Romans 8:19-25
“For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” vss. 24-25
Hope is such a precious commodity. Really, it’s what keeps us going through tough times. Without it we’re tempted to throw in the towel and give up. Without it some even give up on living…they see no point in going on. As Paul describes hope in the letter to the Romans we are reminded that it has much in common with faith, which the book of Hebrews defines as “the conviction of things not seen.” That means that hoping for the coming kingdom is not the same as certainty. When we are certain of things there is no need to hope for them. And so we hope for God’s redemption of creation, but we don’t know for sure that it’s going to happen. Still followers of Jesus walk hopefully into the future, always trusting in God, but with no proof that what we’re hoping for will ever happen. And what’s even more amazing, we make this journey with patient confidence, trusting that what Jesus promised is the truth. It’s Jesus’ promise that makes this more than mere speculation. In other words, our trust in the future is more than a “I sure hope so.” Not at all! Our hope is built on what Jesus has said and done. It’s anchored on the good news of resurrection. We don’t see it yet, but as Paul says, “we wait for it with patience.”
Thought for the Day: How much uncertainty is there in my faith?
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