The hope we find in Christ is not flaky because it’s not connected to life’s circumstances. A hope that does not disappoint has a solid foundation. A strong base on which to establish your hopes, aspirations, and overall life. It is built on a rock (Mat. 7:24-25). Outside of this hope, we’re blown around by the winds of change, the decisions of people, the uncertainties of life, and the worst of all, our own feelings.
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. – Romans 5:3-5
I want to discuss this type of hope. A hope that does not disappoint is not birthed from believing. It is birthed from living. This is why the word says we must endure trials. It is one thing for me to preach the gospel before I’ve experienced life and a totally different thing AFTER facing the beatings of life. I do not look for or wish for afflictions yet I know they’re part of life. I do not work to promote Christian suffering. In fact, quite the contrary, I seek after and promote God’s blessings over His people.
A hope that does not disappoint is not birthed from believing. It is birthed from living.
The problem with the prosperity Gospel is that it has no answers for seasons such as this. Preachers of happiness now and fullness of success and prosperity now are unable to offer anything to believers in this season. Preachers of wrath are preaching gloom and doom because to them, suffering is always a sign of God’s wrath. Preachers of righteousness, on the other hand, have greater success because the standards of righteousness don’t change.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). He is the God of Abraham just as much as He is my God. My prosperity and success in anything is not the only sign that God is pleased with me. We have been deceived to believe in a false Gospel that prosperity equals God’s pleasure.
Jesus was clear when telling the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21). When our focus and our treasure is earthly, we focus on earthly things and measure everything and everyone based on those things that are carnal. These do not produce true hope. This hope will disappoint.
A hope that does not disappoint is formed in God’s workshop by the following things being worked in the believer:
Tribulation
In John 16, Jesus says to his disciples they will face troubles in this world but that He has overcome the world. In order to have hope in the face of trials, we must have Jesus as the core foundation of our lives.
Perseverance
A christian that cannot persevere anything is doomed to fail when trials come. We’re purified when we go through things that cause us to have to persevere to the end. In Rev 2, the victor’s crown is only given to he who perseveres till the end.
Character
True character is only based on Christ as the example we model our lives after. We know not what to do unless Holy Spirit guides us and reveals it to us. Character is revealed in adversity.
When we have a hope that does not disappoint, we’re not too concerned about what the government does, what our culture tries to do, how life seems to be going, or what sinners are doing.
What then shall we say about politics and the christian? Stay tuned…
Nelson Masinde 