Empowered with a Better Hope

Empowered with a Better Hope  
Living by Faith
Terry R. Baughman

“For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:19 NKJ). 

A world without hope is disposed toward disappointment and despair. There is a hopelessness that pervades the attitude of our country and people grasp for any proposed change that promises consolation or offers a resolution of expectation. Frequently, it is grasping at straws of vain optimism and empty promises. 

True hope is only found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus came with the goal of bringing salvation to a world that had been alienated through the consequence of sin and the condemnation of death. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He prepared and proclaimed the gospel, physical healing, spiritual deliverance, and a dispensation of grace. (See Luke 4:18–19.) 

The good news of the New Covenant was the institution of a better hope. The Gospel of Jesus Christ promises hope to all who believe and receive His Spirit. Paul said, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). He is the God of hope and He has come into our world to bring that hope to us!

The hope that God brings is a better hope because there is no disenchantment in His promises. Paul wrote, “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). The hope of salvation has already been realized through the power of the Holy Spirit. We continue in hope for the future fulfillment of God’s purposes. Paul said, “Hope means that we must trust and wait for what is still unseen. For why would we need to hope for something we already have? So because our hope is set on what is yet to be seen, we patiently keep on waiting for its fulfillment” (Romans 8:24-25 TPT).

The Book of Hebrews emphasizes the certain hope, the better hope, with which we have been empowered. The certainty of that hope is assured by the unchanging character of God and declaration of His promises. The writer declared, “It is impossible for God to lie for we know that his promise and his vow will never change! And now we have run into his heart to hide ourselves in his faithfulness. This is where we find his strength and comfort, for he empowers us to seize what has already been established ahead of time--an unshakeable hope! We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself. Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat which sits in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold” (Hebrews 6:18–19 TPT).

God has provided something far superior than the flimsy security of human promises in the face of our present circumstances. We have a better hope in Christ and, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Hebrews 6:19 NKJV). 

Theme passage:
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

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