The Authenticity of Hope

UV 1377/10,000 The Authenticity of Hope
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?

Job 27 v 8


The hypocrite is the one who shows himself to be pious in public but does not have a personal relationship with God. He places his hope in his own abilities and resources. Yet in times of great need beyond his strength or understanding, he cries out to God. At such times, God will not hearken to his cry. He takes pride in his own achievements and calls himself a self-made man. Little does he realize that when God takes away his breath, he will lose all that he gained. His wealth will be of no avail. Job lost all that he owned, all that marked him out as a successful and blessed man but he did not lose hope in God. He knew that God who had given him everything had the right to take it away too and that He could also restore it if He wills. God allows tests to authenticate our hope.


God does not desire that we show ourselves to be religious people. He instead desires that we show ourselves to be straightforward, honest to God and honest to conscience, sincere and authentic in our faith and its application. His eyes penetrate right into our hearts. He knows the motive behind every thought of ours. He knows what we value most in our hearts. He does not like people to put up a façade of religiosity. He desires that we be practical and spiritual at the same time. He wants us to be fully involved in this world, to be in the world but not of the world, implying that we should apply spiritual values and principles that we learn every day from His Word and His Spirit to the challenges, problems, situations we encounter. He wants our faith to be cutting edge, real and down to earth.

We cannot please God by merely mouthing some words of praise or acknowledgement that do not come from our hearts or by going through the motions of some activities. Our hope is in Christ, the evidence of glory in this life as the next. We hope to avail His amazing grace to overcome all temptations and troubles. We hope to avail His power to achieve and accomplish His purpose for our lives. We hope to excel for His glory. We hope to run the race of grace and persevere till the end when we are declared overcomers and victors. When we fall sick, we hope to be healed by His stripes. We hope to have peace as He has faced the chastisement for our deeds and words. It is our hope that makes us joyful. It is our hope that enables us to trade all that we are, own and achieved for the sake of our faith knowing that our complete and eternal salvation comes only from that hope.

Prateep V Philip