Proverbs: The Hopeful Man

by Ray Ewers

In these last days we are being exposed to global issues that affect the lives of us all. As the unbeliever faces physical upheavals, economic downturn, terrorist threats, increased taxes, and unemployment, their hearts fail them for fear of the future. The Bible describes their condition as being without God and without hope in this world. As believers we need to search our own hearts at this time and honestly assure ourselves, like the Psalmist,

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance (Psalm 42:5).

Our encouragement to continually hope in God is found in the Scriptures:

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).

The Bible declares that hope in God looks forward to an end with expectancy. We must continue to flee for refuge to the Word of God and “lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:18,19).

It has been a great help for me to have hope defined as expectation and desire. To expect something without desiring it can be dread. To desire something without expecting it can lead to despair. But put these two together and we have a sure hope.

Our hope is anchored in the person of Christ. Our end is focused upon His promised return. He is our hope, for we expect Him to come at any time, and we desire Him to come, that we might be with Him eternally.

The challenge for us is to live in the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We face the same trials and tribulations that the unbelievers face.

However, we face them with a different attitude. Because we have access by faith into His Presence, we can stand confident of our end and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Such hope is a reality because Christ in you is a reality. It behoves us, therefore, to so proclaim Christ warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ (Colossians 1:28). Herein we labour as God works mightily in us by His indwelling Spirit to enkindle a passion for Him so that we live each day looking for that Blessed Hope.