25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.
with perseverance [steadfastness].
Christians endure present trial with a sense of confidence about the future. We persevere because of what God promised in His Word. Our hope is bound up with a promise not yet fulfilled. Perseverance is the basis of waiting on the will of God or His providence about fulfilling the future for us.
Since hope is future, there is a necessity to patiently endure our present circumstances. Hope enables us to bear trial in order to reach our goal of glorification. This is no passive acceptance of our problems but an active confrontation with them. Steadfastness means nothing can derail our hope.
He 10:36, For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
PRINCIPLE:
Hope triumphs over despair.
APPLICATION:
Christian perspective is not determined by the problems of the present time but by confidence in God’s promises. On that basis we can wait for the glorification of our bodies with perseverance. Patient anticipation for our hope is the proper attitude. There might be a lengthy period between our hope and the realization of hope.
1 Pe 1:13, Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Th 1:3, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
When we rest on the promises of God we have confidence in the object of Christian hope. The promises that relate to the future are absolute in God’s viewpoint.
No Christian who is realistic about life expects this life to be easy and without problems. A child of God rests his or her hope on the absolute promises of God, not on the frailty and uncertainty of this life. We put our hope in God’s promises that never fail. Future blessing is imperishable and permanent. Without hope Christians would live in despair. As long as hope is there, we will not give up the battle. This is why believers have perseverance in trial. That is why the Lord “endured” the cross:
He 12:2, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
