Our Blessed Hope

For the past several months, I have been confronted, challenged, and corrected by the true meaning and scope of biblical hope. Some of you reading this have already arrived at my revelation and for that I am grateful. It was some of you who guided me, helped me, and patiently waited for me to “get it”. But for those of you who are still confused, struggling with, or just plain tired of holding on to what you understand hope to be, here goes.

Hope entered the world through a promise from Elohim in Genesis 3:15. The Trinity addressed the serpent and prophesied of One who would crush the head of him who is the enemy of our souls. The hope that was promised was a “Who”. Down though the ages, God gave clues and descriptions of this One who would save, deliver, provide, defend, protect, and satisfy us. Consider the cities of refuge n Numbers 35. These cities of refuge were there to provide a place for the guilty to live, not visit or tour. It was a place of protection, full- freedom, but only if one stayed within the boundaries set forth. The benefits were for all, the guilty and the innocent. In fact, as the guilty stayed within the boundaries and in that city, he was considered innocent. The cities were within easy reach of any person in need, because what use is a city of refuge if it can’t be reached and isn’t open all the time?

Now consider Jesus. Hebrews 6:18b says “…we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.” Jesus is open all the time to the guilty. He provides a place to live forever. Protection, full freedom, and life are given as long as one stayed within His boundaries. In fact, once you are in Him, you are declared innocent no matter what you did or were.

As time has gone by, people who have given themselves to this Hope have found not a place or outcome made by human efforts and experiences, or expectations that have turned out according to their agenda. They discovered Hope was (and is) the person of Jesus. Hebrews 6:19 says “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil.” The revelation that came to my spirit and changed my understanding that when I put my hope, my faith, into the changes in situations, locations, and relationships that I desire to be different, I was trusting in and hoping for, something that would not give me life. And disappointment was something I would have to fight through. People can love and even respect me, but they can’t give me life. Situations can certainly make my life easier, but they can’t give me life. Locations can bring about different and new changes to my life, but that can’t give me life either. You get my drift.

Hope is not found in a horizontal direction. Hope is found vertically, at the feet of our Messiah, our Blessed Hope.