understanding hope
We are hope centered creatures. Hope is what gets us through tough times. It is the expectation of something good to come – something that will make all the struggle worth it. Hope also determines the quality of our present experiences. For example, if I know I’ll be getting a big paycheck at the end of the week, I’ll endure my work with greater joy than if I expected minimum wage.
Hope in the world is a feeling that something good might come. Hope in God’s word is a “confident expectation” that God will come through on His promises. Hope in the world is dependent on our own efforts or chance. Hope with God is dependent on His perfect character. Without hope we get discouraged, depressed, fall into despair, or worse.
Hope in the world is a feeling that something good might come. Hope in God’s word is a “confident expectation” that God will come through on His promises. Hope in the world is dependent on our own efforts or chance. Hope with God is dependent on His perfect character. Without hope we get discouraged, depressed, fall into despair, or worse.
examples of Hope idols
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Sciences
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DANGER
Although helpful, they can let us down. |
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Organizations
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DANGER
Although it is fine to trust in these for temporal help, there is little hope that is lasting. We get sick again, technology can be used for both good and evil, jobs end, people let us down, leave, or die. These resources are limited and hold no certainty. |
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People
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DANGER
Remember that the issue is dependence. The truth is that people can let us down, or at the very least are limited in their capabilities to help completely. |
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False Religion
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DANGER
Someone that does not exist, or that does not have the ability to help you cannot bring hope. If hope of something better (help in our trials, heaven) is based on our performance the result is often failure, insecurity, or uncertainty. Did I do enough for God to help me? Also, if the hope is impersonal, it is not true hope. We long for love that lasts forever. Hinduism offers the loss of your individual self as it becomes one with the whole. Buddhism offers non-existence. The hope here is not love, but nothingness. |
what to do about hope idols
We are attributing tremendous worth to whatever we trust in to bring us through a trial. Whether it be a doctor, Allah, or Jesus we are entrusting our lives into their hands. It is okay to trust in things like medicine or a job for temporary help, but if these things are our ultimate hope then we are replacing God.
Jesus is our only true hope. He not only guarantees heaven for those that trust in Him, but He promises to help us in our trials. He does this by either removing them from us or enabling us to endure them. In either case, He uses our trials to grow us to be more like Him. With Jesus, the trials are always worth it. Much like the resurrection and salvation came after the cross, redemption and great good come from the trials we endure for those that trust Jesus through them. Sometimes we get to see this glory to follow, other times we do not. All the time He is good.
Jesus is our only true hope. He not only guarantees heaven for those that trust in Him, but He promises to help us in our trials. He does this by either removing them from us or enabling us to endure them. In either case, He uses our trials to grow us to be more like Him. With Jesus, the trials are always worth it. Much like the resurrection and salvation came after the cross, redemption and great good come from the trials we endure for those that trust Jesus through them. Sometimes we get to see this glory to follow, other times we do not. All the time He is good.
Hope Facts
- Our hope is based on Christ’s physical resurrection (1 Cor 15: 20-22)
- Since He rose, all His promises of heaven and redemption are true
- Our hope is a personal loving relationship with Jesus forever without sin, pain, or sorrow. It is what we all want: love without parting. (1 Thess. 4:17)
- Jesus’ hope is for anyone, no matter how bad. It is not based on our performance, but His.
- Our hope of heaven is secure - the resurrection shows His payment was accepted.
- Hope of heaven is both spiritual and physical restoration. It is God making everything bad come untrue. (1 Cor. 15:56-57)
process it
When times are tough I typically hope in...
One way I can think more eternally is to...
One way I can think more eternally is to...
Questions to Identify Potential Idols
•When life gets hard, who or what do you turn to?
•Where do you go for answers to problems?
•Who do you ask for help when trials happen?
•How would you react if you lost your job or a lot of money?
•What do you want to happen in the future to make sure you’re safe/comfortable?
•When someone you knew passed away, what did you think happened to them?
•Where do you go for answers to problems?
•Who do you ask for help when trials happen?
•How would you react if you lost your job or a lot of money?
•What do you want to happen in the future to make sure you’re safe/comfortable?
•When someone you knew passed away, what did you think happened to them?