An Anchor and a Lifeline
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
for he who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
The latest numbers are in and they don't lie; they only confirm what we have been seeing in American culture for the last 20 years. The latest Barna 2020 Research survey data on changes in the U.S. religious composition shows that Christianity as a religious identity is declining while secularism is on the rise. Daniel Darling writing for The Gospel Coalition says, "The old social compact that saw Christianity as good for the common good has been broken. While evangelical Christianity might continue to grow as Christ builds His church, it will also start to look even stranger to the rest of the world."
All of the discussion and debate surrounding Christianity's demise is, of course, discouraging; but it shouldn't be surprising. The Bible not only tells us to expect opposition, but to prepare for it. New Testament writers faced a secular world filled with suffering, opposition, and persecution. Their letters, however, didn't dwell on their circumstances or the world's opposition. The New Testament pastoral letters are filled instead with words that reflect themes of faith, hope, joy, peace, and love in the middle of great suffering, opposition, persecution, and martyrdom.
My sacred echo (the persistent word that God often repeats) for the last several months has been the word "hope." Hope is a golden thread running throughout the book of Hebrews as evidenced in the following verses:
"Hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast." Hebrews 3:6 (NIV)
"We want you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure." Hebrews 6:11 (NIV)
"Take hold of the hope offered to us…be greatly encouraged." Hebrews 6:18 (NIV)
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
"Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
From these verses, we see that hope is both an anchor (6:19) and a lifeline (6:18). When we use the word "hope" today, we usually mean, "I wish." Hope for the New Testament writers wasn't just wishful thinking. It was a faith that looked and leaned forward with a confident expectation in God and His Word. God's Word reflects His character and faithfulness. The entire Old Testament can be summarized with the word "promise," and the entire New Testament writings can be summarized as "fulfilled." God makes and keeps His promises. Thus, the New Testament writers weren't encouraging believers to hope in hope itself, but to hope in God (1 Peter 1:21) and His faithfulness. In the midst of great suffering; persecution; imprisonment; loss of power, privilege, and position, the unknown writer of Hebrews holds out the Gospel's hope as both an anchor and a lifeline for struggling, suffering believers. He encourages them- and us- to have a fixed focus, firm stand, and a faithful finish.
Hebrews’ message of hope hasn't changed. God still encourages us to hold on, hang tight, and don't let go of our gospel hope. Why? Not because of our great strength or ability. Not because of our great faith or strong resolve. The reason we can hold on to gospel hope is because Christ is holding onto us. Our hope is not in hope alone, but in the finished work of Christ. Our hope is:
the hope of the resurrection (Acts 23:6);
the hope of God's promises (Acts 26:6);
the hope of salvation (Romans 8:24);
the hope of God's glory (Romans 12:12);
the hope of the Gospel (Colossians 1:5).
The Apostle Paul summed up the Christian's hope when he wrote, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27 (NIV)
God never expects us to bury our heads in the sand and deny the state of affairs in the culture around us. By all means, read the Barna data, weep, and pray. But instead of wringing our hands in despair, let us hold unswervingly to the hope anchor we profess AND let us hold out the lifeline Christ's gospel of hope to a growing secular world who so desperately needs it.
Biblical hope is both an anchor and a lifeline; a secure faith that looks and leans forward remembering Who God is and What He has done.