Bright Hope

Featured photo by Ken Carley

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…” Romans 5:2 & 5 (WEB)

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 belongs 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—rather 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:

“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.”John 14:2

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, nor fear in death. And certainly, no fear when we stand before our Father.

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!

The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power.

Revelation 15:8 (WEB)

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.

Revelation 21:23 (WEB)

You see, each part of this passage is full of promise! And this is just the beginning.

Look at the next part of our key passage from Romans 5. “…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.

God pours His love into our hearts, and we can know the meaning 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.

If you are a devoted believer that has lived long enough, then you have known what felt like dark hopeless days. But you have also known what it is to come through. And at the end of the shadowy times, you have found the hope of the Savior never left you. The brightness of the life that comes from God’s Spirit which lives in every believing heart will never abandon you.

Indeed, surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off. Proverbs 23:18 (WEB)

10,000 beside!

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

Spend some time this week studying these passages. They will inspire you and remind you of the Hope that lives forever.

Romans 5:1-6 Lamentations 3:21-26

Share the Good News in your world!

Isaiah 52:7

1. Great is Thy Faithfulness
   Arthur Chisholm
   Ca. 1923 ↩︎

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.