There are many times in life when you have a choice to make, although it seems as if there have been even more opportunities in recent times. What choice is that? I’m talking about the choice of putting your hope in Jesus or in what the society around you says.
The choice that says “Christ is our hope” or the one that says “I have this figured out.” There are so many times when life takes an unexpected turn, but thankfully we can know that Jesus is the hope of the world!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure here.
What Does it Mean to Hope in Jesus?
Often when we use the word “hope” today, we’re talking about wishful thinking or an unknown outcome. “I hope it is warmer tomorrow.” “Hopefully we can go on our trip this summer.”
However, when the Bible talks about hope, it is using the word in a different way. When the Bible talks of hope it means that there is a confident expectation and not just wishful thinking. It means to have faith or trust in something. John Calvin said, “The word hope I take for faith, and indeed hope is nothing else but the constancy of faith.”
Faith and hope work together. As Hebrews 11:1(ESV) reminds us,
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
So, why do we have hope in Jesus? As we’ll see, Jesus is much more than wishful thinking or an unknown outcome. In fact, Jesus is our only hope, the hope of the world. Without faith in Christ, our hope rests on what is shaky and temporary.
Why Do We Have Hope in Jesus
Our hope depends in great part on our belief system. If you are trusting in your family or the government system to provide for you and keep you safe, then you’re walking on unstable ground.
Related: Two Important Ways the Resurrection is Our Hope
If you trust in your strict food choices and exercise to keep you healthy, then you’re relying totally on yourself. Maybe you’re depending on your job or your children for your happiness.
However, these things can all let you down and disappoint. Put your hope in God, not man. As we’ll discuss, there are great reasons we can be confident in putting our hope in Jesus.
Hope in Salvation
First of all, as Christians, our whole faith hinges on the hope in salvation that we have through the death of Jesus on the cross. This is the good news of the gospel — that Jesus, who was perfect, died in our place. We no longer need to live as slaves to sin. This is the hope that Paul reminds us is proclaimed in all creation under heaven!
“if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:23
Hope in Jesus’ Resurrection
What sets Christianity apart from every other religion in the world is that we have hope in the resurrection of Jesus. Without the resurrection of Jesus, our faith would be worthless. We would just be following the teachings of a man and not God. This is not the case, however. We serve a risen Lord, and there is amazing hope in that!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, I Peter 1:3
Hope Through the Holy Spirit
Not only is Jesus our hope because of His death and resurrection, but He didn’t leave us to live life on our own. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and empowering us to do all that God has called us to do and be.
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Romans 8:11
“ and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are free to love and serve others as God has called us to do. We are now dead to sin and alive in Christ. Since there is hope in Jesus, we desire to seek the things that are above and not be so strapped down and distracted by the things of this world.
“ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2
The hope of Eternal Life
This world is only temporary. We have been put here to love and worship God alone. We are here to share the love of Jesus and the good news of the gospel with those around us. Even if we’re going through difficult times, we have the hope of eternal life. We have hope that Jesus has already won the battle. Think of it: eternity in heaven with Jesus! This life is but a breath in the grand scheme of eternity, so keep living with an eternal focus.
“in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began” Titus 1:2
Jesus is Our Living Hope
In God Hunger by Dominic Muir, he says “True hope is resting in the knowledge that we have a loving Father who holds every single aspect of our life in His hands; a Father who is completely committed to caring for us and providing for us as His child. When things happen in life to unsettle us, the enemy would like us to fall into despair — because that undermines our belief in the constancy and consistency of God.”
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
Jesus is our only hope, and by putting our hope in Him, we are submitting to His love and care for us as His child. Our hope is in the God who reigns is over all, and there is so much comfort in that!
