Let’s talk about hope today as we finish our look at Romans 8.

Romans 8 (New International Version)

²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Hope is no small matter in the Bible. The word itself appears more than 160 times, in dozens of contexts. Peter writes, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). What God offers to us is a living hope — a renewable spiritual resource that is “living” because it connects us to a living Savior. Faith means learning to live toward a horizon we cannot fully see yet. God invites us to have a horizon vision.

Let me ask the obvious question: Do you have hope? Do you need hope? What difference would it make in your life to move from despair to hope? Having horizon vision is an act of hope. When we look up from our troubles and focus on the glory to come, that’s hope.

When our college-age daughter was undergoing chemo for 9 months, we created a hope ceremony that the whole family participated in together. We made a chain of paper rings and strung them in her bedroom, with one paper ring for each chemo session that was scheduled. Every time she completed a chemo treatment, we took the chain down and had our dog Annie break one circle with her paw. It gave us all hope to see that chain grow smaller and smaller each week until there were none left. Focusing on the hope chain gave Sarah horizon vision beyond her pain and nausea every day.

On a practical level, having the hope that comes from horizon vision gives us an eternal perspective can make a difference in the real decisions we make each day. We don’t need to be focused on getting ahead in this life because this life is not all there is! We don’t need to be consumed by shopping the latest trend, for this life is not all there is! We don’t need to spin in anger every time we watch the news, plot revenge against our ex, bad mouth our annoying neighbor, sabotage our coworker for a better position … for this life is not all there is!

So maybe we can choose to respond with gentleness when we’re really annoyed. We can support the marginalized, the disenfranchised and stop cutting people off on the highway. In these and many other ways, having an eternal perspective can help shape the life we lead every day.

This final verse of Romans 8 is my favorite in all the Bible. When I was an Associate Pastor at the Peachtree City United Methodist Church in Georgia, we had a huge building campaign to purchase 63 acres of land located 3 miles from our existing building, which we had completely outgrown. A massive multi-building plan was conceived, beginning with erecting a 1,000 seat sanctuary. When the floor was laid and the ceiling was finalized, we invited the congregation to come one evening and write their favorite Scripture in black sharpie markers on the cement floor before the carpet was laid down. I wrote this: ²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

In all things. In the bad things. In the good things. In the moments of deep trouble and the times of great joy. In the births and the deaths, in despair and in hope. God works in all of it for our good. That’s what we mean when we talk about having an eternal perspective. That’s what having horizon vision means. As you go about your day, keep your head held high and your eyes focused on the endless horizon of God’s promises.

And may the Holy Spirit fill your heart with hope. 

Horizon Vision