The Bible and Hope
His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about the topic of hope as presented by the Holy Bible, explaining that hope is not merely a feeling but a spiritual virtue present from the first books of Scripture to its last.
Hope in Creation and the End:
He mentions that the creation story in Genesis shows how God transformed a ruined earth into life and beauty by His power, and this is a model of hope that a spiritually barren life can be renewed. And in Revelation a new heaven and God’s city appear as a final story of hope.
Hope and Christian Virtues:
The Bible links hope with the Christian meaning of the three virtues: faith, hope, and love, and he points out that hope gives meaning to the present life and affirms the hope of the resurrection and eternal life.
Hope in Trials and Divine Help:
The spiritual person keeps his hope no matter the surrounding hardships because God is with him and helps; the Psalms and the lives of the saints are examples that reinforce this hope in God’s intervention and protection.
Hope and Repentance:
Hope always includes the possibility of repentance and returning to God no matter how many sins there are — examples like Jonah, Zacchaeus, and the repentant thief show that God’s salvation is available to whoever responds. God desires the salvation of all and works His grace in the one who opens his heart.
Examples of God’s Power and Renewal of Heart:
He recounts stories of raising the dead (Jairus’s daughter, the widow’s son, Lazarus) and other proofs (Joseph, the three youths, Daniel, Mordecai) to confirm that nothing is impossible for God and that He gives a new heart and renewal to the believer.
The Role of Encouragement and Communal Hope:
Encouragement and supporting the weak and fainthearted plant hope in hearts; we must not cut off anyone’s hope but give them assurance and trust in God’s work.
Conclusion and Invitation:
The Holy Bible offers practical hope in all life situations: distress, sin, despair, and even in death and the resurrection. The invitation is to cling to God’s beautiful attributes — the loving, helping, giving God — so our life may be renewed and we may spread hope to others.
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