Hope is one of the most important things for all of us.

Someone said a person can live for 40 days without food, 3 days without water, and 5 minutes without air ... but only one second without hope!

According to the dictionary, the definition of hope is: the expectation of receiving, desire, want. Real hope, however, is much deeper than that. "Hope is the confidence in something yet unseen."

One of the writings from the Sahaban (apostle) of Isa named Shaul (Saul, also known as Paul), states regarding hope:

"For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it." (Letter to the Romans, chapter 8, verses 24 to 25)

Sha'ul is here describing the hope of salvation of all who believe in Nabi Isa which will come on the Day of Resurrection. It is a hope as yet unseen. It makes us patiently wait. He emphasizes that it is impossible for us to 'hope' for what we have already seen!

Here is an example... If someone invites you to travel abroad, before you go you have to "believe" and "hope" that you will actually get to go as planned. At first you don't see any proof that it will transpire. You don't see the airport and you don't see a plane ticket, but you hope it will happen. Then slowly the trip begins to be fulfilled as you see the flights and rooms being booked.

In summary, today we learned that hope is to expect what we cannot yet see. It is something that lies ahead in the future and has yet to come. In the meantime, are we seeing any signs of confirmation that what we hope will actually happen?

Next time, we will talk about how we can be confident in that hope, how to know that it is not a vain hope, but a hope will come true. Follow me