What is the hope of faith?

The hope of faith is to gain an understanding (from God’s perspective rather than our own) of his eternal reality and greater purposes of goodwill toward all – purposes that are being played out in this (passing) dimension of time.

This is not to deny or minimise the tragic issues of pain and suffering that occur in human experience, or the death and destruction that results from natural disasters, as well as some of the cruelties that happen in nature. These realities are among the most difficult to understand in coming to terms with questions about God, and they highlight the importance of reaching right conclusions about him in relation to such issues. (E.g., See ‘God has an enemy’)

Similar questions arise regarding instances of exploitation and abuse that have been perpetrated by people, including sometimes even in the name of religion or Christian movements, past and present. It is not the purpose of this site to promise or imply that faith (in God) ensures one will always be protected from such betrayals. Yet it does urge serious consideration of the initiatives taken by God (and offered to us if we will seek him) to bring reconciliation, redemption, salvation and restoration to his original purposes of having a world of people among whom to live and be in relationship with.

The hope of faith is based on the reliability of God and his purposes. What he has promised is sure and certain, even though its fulfilment may be something that is still to occur in the future. The hope of faith, however, is that in God there is a certainty about the things he has promised, even though they may be unseen in the present, being still to come at ‘just the right time’ as promised.

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