“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
William Gurnall lived in the seventeenth century. He said something very helpful about one of the differences between faith and hope. He said: “Faith tells the soul what Christ has done and hope revives the soul with the news of what He will do.”*
Faith and hope are about more than just these two things. But Gurnall’s point about hope is that it has a forward-facing function.
Let’s take an example from our day-to-day lives. Let’s say you have a best friend who has always been reliable and loyal when you needed it most. This has happened year after year after year.
Since they have always been so consistent, that gives you more and more confidence that they will continue to be that way into the future.
That’s what Gurnall is saying about hope.
The One who has been a good shepherd in the past, will continue to be your good shepherd in the future. He’s consistently himself, come what may.
The One who has been a faithful friend in the past, will continue to be your faithful friend in the future. He’s consistently himself, come what may.
The One who has been a Redeemer in the past, will continue to be your Redeemer in the future. He’s consistently himself, come what may.
The future is less intimidating when you know that God will be there, and that he will continue to do what he has always done.
There are many uncertainties about the future. The goodness of God is not one of them. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Notes:
-“How to avoid the polarizing effect of the internet.” New podcast episode and blog – click here, or tune in at ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
-*William Gurnall, ed. James S. Bell Jr., The Christian in Complete Armour (Chicago: Moody Press, 1984), entry for November 17.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.
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