“Because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.” – Colossians 1:5
2010: Is it the beginning of a new decade or is it the last year of the old? Sounds like the argument heard when we entered the new millennium 10 years ago (or was it nine?). Well, anyway, dating things is kind of arbitrary despite the meaning we put into them. January 1st is just another day on the calendar. It happens to be on Friday this year, but that’s only because our measure for years isn’t divisible by 7. Yet we fill it with significance anyway – another New Year, time to take stock, make some resolutions, set some goals and hope this year will be better than last. The Lord knows, and so do we, that last year had its fill of problems seemingly everywhere and for everybody. And of course we always begin with a celebration – a celebration of hope.
But hope can be an elusive thing if there are no foundations for it. A quick search of the Bible on my computer lists 169 occurrences of the word “hope” in 161 verses. The first time it is used is even speculative; Ruth telling her two widowed daughters-in-law there wasn’t much hope for her having new sons for them to marry so they should leave her and be on their way. The Book of Job, with all the tragedies that afflicted this poor soul, lists the word “hope” 19 times. But mostly it is expressed in negative terms as in one verse where he mentions it twice: Chapter 17, verse15, “where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?”
This trend is quickly reversed, however, in the Psalms with 28 references. Here hope takes on new meaning, such as Psalm 33:18: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love.” And Psalm 119:81: “My soul longs for your salvation, I hope in your word.” And Psalm 146:5: “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” However, as might be expected usage by the Prophets is a mixed bag, frequently pointing to the false hopes that Israel tended to make. Yet there are a supply of concrete promises, such as in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Needless to say, perhaps, when we get to the New Testament positive references to hope far outweigh the negative. Matthew begins in 12:21, quoting Isaiah regarding the Christ, “and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” Though few in the Gospels themselves, Luke breaks out the word 11 times in the Book of Acts, and for the Apostle Paul it is a major theme, as in Romans 5:2: “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” And 2 Corinthians 3:12: “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” And Galatians 5:5: “For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.” Ephesians 4:4: “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—.” And finally, Colossians 1:5: “because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel.”
Therefore we have hope for a new year after all. The greatest is the hope we have in Jesus. That was what was missing in all the negative references and that is what gives us a positive outlook, regardless of all the reasons why 2010 may end with more disappointments than the year just past. Look up dear friends, our redemption is sure, God’s love is still sure, the grace of the Lord Jesus is always there and we have far more to be grateful for than we have not. May 2010 be one of increasing faith, love and commitment to Christ.