Hope Against Hope

Faith from Heaven

(Romans 4:18)

The hope of believers is different from the expectations of the world, which are based on calculating possibilities. Even when every circumstance says that something is impossible, we do not give up hope. Where does the power of this hope come from? Abraham’s life clearly shows us the answer.

1. Faith We Cannot Boast About
If Abraham had been accounted righteous because of his own strong conviction and perseverance, then we, who have become his spiritual descendants, could also boast about our faith. But it was God who first called Abraham while he was still worshiping idols, and it was also God who put within him the faith to respond to that calling and promise. Therefore, faith is not a merit or capacity that a person can present before God. It is a gift from God that we must receive with gratitude and humility.

2. Faith Beyond Possibility
Abraham had to endure years in which he had no son and saw no sign that the promise would be fulfilled. Mocked because of his name, which meant “exalted father,” he grew weary of waiting and obtained Ishmael through human means. But Ishmael was not the son God had promised. God said that He would give Isaac through Sarah, who was already ninety years old, and Abraham believed that promise even when every circumstance said it was impossible. He did not believe in the possibility that it might happen. He believed in God, who both intended to keep His promise and had the power to fulfill it.

3. Believing Because of Who He Is
We are not like Ishmael, who was brought forth through human effort, but like Isaac, who was born according to God’s promise. We became God’s children not because our ability to believe was stronger than that of others, but because God called us and put faith within us. Therefore, we cannot present our faith as our own merit and boast about it, nor do we have any reason to give up hope simply because we see no possibility. God will surely fulfill what He has promised. This is why, even contrary to hope, we do not give up hope.

Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim