July 11

A lively hope. - 1 Peter 1:3.

LET us regard the Christian’s hope in reference to its influence. Hope is not a dormant principle, but a most stirring and active one. It is the mainspring of life. The plougher ploughs in hope, the sower sows in hope, the student studies in hope; nor can we imagine that the Christian’s hope will put forth no energies, or that it will produce no effects. It is called not only a living, but a “lively hope.” We may remark here three things. First, This hope has a saving influence. “We are saved by hope.” This is literally true. Man fell by losing his confidence in God, and is only to be restored by the recovery of it. We never can effect any thing in the salvation of a sinner till we inspire him with “everlasting consolation, and good hope through grace.” The whole design of the Scriptures is to produce this; according to the apostle,-“Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” And, says Peter, “God raised him up and gave him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God.”

Observe, this hope is a working, active principle. Despair freezes us and benumbs our exertion, blocks up the way to heaven, locks the gate of paradise, and flings the key into the bottomless pit.

Secondly, It has a sanctifying influence. Hence says the Apostle John, “Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” The Holy Spirit always impresses the mind with the all-pervading presence of Jehovah, and moulds it after what it pursues and desires. This hope will induce the possessor to renounce what is incompatible with the divine will, and to persevere in the use of means until it succeeds and gains its end. “Therefore,” says the apostle to the Corinthians, “having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.”

Thirdly, It has a preserving influence. Hence it is called a helmet, “and for a helmet the hope of salvation.” As the helmet guards the head in the day of battle, so this hope guards the Christian. It guards him from worldly allurements, and vanities, and dissipations. Having tasted of the spring of living waters, the muddy puddle tempts them in vain; and having tasted of the grapes of Eschol, they no longer long after the leeks and the garlic of Egypt. Cattle are much more liable to break the bounds when kept on a narrow and barren common, than when feeding in green pastures and beside the living waters. The Christian can make his own comment upon this: he often says,-

“Why should my foolish passions rove?

Where can such sweetness be

As I hare tasted in thy love,

As I have found in thee?”

So also it preserves a Christian from error. It establishes his heart with grace; it confirms his confidence, so that he is “strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” “Strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.”

Fourthly, It has a quickening influence. “Quicken thou me,” says David, “according to thy word.” “Thy word hath quickened me.” As this hope prevails in them, their strength is increased. “They mount up with wings as eagles, they run and are not weary, they walk and are not faint.” This hope, therefore, is to them as wind to the sails and as oil to the wheels. The advantages of this hope with regard to Christians are very great. They never walk so well in “the fear of the Lord” as when they walk in “the comforts of the Holy Ghost.” Again, it has a supporting influence: so says the apostle:-“which hope we have both sure and steadfast.” What the anchor is to the vessel, such is hope to the Christian amidst the trials and calamities of life. This hope in exercise enables the believer in Jesus not only to possess his soul in peace, but also to rejoice in tribulation.

So says the church:- “Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, and there be no fruit in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and. there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet will I rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”