About a Future and a Hope

 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope -Jeremiah 29:11

The verse above is one of the most quoted verses of scripture. Whatever the situation is, whether it be of a worthy or not-so-worthy cause, whether it be ordained by God or not, whether it has passed through intense scrutiny using the scripture as a guideline- whatever the situation is- this passage is often used as encouragement saying, “God’s plans are to give you a future and a hope”.

On hearing this, you may take a look into the distance with your binoculars, but if your green pastures are a successful career, a nice house and being recognised by others, you are missing the true and entire glorious scenery.

If you do some research into the use of the word “hope” in the context of the Bible's New Testament, you'd find it is an expectation, certain in outlook, trusting and believing and sure. However, as humans, we know that we cannot be certain of anything in ourselves. Our plans for the day can change with the slightest form of lack of co-operation from other people and even the elements of nature. Therefore, our certainty cannot really be in anything the world has to offer.

So what then is this hope? It definitely has something to do with the future but if our future on earth is not certain, then what is? We wonder what we need to be sure of.

God’s promise is sure, He will give us a future and a hope, but we must not reduce this promise to the attainment of our earthly pursuits.

The future and the hope He has given to us is in His sufficiency. David, the Psalmist, said in Psalm 62:5-8

“My soul, waits silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation; 
He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength and my refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us."

You cannot have any surety than in someone who is everlasting and unchanging.  He keeps all His promises. He always has through the ages. He keeps HIS word. He made a promise a long time ago through Jeremiah:

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS”. (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

He promised to be our righteousness- this is what gives us the future and the hope. That as Christ- who is our righteousness- is, so we will be. So that is what we hope in and that is where our future lies. Paul, the Apostle, in his letter to the Philippians said:
 
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20-21)

So the next time you think about “a future and a hope” let your mind not be set on the passing things of this world but on things above, where Christ, who gives us assurance of a glorious future with Him, is.