The hope of resurrection, of a new heavens and new earth, of the return of Jesus—these are all out of our reach and beyond our ken. Very little in the modern world reinforces such expectation. And yet, like Abram, we hope against hope (c.f. Romans 4:18). We profess together that there is nothing firmer and more trustworthy than the integrity of an impeccably faithful God.

In Genesis 13 there is a striking contrast of vision. On the one hand, we see Lot “lifting his eyes” and gazing at lush fields that look like Egypt, even the garden of the Lord. This posture represents what the apostle John labels the “lust of the eyes”. Lot’s heart is driven by tangible prosperity, the hope of securing happiness right now.

On the other hand, in the same chapter Abram also “lifts his eyes”. However, his vision is altogether different from that of Lot’s. His gaze is not directed by what is within his grasp. Instead, it’s the promise of God that captivates and focuses the eyes of his heart. God says to Abram,

Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.

How strange it would have been to be Abram! At the time this promise was given, he did not have a single child; he did not own a square-foot of land. His only security regarding future blessing was the word of God. There was absolutely nothing else to anchor his hope.

And, of course, this is a position that is familiar to Christians today. Although we have a lot more grounds of confidence than did Abram (the Bible is no small gift!), there are still a lot of unfulfilled promises for which the only solid ground we have to stand on is the word of God. The hope of resurrection, of a new heavens and new earth, of the return of Jesus – these are all out of our reach and beyond our ken. Very little in the modern world reinforces such expectation. And yet, like Abram, we hope against hope (c.f. Rom. 4:18). We profess together that there is nothing firmer and more trustworthy than the integrity of an impeccably faithful God.

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