HOPE AGAINST HOPE
Last week the entire world’s attention was riveted on the submersible ‘Titan’ that lost contact with the surface as it took five explorers to visit the wreck of the Titanic. And while the coast guard and experts from multiple places gathered together to conduct a rescue attempt, those who heard of the story were hoping against hope that those aboard including the nineteen-year-old would somehow be alive.
The phrase ‘hope against hope’ found its origins from Romans 4, where we see a similar hopeless situation where Abraham still believed without losing hope.
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” (v18-22)
What are the chances that Abraham would have a son at that age? Yet, while that was physically considered impossible, Abraham had the faith to believe that God could accomplish the impossible. And so instead of giving in to impossibility of the situation, he rather believed God and so became the father of the righteous.
Hoping against hope is a reflection of faith of the highest order and needs man to rise above the realm of the body and soul (mind, emotions and will) and connect to God in the realm of spirit. It is here that man is able to draw on the power of God and in doing so, finds it possible to make the impossible happen, in accordance with the will of God. The latter of course needs discernment and maturity, so that man is not foolishly believing whatever he wants and then hoping for it. Paul goes on to say in Romans 4 as he applies that phrase to us.
The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (v23-25)
The ultimate will of God is that all mankind might be saved and when man, hopes against hope, that Jesus would save him from eternal death and bring him to life eternal, righteousness and salvation will come home. Unlike the ultimate tragic end of Titan, faith in Christ will be rewarded just like Abraham was blessed with a son.
