Reading through the Old Testament prophets I am impressed with the visions of "hope" that reverberate throughout the writings. Jeremiah can find hope even amid the desolations of Jerusalem (Lamentations 3:21-23). The exiles are given a message of "hope", "say to the captives,"Come out" and to those in darkness, "be free".He who has compassion on them will guide them, and lead them beside springs of water.(Isaiah 49:8-23) "those who hope in Me will not be disappointed".
The hope that is expressed is in God who seeks to liberate the oppressed, the God who acts within His creation to bring justice and renewal. "Hope" is to me one of the most beautiful of words because of the idea that is contained within it. It carries the idea of anticipation, a glorious outlook, a change in condition for the better. Hope generates newness out of the bleakest of circumstances, it gives reason to live in a transforming way today.
We live in "hope". Paul speaks of the "faith and love that springs from the hope that is stored up for us in heaven"(Colossians 1:5). We have hope because of God acting within history through Jesus, shouldering upon Himself our exile of sin, through His life, death, resurrection and pouring out of the Spirit. He has ushered in His Kingdom and given us a foretaste of the new creation. We like those prophets of old have hope, and we look and live for the day when He says " I am making everything new."
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