HOPE This world defines “hope” often as simply “wishful thinking.”  When the term “hope” is used in the Bible, this is not what we are talking about.  The Spirit uses the Greek term ELPIS in the New Testament which is defined as a favorable and confident expectation.  Hope relates to the unseen and the future.  “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope;  for  why  does  one  still  hope  for what he sees?   But we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”  (Rom. 8:24-25).   Hope describes the happy and joyful anticipation of future goodness.  Christians who have their faith in God live their lives in the daily hope or expectation of their future eternal life which was promised to them  before time began by God, who cannot lie   (Tit. 1:2).  The Christian has a faith (trust) and hope (expectation) in Almighty God (1 Pet. 1:21).  Our human understanding of many realities is so limited; and, therefore, we look to the One who knows all as our ultimate deliverer and giver of all good things. The foundation of our hope is not ourselves or a philosophy of positive thinking.  Our hope is not in the church, which is Christ’s collection of the redeemed, for all these redeemed are like ourselves flawed by sin.  The foundation of the Christian hope is found with the personal and intimate relationship that individuals possess with Christ. “To them (Christians) God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.  (Col. 1:27).   Christ being in the Christian is close, even intimate, for you can’t get any closer.  Because   Christians know this to be a reality, they  experience and live life with the hope (anticipation) of future glory that will be given to them by God.  In the past (before Christ) these things were a mystery;  but  now  IN  Christ  the  mystery   is  made  known.   Jesus  Christ  is  the Lord  (Master)  of  the  Christian.   Jesus  alone  is  defined  by  the   Spirit  to  be “our hope” (1 Tim. 1:1).  Because of His promise and His oath, God cannot lie.   Christians run to God for refuge from the uncertainties of life to gain the possession of the hope (expectations) God places before us.  This hope gives us the anchor (stability) our souls need midst all our uncertainties     (Heb. 6:18-19).   Paul, as well as the Jewish Pharisees, had the hope (expectation) for a  resurrection from the dead (Ac. 23: 6).  This expectation obviously can not be fulfilled by anything from man and can only be fulfilled because of a gracious God.   Now concerning our righteousness, we have none to boast of; however,   because of the Christian’s intimate relationship with Christ, Christ Himself becomes for us our righteousness which again we do not possess of ourselves (1 Cor. 1:29-30).  When the Christian does “glory” or “boast,” he does glory/boast in the LORD (not himself) (1 Cor. 1:31).  Through the Spirit Christians are excited about the hope/expectation of being seen by God as righteous because of their faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 5:5).  This is the Christian life wherein we are in a changing/growing mode of becoming the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).  This process is incomplete until the process is made complete and our hope is realized in heaven forever.  The Christian faith is based on hope/expectation of blessings found in the gospel (good news) (Col. 1:23).   Good news from God simply is that though we are broken and wrong in sin, by the blood of Christ we can be made right/righteous through the provisions made available to us by the Father through the Son.   To the Christian the future is always better.  Our hope/expectations are ever before us.  Though our bodies may fail us and all sorts of calamities befall us, we ever live in hope Christians who stand in the grace of God can always find a reason to rejoice for they live hoping/expecting in the future to be in the glory of God Himself (Rom. 5:2).  Furthermore, they hope/expect God to give them a glory of their own in eternity (Mt. 13: 43).  Our future hope/expectation includes the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ   (Tit. 2:13).   Now let me say this to those who are into “positive thinking.”  The hope we are speaking of is more than simple positive thinking.  Our hope is certain.  It is as good as done simply because God has said so.   Christians live a life of “Blessed    Assurance” that lets them experience the abundant life now and look forward to even better blessings in the future.  The difference between simple “positive thinking” and the “hope” we read of in the Bible is that “positive thinking” often does end up simply as “wishful thinking.”  The “hope” God has for the Christian is certain, and the Christian is ever excited about the glorious future that God has in His mind for those who love Him. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the Solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.