Bright Hope

Featured photo by Ken Carley

Romans 5:2 & 5 We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts…“

All throughout the Bible you will find the word hope. But regardless of where you see this little word in God’s Book, it means something more than the modern definition of the word, which is to wish for something.

The Hebrew words for hope are defined below.

tigwa – “to look for something with eager anticipation”

batach – “to rely on something reliable”

yachal – “to trust”

There are other Hebrew words that have similar meanings for the word hope. But what it all boils down to is this. The Bible is filled with bright hope. Every page is from God. Every passage, sentence and phrase belong to our creator. Every word in the Bible is hope–full because God inspired it all. And where God is, there is hope. Not a wish for. A promise of.

Bright Hope

Let’s look at part of our key passage above. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

First of all, one day, when we stand before Jesus, it will be in our glorified bodies. We will be like Him. The Bible makes this clear. We will be sinless. To me, this is “tigwah.” This is something wonderful to anticipate for believers.

Another hope that we have is that our inheritance is held for us in heaven, just like Jesus promised. This is “batach.” We can always count on Jesus to be true. Look at His promise below:

John 14:2 “In my father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.”

Still another hope believers hold is that we don’t have to struggle with, guilt here on earth, nor should we fear rejection when we stand before Jesus. That is an example of “yachal”, trust. No fear in life, no fear in death. And certainly, no fear when we stand before our Father.

But one of the most mystifying and overwhelming thoughts is being so near to God’s glory. His radiant beauty and attributes are diffused throughout the earth and in the hearts of His children. But don’t you know that being in heaven will be breathtaking! That is most certainly an example of “tigwah”. And what an anticipation it is!

Revelation 15:8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. WEB

Revelation 21:23 The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. WEB

You see, I told you each part of this passage is so rich with promise! And this is just the first part.

Look at the next part of our key passage. “…and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts…”

Because God pours his love in our hearts, His love can’t help but overflow. God’s love wants to love without impediment. It’s like the Spirit of God is just bursting out of the heart of a believer. It looks for people to love. This love seeks hard people, broken people, lonely people and those that are called deplorable by the world. No one is excluded from God’s love. Only those who reject God’s love for the last time are turned away forever.

The passage may also mean that because God pours His love into our hearts we can know the definition of Godly hope.

Father, I am full of scars. Sometimes I feel pushed, afraid and shaken. I do not feel your Presence. But I know that you are there. I will not fall away from your keeping.

I heard the testimony of a British pastor who became so stressed and sad that he had a nervous breakdown. Later, when he recovered, he went back to preaching. As he spoke, I heard a cadence and a tone in his voice that revealed God’s hope. His hope was never lost, even though he couldn’t feel hopeful. He held on just knowing that faith is not verified by feeling anything.

As dark as his days were in the hospital and in the months that followed, he may have lost human sight of hope. His crisis of belief was real. But this man never lost the hope of God that lived in his heart. The precious Holy Spirit of God stayed right there with him and walked beside him and in him every single day. The Spirit prayed for him with groans the Father heard. This hurting pastor struggled forward to healing and restoration.

Now this pastor has a new story to tell. He can relate to those who suffer mental and emotional illness. He can tell them his story of the Savior’s bright hope.

Proverbs 23:18 TPT Your future is bright and filled with a living hope that will never fade away.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
strength for today and BRIGHT HOPE for tomorrow:
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!¹

10,000 beside!