Our Hope Shapes Us

A Lesson from Tim Keller

Our hope for the future can greatly influence our choices today. For example, our feeling towards a very boring or strenuous job changes if the job could bring us a lot of money.
 
Similarly, if we believe death will end everything and leave us to rot like dinosaurs, then the distinction of right/wrong, kindness/cruelty, and good/bad holds much less significance. Does life really have meaning? Is life sacred? Or are we any different from trees?
 
What we hope for shapes our life and attitude. The biblical meaning for “hope” is different from our daily usage. “I hope he will succeed” doesn’t mean he will succeed, but in the Bible, “hope” implies certainty in the outcome (Hebrews 11:1).
 
Let’s learn about the Bible’s hope from Ephesians 1:11-14,18.
 
Christians rest their hope in Christ (v12). God showed His love for us in giving His only Son to suffer and die for us.
 
On earth, Christ was rejected by all. On the cross, He was rejected even by the Father. At that point, Christ had no hope and no Father so we could have both.
 
Before Christ, we were nobody, with no future and no God (Ephesians 2:12). Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we become God’s children and possession (v14, 1 Peter 2:10). Because of Christ, we have a glorious inheritance, guaranteed by the Holy Spirit in us (v14, 18).
 
When we receive our inheritance, all of creation will be redeemed from decay and death (Romans 8:21-24). All creation is longing for that day. When it comes, even trees will sing for joy (Psalms 96:12).
 
But in the meantime, life on Earth is difficult.
 
Christ lived a perfect life, yet He was tortured and crucified. He told us that if people hated Him, people would hate His followers also. But no matter what happens, ultimately everything will turn out for His glory and our good. This hope sustains and strengthens us.
 
As God’s cherished children and possession, be alert and sober, and set your hope on our wonderful future in Christ (1 Peter 1:13).
 
Summarized from a Tim Keller’s sermon, “Hope for the world.”
https://gospelinlife.com/downloads/hope-for-the-world-6022/