Reasons for Hope

Nathan Busenitz of Pulpit Magazine recently finished a six-part series on hoping in God. It was helpful and encouraging—good solid reminders about God that serve to strengthen our hope in Him and His promises.

In short, we can hope in God because of His (1) person, (2) power, (3) plan, (4) past record, and (5) parental care.

Here are the five main points:

1. HIS PERSON: We can hope in God because of who He is.
   We can hope in God and His promises because He is absolutely trustworthy—His Word can be trusted because He can be trusted. . . .
2. HIS POWER: We can hope in God because He is in control.
   A second reason to hope in God, beyond the absolute dependability of His perfect character, is His infinite power. Again, the Bible is very clear — God is in control of everything at every moment of every day. . . .
3. HIS PLAN: We Can Hope in God Because He Knows Exactly What He’s Doing.
   If God was merely all-powerful, haphazardly wielding brute force at random spurts throughout the universe, we might have reason to be frightened. But God is not only all-powerful, He is also all-wise. . . .
4. HIS PAST RECORD: We can hope in God because He has always been faithful before.
   Another reason we can embrace the hope God offers is because He has never broken a promise. His track record is perfect. He has always kept His Word in the past, just as He will continue to do so in the future. . . .
5. HIS PARENTAL CARE: We can hope in God because He loves us.
   A final reason to hope in God is found in the love He has for His children. . . .

Read the six posts:

• Hoping in the God of Hope (Part 1)
• Hoping in the God of Hope (Part 2)
• Hoping in the God of Hope (Part 3)
• Hoping in the God of Hope (Part 4)
• Hoping in the God of Hope (Part 5)
• Hoping in the God of Hope (Conclusion)

This is a helpful and solid series, but if I were to offer one mild critique, it would be that is doesn’t say enough about Jesus’ death and resurrection as primary reasons for the believer’s hope. The resurrection of our bodies, our glorification, and eternal life are central to our hope. The cross and resurrection are central to the basis for that hope. It seems that any series on hope should be saturated with the work of Christ, rather than just talk (even if very good talk) about the character of God.

Am I off base here? Or do you think this is a legitimate critique?

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