by Rex Rouis
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith, we understood that the worlds were formed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb.11:1-3).
The expression “of things HOPED FOR” (Hebrews 11:1) lets us know that there are things that can be hoped for and things that can not. First, let us understand the difference between a desire and a hope. We may desire many things, but hope requires a plausible foundation or reason for its possibility. The question arises, “Upon what FOUNDATION are you basing your hope”? We may hope for many things, but if our hope is not based on a foundation, it becomes wishful thinking.
A student who desires better grades but never studies has no basis or foundation for hope. A man who sincerely needs a good job but will not do all he can to look for one has no grounds for hope. I may wish that I was 6’11” and could play for the NBA, but that will never happen. That is a dream and will never become a true hope. Desires and dreams can remain without a foundation. A hope must have a foundation, a plausible reason one can expect it to happen, for it to become a valid expectation.
Our hopes are based on the promises in the Bible. If he promised it, then there is a potential for us to receive it. The fulfillment of the desire, if promised in the Bible, can now become a legitimate hope. It is not based on a natural hope but on a God-promised hope. Once faith comes, that hope no longer remains a future expectation but becomes a future reality. Faith is the God-given ownership of ‘things hoped for and the evidence of thing not (yet) seen.’
Our hope, as well as the hope of others, depends upon what our hope is based upon! Our God hopes all rest upon, “How faithful is God to His promises!” Two points to consider: 1. If there is no God, or 2. If His promise is untrue, we would have no foundation for our hope. Our hope would be groundless. As far as our eternity is concerned, it all hinges upon the fact that God exists and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The only foundation for our hopes is the faithfulness of God as expressed in the promises of God.
Comments
I understood that marriage was always God’s will and plan for men and women from the begining as he demonstrated by the account of Adam and Eve included in the Bible. He even created the human sexual desire and need for human connection in us
so we would seek marriage to fulfill his commands. I fully understand that persons can reject it by exercising their free will and use extreme self control to avoid giving in to sexual temptation as Paul did. Should we expect that God will be involved in some way to help bring it about and we should have faith as you defined it
that this will happen?
HOPE, what is hope, is it based on our spiritual part of life, or is based on the fleshly part?
It’s an honest question, as we can read in:
Matt.18:18 Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven.
19 Again I tell you if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together about whatever anything and everything]they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers in into My name, there I AM in the midst of them.
Exod. 3:14 And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!
15 God said also to Moses, This shall you say to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and Jacob, has sent me to you! This is My name forever, and by this name, I am to be remembered by all generations.
We can read, that without any obstacles, Jesus has told us what to speak and be agree about. Then what we speak is a confirmation of His word to us. At the same time, jesus is saying what 2 or 3 agree to ask, will be given to us.
The understanding is that we can only have Hoped for what is already settled in Heaven, any other request in our prayer will be a waste of time, and it will not come through, simply because it’s just hope without the power of faith, based on His word already given to us.
Thank you for make this useful for practical application I hope for complete healing and restoration from my stroke
Olivia – I agree with you in Jesus Name. Keep studying the scriptures so you know what is yours in Christ, and what you can believe for, which is complete healing by faith. Rex
Just recently came across your website, it is such a blessing.
I forgot to mention, that I also enjoyed your article about faith & coffee:)
David – Thank you for your gracious comments. I have my cup of coffee at my side. And encouragement in my heart. Thank you.
Wow! Just found your site this a.m. What an amazing source of hope, faith, inspiration. Thank you for all the work it took and takes to do this. Abundant blessings be to you from our Father.