Skip to main content

Hope of The Glory of God

          Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)

 

            Five verses, three uses of the word hope. The first is the hope of the glory of God. Why should we hope in the glory of God? That sounds a little like God wanting us to swoon over Him while He kisses His biceps. Put another way, it’s God as Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. Ugh.

            Yes, I know better, but since it doesn’t mean that, what does it mean? Perhaps this will help. It's the night before a big game, and you hear someone nearby talking about how his team will make mincemeat out of your team. Isn’t your response likely to express hope of the glory of your team? You’re not on the team. You have nothing to contribute to that glory, and it won’t make you look better if they win, but because they’re your team, it’s still good if they get glorified.

            Let’s take it up a notch. Suppose we’re talking about the glory of your nation as it faces a conflict with another nation. Whoever wins the war will dictate how you get to live – perhaps if you get to live. Again, you’re not the nation’s leader. You aren’t in the military. Would you not boast in your hope of the glory of your nation?

            Let’s look at the second use tomorrow. The third is that hope does not put us to shame. At first glance, this seems to make no more sense than the first. How many times have we hoped that God would do something? When He didn’t, didn’t we feel ashamed? How often do people mock, ridicule, and shame those who claim to hope in God?  

            Let’s take it back to the team or national level. Suppose you knew the coach or leader and got inside information about the upcoming conflict or competition. Suppose you have watched the coach/leader over the years. Wouldn’t that strengthen – or destroy  - your hope? God gives us His Spirit, who teaches us about God. That gives us the experience and reason to hope in God more. After all, as we get to know someone, it’s reasonable to hope in their behavior as we have experienced them behaving in the time we’ve known them.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Right Road

          Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (Psalm 139:7-12)                  For years before GPSes existed, I told people I wanted something in my car that would tell me, “Turn left in half a mile…turn left in a quarter mile…turn left in 500 feet… turn left in 100 feet…turn left now …You missed the turn, Dummy!” The problem isn’t necessarily that I get lost so much as I’m afraid I’ll get lost. I don’t want to have to spend my whole trip stressing over the next turn. I have the same problem with my spiritual journey.   
Post a Comment
Read more

Died as a Ransom

                 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)                  This is something I’d really rather not think about but here it is and it’s important. I was reading in Bold Love about seeking revenge.  The author wrote of seeking justice when a supposed Christian does something sinful, harmful, and/or horrific, like sexually abusing a daughter.  And the thought that came to mind was of God asking if Jesus’ death was sufficient payment to me for the sin committed against me.                I have no specific longing for revenge, vengeance, or justice. I’m sure there are some lurking somewhere in my heart, but this wasn’t a response to one. It was more a question of principle. Jesus’ death was sufficient payment for to God for our sins.  That’s the standard Sunday Schoo
1 comment
Read more

Out of the Depths

  Out of the depths I have cried to You, Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the sound of my pleadings.   If You, Lord, were to keep account of guilty deeds, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, so that You may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; Yes, more than the watchmen for the morning. Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his guilty deeds . (Psalm 130)             I like Mr. Peterson’s interpretation of the first line. “The bottom has fallen out of my life!” Of course, the problem for some of us is the fact that we’re drama queens, and/or we’re weak. Any time anything happens that disturbs our sense of mastery and control, the bottom has fallen out of our lives. If the past couple of days have taught me anything, they’ve t
1 comment
Read more