“When the Bible talks about hope, it’s not just wishful thinking. Biblical hope is certain. It’s looking forward to what’s absolutely going to happen. The object of our hope is still in our future, but it’s already a fact.”- Chip Ingram
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”- Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)
In Chapter 8 (“You Are Competent”) of Discover Your True Self, Chip Ingram talks about God’s antidote for shame. And the eighteen-inch journey of that antidote from one’s head to one’s heart. Certainly, we find shame powerful and debilitating. But shame’s not as powerful as grace. Like Adam and Eve, God still deals with shame the same way. He asks a question designed to induce an honest answer.
Furthermore, for our lives to truly change, in Ephesians the apostle Paul outlines three facts to sink into our hearts. Chip presents the first two today.
1. “The hope to which he has called you.” As Pastor Ingram notes, we use the word hope in a lot of ways. For example, we hope that it won’t rain tomorrow. Or we hope our team wins the big game. But the Bible describes hope as an anticipation of what we know to be true. Hence, we know the truth of God’s promises, a new heaven and a new earth, and the return of Jesus. Thus, the fact of our salvation serves as both a present reality and a future hope.
2. “The riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people.” In addition, Chip stresses, we need to truly believe that we receive an inheritance as coheirs with Christ. And that it’s an absolute fact that we are the treasure of God. Above all, with this vision firmly planted in our hearts, shame turns into a distant memory.
Today’s question: What makes biblical hope certain for you? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the January Short Meditation, “With Amazon efficiency?”