• johned@aibi.ph

The Hope That Purifies

(1 John 3:1-3 NKJV) Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. {2} Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. {3} And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.


In this article we are focusing on having a pure heart. The above verses tell us of the purifying power of hope in God - especially the hope of heaven and of our inheritance as children of God. I believe the loss of the hope of heaven is behind much of the meaninglessness in today's society and a cause of much of the lackluster Christianity in our churches. Hope purifies us in two ways firstly it causes us to think in pure ways. Secondly it causes us to act in a disciplined manner in order to achieve that which is hoped for.

Hope causes us to think in pure ways

If you think about noble things you become nobler. If you think on wise things you become wise. If you think on beautiful things you learn to appreciate. If you think on pure and holy things you become pure. Hope focuses our mind on what we hope for and a mind focused on Jesus and on Heaven will be filled with pure thoughts. They naturally flow from the subject thought about.

The renewing of our minds depends on them being focused on the things of the Spirit.
(Romans 8:6 NKJV) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

This is achieved by dwelling on worthy topics.

(Philippians 4:8 NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.

When we set our hope on Heaven we are setting our minds on things above and thinking the loveliest of thoughts. This does us good and purifies us from much evil.

Hope Causes Us To Act In A Disciplined Manner

The hope of winning an Olympic medal drives the athlete to live in a disciplined manner. Hope marshals the forces of the human heart and directs them toward a clear objective.

(1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NKJV) Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. {25} And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

The Isthmian games in Corinth caused the athletes to be "temperate in all things" in order to win. Temperance is an "old-fashioned virtue", it is the controlling of all appetites so that the best and wisest life can be lived. It is the precise opposite of life-wasting dissipation and debauchery. No great thing can be achieved without it. No athlete can win without it, no war can be won without it and no depth of character is possible without it. Even the accumulation of wealth depends upon it in that

(Proverbs 21:17 NKJV) He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Hope causes us to be temperate in order to achieve the thing we hope for.

What is the hope that calls us to such a disciplined life? It is the hope of Heaven based on the realization that we are children of God.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. {2} Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. {3} And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Or as Paul said in the previous paragraph it is the hope of an "imperishable crown". The wonderful rewards of Heaven call out to us. The throne (Rev 3:21), the scepter (Rev 2:26-28) and the crown (Rev 2:10), the tree of life (Rev 2:7), the new name (Rev 2:17) - all promised to the overcoming believer along with many other rewards. Then there is the hope of hearing Jesus say:
(Matthew 25:21 NKJV)... 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.'

How Can I Be Full Of Godly Hope?

  1. Study the Word especially about Heaven and all the rewards that the believer will one day inherit. Get a concordance and study the following words - throne, crown, inheritance, and reward. Also study 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, all of Romans 8 and 1 Corinthians 15 and Revelation chapters 2 and 3. In the gospels Matthew chapter 25 is instructive.

  2. Decide to believe what you discover. Don't relegate it to the same category as garden gnomes and fairies. Build your life on it and decide that it is true.

  3. Now fill your mind with thoughts of good, pure, noble and heavenly things. Fix the desires of your heart on Heaven. Take time to meditate on these things (that is chew them over, reflect on what you read in Scripture).

  4. Pray for God to reveal these things to you through His indwelling Holy Spirit so that you may be His hope-full child.

    (1 Corinthians 2:12 NKJV) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

  5. Pray for God to help you repent of your despair. Despair springs from certain thoughts that blacken our horizon like a drop of ink seeping through a glass of water. Find the thoughts such "I will never be any good.." that cause the despair and agree with God that they are wrong. Like this. " Lord I keep thinking that I will never be any good, that is just not true because You have promised to complete the good work you have begun in me (Philippians 1:6) and You have promised to make me like Jesus (Romans 8:29-30) I agree that this is a wrong thought, in fact Lord it is a stronghold that grips my life and vaunts itself against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). I repent of this thought, I agree with You that You are doing a good work in my life and I cast this thought far from me in Jesus name Amen."

  6. Pray for the ability to focus your life around your hope and so to be temperate in all things. This is a struggle for most of us who seem to have gremlins of disorganization in our lives. Pray for God's peace to rule in your heart and mind and for the ability to think clearly and order your life in a disciplined way around godly goals. Hope increases as you find yourself able to move toward it.

Prayer

Lord make us Hope-full Christians who smile because we know the wonder and glory of our destination. Amen.

This article may be freely reproduced for non-profit ministry purposes but may not be sold in any way. For permission to use articles in your ministry, e-mail the editor, John Edmiston at johned@aibi.ph.