Hope Does Not Disappoint!

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ⁶ For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."

Romans 5:1-6

During a drive last night, part of this passage continued to rattle through my mind:  "Now hope does not disappoint."  Everyone alive at some time has been disappointed, and for good reason.  In every heart there are dreams and expectations that this ever shifting world has unceremoniously shattered.  In the KJV the word "hope does not disappoint" is translated "hope maketh not ashamed."  Paul told the Roman believers that the hope God provides would not leave them ashamed or confounded even in the midst of tribulation.  In the fierceness of the storm there will be calm for those who take shelter in their Saviour.  We commonly say we "hope" when we wish for something, but the hope provided by God is an absolute surety.  Christians can have the expectation that God will always work things for good for those who love God and are the called according to His purposes.

The hope God provides through faith in Christ and his unshakable promises in His Word is infinitely greater and better than any hope offered by this world.  The hope of this world is in reality utter and complete hopelessness.  This world will always disappoint.  One thing may make us temporarily happy, but only one little thing need happen to throw us angrily into despair.  Case in point - yesterday I went to a friend's house to watch the last game of the San Diego Charger's football season, a game with playoff implications.  For those of my fellow loyal Charger fans, we know how it feels to be disappointed again and again.  I hoped my team with win against the Kansas City Chiefs, but nothing for the Chargers can be easy!  I refused to even allow myself to hope for the victory as time ticked away.  Amazingly, the Chargers finished with a victory and squeaked into the playoffs.  The happiness of the victory had hardly sunk in when I reached home and found I had left my laptop power supply cable at my mate's house!  How frustrated I was!  Even when my "hope" of an improbable playoff berth had been realised, my own forgetfulness was enough to extinguish my happiness and replace it with irritation!

This situation brought me back to the words of Romans 5.  Those of us who have been born again by grace through faith in Christ have a sure hope that does not disappoint.  No matter what disappointments I face on this earth, my name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  I am God's child even if tribulations and troubles come.  I do not need to wait for heaven to receive the proof, for God has sent the Holy Spirit as a heavenly downpayment.  He has poured out His love in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given.  When I feel alone or forgotten, I know I have a High Priest in the heavens who stands at the right hand of the Father living to make intercession for me.  He allows even our forgetfulness to accomplish His glorious good.  The peace that God gives does not ebb and flow like the happiness we experience on this planet, but is a constant certainty for those who live to walk by faith and not by sight.

Football teams will disappoint, and we manage to disappoint ourselves at times!  But thanks be to God who has given us peace, access into His presence, and hope that does not disappoint.  When we were without strength and enemies of God, Jesus demonstrated love for us through His willing sacrifice on the cross.  Never, ever let anything in your life rob you of the joy and peace God has given!