‘Hope’ is one of those words we use in a wide variety of ways. Sometimes we use it to talk about something we want to happen in the future – whether or not it is likely. I ‘hope’ the weather is nice during half term. Other times we use it for things which we half expect to happen, but can’t really be sure about. I ‘hope’ Arsenal hold on to win the Premier League. Sometimes it’s for something we intend to try to bring about in the future. I ‘hope’ to make the world a better place.
What all these uses of hope lack compared to the way the Bible uses the word is the element of certain confidence. Because hope so grounded in God’s unfailing goodness, we confidently expect, even eagerly anticipate, the fulfilment of his good promises. We see a great example in our passage this Sunday. Paul says that our hope in the resurrection is so certain, we can even celebrate in the face of death. “Where, O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55) It is an astonishing claim and one that should make us ask ourselves, do we dare to hope for as much?
Ed
Daring to hope