By: Elder Tim White
One of my favorite hymns is entitled My Hope is Built on Nothing Less. It was written in 1834 by Edward Mote. In this hymn, the word “hope” is only used one time, but it is the bases for the entire piece. Mote understands what hope really is, do you?
What is hope? According to Merriam-Webster.com, Hope is “to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true,” however this is not the hope Mote wrote about. Mote wrote about biblical hope, hope that is “both sure and steadfast”, Hebrews 6:19. Biblical hope is “favorable and confident expectation,” as defined by Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.
Paul tells us what hope is, in I Timothy 1:1 he says, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;” I believe Mote would agree.
Biblical hope is a beautiful thing. To know, to be sure, that something is going too happened. David expressed His thoughts in Psalm 31: 24 “, Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:7 states, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” “Blessed” or “happy” are you if your hope is in the Lord.
Biblical hope is also a living hope. I Peter 1:3 states, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Warren Wiersbe says “it is a living hope because it is grounded on the living Word of God, and was made possible by the living Son of God who arose from the dead. A “living hope” is one that has life in it and therefore can give life to us. Because it has life, it grows and becomes greater and more beautiful as time goes on. Time destroys most hopes; they fade and then die. But the passing of time only makes a Christian’s hope that much more glorious.”
I am so thankful that I have a hope that is alive. It does grow more confident as time passes by. I stand in agreeance with Mote, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”
