Faith produces hope

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen. Hebrews 11:1-3 NLT

The writer of Hebrews is preparing the readers to the rising persecution that is about to pervade in the life of the church as well as individual believers. He emphasized from the text that it is faith in God that will help them during those times of persecution. Faith in God produces hope that will sustain believers to persevere in the midst of trials. Without faith it will be easy to give up. Faith is being certain that what God promised will come into fruition. It is not a feeling or emotion, not optimism, or not an instinct. It is not a sense of sentimentalism as if how somehow because you have faith everything will be okay. It is based on a conviction that comes from dependence upon God and His Word that the future is sure and the things unseen becomes visible. Genuine faith brings about an assurance of the things we hoped for. As Christians, we hoped for Christ’s return, this is our blessed hope. “While we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed” (Titus 2:13). We have this hope because of “his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation” (1 Peter 1:3). We are assured that when He appears in His return, “we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). We have this hope that we will be with Him for He promised “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:3). “And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever” (Revelation 22:5). Because of our faith in God, we have this inner assurance that what He promised when He returns will all be fulfilled. All these realities prepared for us will provide us the staying power so we will endure and will not be shaken when times of difficulties come. God will always be true to us and He will keep His Word.

Blessings,