down people. “There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.” (Jeremiah 31:17 ESV)
In all these instances, the Israelites have something to grasp onto that keeps them going in dire circumstances. God’s promises to rescue them builds up their hope. They have a positive affirmation that their future circumstances will be better thus, they trust in God and have the impetus to put up with suffering.
Heaven is the ultimate hope in Christian belief. This eventuality is the most anticipated event in Christian belief proven by the many stories about going to heaven and the prophecies of rapture and the second coming that appear regularly in the media. Heaven is the hallmark of Christian faith with the final two chapters of the Bible underlining this reality. This culmination of God’s story promises a perfect existence.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.' (Revelation 21:4 ESV)
Living in a world full of temptation and suffering prompts every Christian to hope for a better existence and better circumstances the promise of heaven fulfils the longing to have a relief from the brokenness and suffering of a fallen world. Heaven offers much needed hope in a condition where loss of friends and family, cancer and divorce will all be in the past. If there were a source of unmatchable hope found anywhere, heaven will be that.
Hope is crucial to Christian existence and understanding of the scriptures. In the various stories found throughout the Bible, the characters look out of themselves to an omnipotent God who allows challenges to embolden their faith in Him and offers them hope that He is good and that He will work things in their favour. Hope serves as the anchor that upholds the vitality of the faith of God’s people.
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