“bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
hopes all things,
Love persistently hopes. The Greek word “hope” carries the idea of confidence about the future. It does not carry the English idea of “wish” as in “I hope it doesn’t rain.” Faith believes in what is ultimately real. It anticipates the reality of God’s promises and does not take temporal issues as final.
PRINCIPLE:
Love has godly optimism; it is not essentially pessimistic.
APPLICATION:
If anyone should be optimistic on top of God’s green globe, it should be God’s people. The media mostly report things as black, dark, and terrible. Those who know Christ should not carry a melancholy viewpoint, for Christianity carries confidence for the future.
Love is optimistic for the future and trusts God’s hand; it expects grace to conquer the situation, so it has hope in the face of adversity. Failure is never final because of our future. Love never gives up confidence or hope in God. It will not take failure as final. Parents with renegade children never give up their return to the Lord. Mates of unbelievers never stop praying for them.
The idea here is not unreasonable optimism that fails to take account of reality. Rather, it is the refusal to take failure as final. This person sees the ultimate triumph of the grace of God in the face of adversity. Christians will not die like dogs. There is no blackout at the point of death for the believer, but the best is yet ahead.
1 Th 4:13, But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
He 6:19, This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
1 Pe 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Ti 12, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, 3but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;
