18. HOPE

by Henry Law

"The Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Hope."—1 Tim. 1:1

"We are saved by Hope." (Rom. 8:24) Such is the pinnacle on which the Spirit seats this grace. Without it, the soul would never steadfastly adhere to Christ, it would yield to doubts and fears and ultimate despair. Without this anchor, it would make shipwreck on some dreary coast.

It is a delightful task to tell how Hope diffuses the sweetest joy throughout life's course, and lifts a smiling head in trouble's hour, and gilds each prospect with bright hues. Such grace is not of the earth, and earthly: it is from heaven, and heavenly. It is implanted in the soul by the working of the loving Spirit.

Let it be promised that our heavenly Father adds Hope to His titles: "O the Hope of Israel, the Savior thereof in time of trouble." (Jer. 14:8) And again, "Now the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in Hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit." (Rom. 15:13)

But to Jesus, at present, our eyes are mainly turned. O Lord, You are our Hope, for truly You are our "All." Every supply of grace, and help, and blessing, abounds in You! You are the inexhaustible storehouse of all treasures for us. No lack remains to the children of Your love. Come, then, and shine forth as "our Hope."

It is decreed that "we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22) Trials and troubles are as numerous as the surrounding air. "Now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold trials." (1 Pet. 1:6) Heaven's inhabitants have traveled through a land of sorrow. We read that "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Rev. 7:17) Therefore, in life's sad days, weeping must have been their lot. Often the storm was fierce, raging, violent; the wind assailed with fury; the waves uplifted threatening heads; rocks and quicksands were ready to destroy; the yawning deep gaped as an inevitable tomb; no harbor offered a retreat. But still despair was weak to crush the heir of faith.

How could this be? Hope whispered, Fear not, for Christ is near. It pointed to Jesus, ready to lull each storm, and to say, Peace, be still. The sons of Hope "looked to Him, and were lightened, and their faces were not ashamed." (Psa. 34:5) O Lord, be our constant Hope!

The page would find no end which portrayed all the region in which Hope sweetly works. But let some of the diseases be slightly specified in which this balm presents relief.

Sometimes means of support are diminished. Need shows a ruthless visage. Poverty approaches with a cruel step. Anguish broods over an impoverished family. This is Hope's season to sustain. It discloses Jesus having all resources at His command. It recalls instances of marvelous rescue from the grasp of ruin. It shows that His fullness never can be drained. It reveals Him as the God of Elijah by the brook Cherith; as the widow of Zarephath's stay; as ever the same in guardian care. Thus confidence is implanted, that "God will supply all His people's needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19) O Lord, our Hope, we look to You in every hour of need.

Sometimes the fear of death weighs heavily. It is granted that "goodness and mercy have followed during all the days of life:" that no good thing has failed of all the abundance which rich promises have held out as our portion: but still apprehension trembles, lest help may fail when the feet tread the dark valley. The strength must fade, and vigor be exhausted, and mental energies droop, and decrepitude totter. But these prospects no more distress, when Hope draws near. Its hand contains a bright supply for this especial need. It displays in glowing colors the assurance, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you." (Isa. 43:2) In quick succession it exhibits a long train of similar cordials. The dying saint clasps them to his heart, and brightness illumines the passage by which earth is left. Death has no more a repulsive look. It is welcomed as a friend, which leads to the longed-for home. O Lord, we look to You! Be our Hope in the hour of death!

This grace not only cheers the believer's dying bed: it is his prop, his stay, his support, his strength, his enabling power, in every circumstance of life. Sometimes all earthly help seems utterly to fail. On the right hand there is no friend. On the left menacing foes come on. In the rear there is terror and dismay. In the front destruction yawns. Such was the case of David at Ziklag. On his return he found that the enemy had attacked the town, and burned every house with fire, and left the dwellings reduced to ashes. The wives and sons and daughters were carried into captivity. No welcome voices cheered his coming. His eyes beheld one scene of smoking desolation. His own followers were more than bewildered. They regarded him as the cause of all this misery. They were impatient to wreak vengeance on him. In their grief they threatened to stone him. All friends on earth now failed. But Hope survived. The trembler was upheld amid these billows of distress. "David encouraged himself in the Lord his God." (1 Sam. 30:6) He reasoned, "Why are you cast down, O my soul? and why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." (Psa. 42:11) Thus amid all disconsolations, Hope sings with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him"; (Job 13:15) and with the prophet, "Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no food; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation." (Hab. 3:17,18)

A grace so bright, so joyous, the parent of such solace, the sweetener of life's cup, the unfailing prop throughout earth's pilgrimage, must rest on sure foundation. This tree of precious fruits must spring from a root deep-seated in a fertile soil. The flame, which many waters cannot quench, must be wondrously maintained. Some giant must uphold the strength which many foes cannot lay low. It must have inherent and abiding vitality. Verily it is so. Christ—and all that Christ is, and all that Christ has done, and all that Christ is doing—is the Rock on which Hope rests, and the source from which it draws supplies. Thus Hope's expectations are bounded by no narrow circle. They are vast, as He is to whom all power in heaven and earth is given. Christ shares the omnipotence of Jehovah. All resources are in His mighty hands. To Him no case beyond relief can occur. There is nothing too hard for Him to do. He speaks the word, and the universe obeys. Hope estimates this power, and thus becomes more strong when outward circumstances seem to fail, and outward prospects are most dark. O Lord, we look to Your omnipotence as imperishable Hope!

Hope knows too that it rests on One who has His people engraved on His heart. It is cheered by the precious word, "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!" (Isa. 49:15) It has read, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you." (Jer. 31:3) Can Jesus thus love His people, and will He not delight over them to bless them and to do them good! Are not their interests His interest—their cause His cause! Is it not His joy when they prosper and are in peace! Thus Hope is verily persuaded that the heart of Christ is always warm with loving desire to avert distress. It doubts not that every issue will be final blessedness. O Lord, we look to Your love as our sure Hope.

Hope is renewed in strength, and mounts up with wings as eagles, when it contemplates what Christ has suffered for His people. He has redeemed them, but with what price! He paid not silver and gold for their ransom. He gave not all the precious things of earth as their equivalent. He heaped not worlds upon worlds and placed them as payment in the balance of God's justice. All such expenditure would have been as unavailing as the chaff. He gave Himself, His life, His blood. He gave so much that He could give no more; and He gave this to bear the extremest curse of God, to endure all the punishment, and all the miseries, and all the anguish which His people must have suffered if they had wailed through all the endless ages amid the torments of the lost. Hope sweetly reasons. He who has done so much, will He not surely give all that His people really need! Therefore it treads down all hosts of doubt, and against all timidities of reason, "laughs at impossibilities, and says, It shall be done!" O Lord, we look to Your suffering Cross as our sure Hope.

Hope too, with piercing glance, beholds the proceedings at the throne of God. There it views Jesus, seated on the right hand of the Majesty on high. It sees His extended hands, and hears His all-prevailing cry. That cry is ever-living intercession. It cannot go forth in vain. It must succeed. Therefore Hope lifts a joyful head, and sings amid all menacing events, O Lord, Your throne on high is our sure Hope.

Hope too has a field from which it largely gleans. This is the Book of Life, abounding in assurances of support. Each word in this book is true as God can be. The heavens and the earth "shall perish: they all shall grow old as does a garment, and as a vesture You will fold them up, and they will be changed," "but the Word of the Lord endures forever." (Heb. 1:11, 12; and 1 Pet. 1:25) Hope sets firm foot on this immovable rock, and fears no failure. O Lord, Your Scriptures are our Hope.

The Holy Spirit too in His love, ever seeking the believer's bliss, exhibits this grace in terms of potent teaching. Speaking of the Hope which is set before us, He adds, "Which Hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters into that within the veil." (Heb. 6:19) What the anchor is to a floating vessel, Hope is to the soul. The anchor descending from the ship, grasps by tenacious teeth a solid pavement. Thus it clings to an immovable foundation. The ship cannot drift to rocks or quicksands; it cannot be torn away by tides or billows. It rests in safety amid storms and adverse waves. Thus Hope, fast holding Christ in heaven, within the veil, keeps the soul tranquil amid all conflicts. Christ must vacillate before the clinging soul can be endangered. O Lord, we anchor on You as our Hope.

Again, in the catalogue of the Christian's armor a helmet is named, and the helmet is "the Hope of Salvation." (Eph. 6:17) As is the helmet to the warrior in the day of battle, so is Hope to the soul. The head thus guarded boldly meets the foe. It is upraised and knows no fear. While this covering is unbattered, no fatal wound can be inflicted. Thus the Hope of salvation gives all heroism in the fight of faith. He who shows the promise of salvation written on his brow, will never fear that his expectations will be frustrated. O Lord, our Hope, we look to You to be our Helmet.

Believer, cultivate this precious grace. For this purpose, diligently study Christ—His person, work, and love. Each day mount higher on the ladder of heavenly knowledge. The more you know, the more you will trust. Time will thus sweetly find its end, then Hope shall reap its harvest, and be swallowed up in never-ending reality.

But caution should be added. Every grace has its vile counterfeit. Many weeds resemble flowers. Tinsel may glitter, but it is not gold. There is a false Hope. It sparkles for a little while, and then expires in darkness. It may be easily detected. Mark the foundation on which this cheat rests. Its foot is placed on some form of self, and on its own doings and deserts. It claims no text of Scripture for its warrant. Christ is not its "All." Therefore its end is hopeless woe.