In a recent conversation with Noralv Askeland from Norway, I asked him what he considered to be the signs of a healthy church. His response was interesting, for he quoted 1 Corinthians 13:13 where the apostle Paul says, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Noralv pointed out that the signs of a healthy church or individual are the presence of faith, hope and love, for these traits are what continue on into eternity.
Human beings can survive almost anything in life except the loss of hope. This is why it is important for us to understand that: The restoration of hope is one of the most important ingredients in bringing healing to a marriage, a family, a church, or to an individual.
It was during the difficult days in the U.K. during the Second World War that Prime Minister Winston Churchill would often stand in the House of Commons to inspire the British people with words of courage and hope. During a war time speech to the House of Commons he said:
“I would say to the House…’I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.’ We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask, what is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength God can give us…That is our policy. You ask, What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory – victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”
Simply stated: Hope is inspired by our vision of the future. This is why it can be said that vision (or what we see) is “a compelling picture” of the “future that inspires” us to take action.” In other words, hope keeps us moving forward! Hope gives us the ability to carry on no matter what we have to face in life!
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