ASSURING HOPE   

            God commands that we come near to Him in full assurance, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”  (Hebrews 10: 22)  All of us in Christ are sometimes tormented whether we truly are the children of God.  Biblical language refers to salvation in Christ as a “lively hope”.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”  (I Peter 1: 3)

            Once quickened, the soul made alive from its deadness in trespasses and sins calls upon God to “Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.”  (Psalm 119:49) The soul acknowledges first that it is God who has caused him to hope.  Again, giving glory to God alone and His marvelous Grace, rejoicing “in hope of the glory of God.”  (Romans 5: 2)  Then, the soul begins its journey in the continuing hope of having the full assurance of faith.  Assuring hope is a process of tribulations, which work patience in the soul, and then comes experience from the suffering in the trials, which then blossoms into hope, “we glory in tribulations also:  knowing that tribulation worketh partience: and patience, experience; and experience, hope”.

            Our soul begins to breathe easier when once again it is made to understand that the work is all of God, and not of him.  The tribulations help the child of God realize that it is the work of God within him that sustains and makes the trial bearable.  The soul becomes a witness to the work of the Holy Spirit, and is compelled to give the glory to God, for surely the work done within bears no resemblance to anything that can be accomplished by man.  Then assuring hope grows, and the soul takes delight in knowing in,“whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  (II Timothy 1: 12)  Knowing that God alone is the object of the faith of a chosen child of God, assuring hope matures and with it the peace that Jesus gives.  “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”  (Romans 15: 13)

            God equips His children with all they need to sustain them in life on earth, not only in the physical realm, but also in the spiritual life.  “Peace in believing” is what the soul saved by grace desires.  This is assuring hope, and it abounds more and more by the wonder working power of the Holy Spirit.  Let us put aside doubt, only stopping briefly to examine ourselves whether we are in the faith, (“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.  Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”), but continue on to the full assurance of faith commanded by the Lord Himself.  Bless the Lord, O my soul!