Choosing Hope Against Hope

Regarding Abraham, “In hope against hope he believed, so that he might be the father of many nations according to that which had been spoken” – Romans 4:18

It is our hope in Him who raised Jesus from the dead that leaves us no room for hopelessness in our life; under any circumstance. Scripture calls Abraham our father of faith (Romans 4:16). This is because he chose to be convinced of the promise of God versus the limitation of human rationale. If Abraham having hope in a promise that had yet been revealed, much more should our hope abound in the revealed promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

“Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.” – Romans 4:20,21

Most are familiar with the story of Abraham. Yet because of it’s familiarity or even radicalism, it’s application for today is commonly overlooked. But let’s consider what Abraham contemplated: his own body— which was as good as dead, and the “deadness of Sarah’s womb”— she was physically unable to have kids. Many today, as much as then, would not consider much for their future, but would be preparing for their end to come. Yet to Abraham, while he had neither scripture or evidence of God’s voice to turn to, he chose the hope of God’s promise against all hope. Because of this deliberate choice of faith, it was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4:22).

“Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:23,24). The invitation of faith, in which took place for Abraham, is the exact same invitation of faith we have today and forevermore. The fact that Jesus is the revealed promise of which Abraham believed before its revelation, shows us the amount of faith we ought to have in Him who is the promise Himself. If Jesus became sin so that we would become His righteousness (2Corinthians 5:21), and that indeed is the word of God, no circumstance or thought should ever make us waver from that word. This is the hope we are called to have confidence in.

God spoke the earth into it’s being (Genesis 1). With that same spoken word that created the mountains, He declared us who believe in Him as His righteousness (Isaiah 54:17). A common claim of some believers today is, “I know He ‘sees me’ as His righteousness, but I’m really such a sinner.” This claim is as ridiculous to say that mountains do not exist. It is a deliberate choice of hopelessness and a blasphemous word to believe you are anything opposite than what He says you are. “Present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13). We’ve been baptized into Him. He is now the Hope of Glory in us that is able to do far more exceedingly and abundantly than we could ever think or imagine. Let’s never Give up this hope He’s given us under any circumstance of our lives.

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” – Hebrews 11:6