11. Is it hope if there is something we can see? Romans 8:24. Consider 2 Thessalonians 2:16.
NOTE: ‘The Psalmist prayed, “Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, but according as we hope in Thee.” Psalm 33:22. This is an inspired prayer. It was prompted by the Holy Spirit, which helps our infirmities, and teaches what we ought to pray for. Therefore it is certain that the prayer is a proper one. It is just as certain that the standard of giving, which it calls for, is a just one. Since God directed the prayer to be uttered, that is evidence that He will grant the request. And what is the request? That the mercy of God should be bestowed upon us to the degree that we hope for it. What a wonderful range that is, within which we are permitted to draw upon the heavenly treasury! It is as though God has given us cheques on the bank of heaven, with His name assigned to them, with the privilege of filling in any amount we wish. The prayer of the Psalmist is equivalent to a promise on the part of God that He will give us as much as we hope for. But we remember that the mercy that we hope for is to be given us, and not what we would simply like to have. “For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?” Romans 8:24. That is, we hope only for that thing which we do not see with our natural eyes. Hope means expectation as well as desire. Therefore we find that hope is inseparably connected with faith, and very closely allied to it. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” And our hope in God is the measure of the mercy that we receive from Him. So it is pretty hard to distinguish between faith and hope.’ E. J. Waggoner: Present Truth, July 17, 1890.
12. What are we counselled to hold fast to the end? Hebrews 3:6.
NOTE: ‘If you will only watch, continually watch unto prayer, if you will do everything as if you were in the immediate presence of God, you will be saved from yielding to temptation and may hope to be kept pure, spotless, and undefiled till the last. If you hold the beginning of your confidence firm unto the end, your ways will be established in God; and what grace has begun, glory will crown in the kingdom of our God. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law.’ The Adventist Home, page 338.
13. Should we keep our hope to ourselves? 1 Peter 3:15.
NOTE: ‘The Lord desires you to be soul winners; therefore, while you should not force doctrinal points upon the people, you should “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” 1 Peter 3:15. Why fear? Fear lest your words should savour of self-importance, lest unadvised words be spoken, lest the words and manner should not be after Christ’s likeness. Connect firmly with Christ, and present the truth as it is in Him. Hearts cannot fail to be touched by the story of the atonement. As you learn the meekness and lowliness of Christ, you will know what you should say to the people; for the Holy Spirit will tell you what words to speak. Those who realise the necessity of keeping the heart under the control of the Holy Spirit will be enabled to sow seed that will spring up unto eternal life.’ Testimonies, volume 6, page 325.