Hope.  It is one of the real factors in our salvation.  Paul said that we are saved by hope (Romans 8:24).  What is our hope, and why is it so important?  This week, I will be answering those questions and more as we consider what the Bible says about the hope that serves as an anchor for our souls.

Hebrews 6:18–19 (ESV)
¹⁸So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. ¹⁹We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,

The first thing we need to establish is what hope is.  Biblical hope is very different than the hope of this world.  Worldly hope is full of doubt.  Someone about to go fishing says, “I hope I catch some fish today.”  What he means is that he really wants to catch some fish, but he is not sure that he will.  You can feel the doubt in his statement.

Biblical hope has no doubt.  There are two elements in biblical hope: desire and confident expectation.  When one of those elements is missing, the hope is not biblical.  Let me illustrate this.  I know I am going to get a phone bill this month.  Since I have a confident expectation about it, am I hoping for that phone bill?  No, because I have no desire to receive it.

Alright, let’s say that I desire for the bill to be $0.00 when it comes.  Am I hoping that I own nothing for the usage of my phone this month?  No, because I have no confidence that the bill will be all zeros when it comes.  I think you get the point.  Biblical always has both desire and confident expectation.

Most Christians possess the first element of biblical hope.  We all desire to go to heaven after a while.  We do, however, have to make sure that we keep our focus on this hope and not allow it to drift into the background of our minds.  The writer of Hebrews tells us to hold fast to this hope and keep it before us.  We should all, with great expectation, be waiting for Jesus to come back to deliver us up to God.

Titus 2:11–13 (ESV)
¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Are you anxiously waiting for the second coming of Christ?  Let us not be distracted by the things of this world and stop hoping for the return of Jesus.

The second element, that is, confident expectation, seems to give Christians more trouble.  When it comes to our home in heaven, I often hear doubt in the remarks and prayers of brethren, so far as attaining it is concerned.   The Christian who possesses biblical hope has complete confidence in his salvation.  When Paul spoke of his heavenly reward, he did so with total confidence.

2 Timothy 4:6–8 (ESV)
⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

There is not a trace of doubt in Paul’s words that heaven will be his final destination. We should feel the same way.

This is the only kind of hope that can serve as an anchor for our souls.  If you have obeyed the gospel and you are living in harmony with God’s Word, do not doubt your destiny.  It does not matter that you are not perfect.  Remember, we are saved by grace, not by our perfection (Ephesians 2:8-9).   

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.