If hope isn’t eternal, there isn’t any forever. We all hope for day to day and year to year occurances. It could be for something as small as a good parking spot at the grocery store, to more permanent possibilities like healing from a disease.
Actually, in English, hope means “I’m not sure.” But in biblical Greek it means “confidence, assurance.”
When biblical hope is realized, time and space opens up to our eyes, making what we hoped for become forever. Of course, the eternal God is always in charge of time and space, so he is in charge of forever. When my faith is in the kindness and mercy of God, whatever happens is not only eternal, but is good.
Vineyard owners always hope for a crop of perfect grapes so they can sell their wine at the best price.
Cherry trees, lighting up a neighborhood with pink and white blossoms, make it look like a fairyland. They seem to have hope for the future because they grow new sprouts on both old and new branches, just to make sure.
Spring replaces the coldness of winter, and we are delighted in what nature has to offer. Changing seasons are definitely eternal, though sometimes I admit that they change too fast as I get older. A single Lotus bud brings the promise of exquisite beauty, and a baby elk is its parent’s assurance of permanence.
Geese, like all creatures, hope for food, shelter, and little baby goslings. In this case they were probably wishing someone would throw bread crumbs to them. Unfortunately I didn’t have any.
Hope in what is good, which comes from God, gives us courage to wait a long time if necessary, without being overcome with weariness or disappointment, though in reality this isn’t always easy.. But it also brings peaceful acceptance of today and joyful confidence about the future.
“And His name will be the hope of all the world.” Matt 12:21