We Hope for What We Do Not See

I’ve heard it said that hope is faith oriented to the future. This seems like a pretty good definition and, for this post, it will suffice. Perhaps what is lacking in much of the talk about hope is the specific object of Christian hope. We can hope for all kinds of things: nice weather, a long life, or even something sinister like the downfall of someone we dislike. It should be obvious from these examples (especially the last one) that it is not hope as such that makes one a Christian.

Sometimes Christian hope is thought of as an attitude of optimism rather than pessimism. This is, put simply, incorrect. To see why, let’s briefly consider these curious creatures known as the optimist and the pessimist. In short, the optimist thinks that life’s circumstances will go his way, while the pessimist knows that this is a delusion. Whereas the optimist is typically carefree, the pessimist is more often careful.

While I might venture to say that the optimist is closer to being a Christian than the pessimist, neither approach to life is specifically Christian. As noted above, the optimist might hope for evil things. Furthermore, the hope of the optimist easily becomes a demanding expectation. Thus, when life’s circumstances do not go according to the optimist’s hopes, he might grow disappointed, angry, or even despairing.

The pessimist, meanwhile, is more realistic. He knows that life will not always bend his way. This realism, however, is not what makes someone a pessimist. The pessimist goes one step further. He concludes (based on the evidence, might I add) that life is hopeless. Yes, sometimes good things will come, sometimes bad things. “Regardless,” thinks the pessimist, “there is no rhyme or reason for such happenings and, therefore, to have hope is absurd.” Such a conclusion might lead to pragmatism, a “take life by the horns” attitude, or even a hardened heart. This last consequence is the outcome of a very serious pessimism. Obviously, a hardened heart is not the mark of a Christian.

So a Christian is neither a delusional optimist who thinks life is just cheery nor a hard-hearted pessimist who thinks life is ultimately meaningless. Unlike the pessimist, the Christian has hope. Unlike the optimist, the Christian has hope in something that does not disappoint. What, then, is this “something that does not disappoint”? What is the object of Christian hope that makes it specifically Christian?

In brief, the Christian hope is in God’s promise. Said differently, the Christian hope is in the promise spoken by Jesus Christ who Himself is the Word of God. What, then, is God’s promise through Jesus? Let us recall the following:

Jesus promises joy so overflowing that it persists even when all else goes wrong. (John 16:16-24)
He promises life so abundant that even death has no power over it. (John 14:1-3)
He promises peace so steady that no circumstances can disturb it. (John 17:33)
Ultimately, to those who love Him, God promises that His Spirit will be in and among them. (John 14:15-17)

These are the things for which the Christian hopes. It is God’s Spirit that distributes these gifts to us. Because the object of the Christian hope is a promise (a Word), it remains unseen. Promises, by their very nature, cannot be seen. They can, however, be trusted.

And so St. Paul writes the following about Christian hope: “For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Romans 8:24-25) The Christian life, therefore, is one of waiting patiently for God to fulfill His promises. It is one of waiting – with hope. And it is in such hope that we are saved. It is in such hope that we begin to taste the joy, the life, and the peace that have no end.

This does not mean that Christians don’t encounter adversity or feel down sometimes. It does mean, however, that such adversity and sorrow have been made relative. Disappointment has lost its power, and Christians are permitted to smile and to laugh in the face of it. It is as Jesus says: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

So it is certain that Christians “will have tribulation,” and yet we can still “be of good cheer.” Why? Because our final and lasting hope is in Jesus, who has “overcome the world.” It is this hope, the hope “for what we do not see,” that is specifically Christian. And it is this hope, the hope in Jesus and his promises, wherein our salvation lies.