An old hymn says, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness." But what exactly is hope? Sometimes I say, "I sure hope it does not rain today." That might be considered a "hope-so" version of hope. In contrast, some synonyms for hope are "confidence" or "expectation." To me, confidence or expectation goes beyond a mere "hope-so" mentality.
Recently I read a prayer letter from one of my missionary friends in Papua New Guinea. I was struck by the hope expressed by a tribal believer named Paska. My friend wrote:
Today I was cleaning out the shed when one of our Bible teachers came by. After chatting with Paska for a few minutes, I asked him if there was anything I could do for him. He pulled a picture out of his basket. It was a picture of his oldest daughter who had passed away when she was fourteen years old. "Here's a picture of my daughter. You said you wanted to see it sometime." I looked at the picture and wasn't sure what to say. I felt sad. "Do you ever think about her?" I asked. "Yes, and I feel sad," he responded. "Did she know the Good News?" I asked. "Yes," he said, "She trusted in Christ's work on the cross for her sins before she died," he told me. "So, someday I can meet her?" I said. He got a big smile and said, "Yes, we will see her again." Hope. The believer's confident expectation of our future together with Christ. Today, in spite of the pain and sadness Paska still feels for the loss of his daughter, he is confident that he will see her again. He has hope, and it is built up and rooted in the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ!
I consider it a privilege to have had a part in helping to train those missionaries who brought the good news of Jesus Christ to Paska and his people.
I am reminded that it took a team of people to bring the message of the gospel to this tribe in Papua New Guinea. And it takes a team of people to help train missionary candidates as they prepare to take the good news to those who have never heard. I am so thankful for all those who are part of my partnership team. Without the prayers and support of God's people I could not function here in this ministry.
Bob
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"The law demands strength from one who has none, and curses him if he cannot display it. The gospel gives strength to one who has none, and blesses him in the exhibition of it."
by C. H. Mackintosh
