God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:18-20
Hope is our anchor. An anchor keeps a boat from drifting away from where it is intended to be. And the anchor of hope we read about in Hebrews leads all the way to the face of God on his glorious throne! God made a promise and an oath to Abraham that his descendants would be numerous! And we are the heirs of that through Jesus. This anchored hope, leading right to heaven is designed to inspire us to live holy and pure lives in preparation for heaven! Additionally, the message of hope should ring from our lips and multiply into more people giving glory to God as they become Christians! Reflect on these verses...
I John 3:1-3
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."
II Peter 3:10-15
"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him."
Our hope should motivate us to become more like Jesus! Incidentally, this same hope is what helps us persevere in life during even the toughest times. As noted below by scripture, we persevere to attain a deeper understanding of hope in our lives...
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,(I BELIEVE) we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.(I BELONG) And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;(I BECOME) and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
James 1:2-4
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
So we see that hope in our lives brings about a reason for perseverance!
In a practical sense, the greatest benefit for us will be to see the hope God has given us and follow the anchor rope into his throne room.
The Psalmist put it this way to Israel for our benefit... "SEEK HIS FACE" (Psalm 27:8, Psalm 105:4, IChronicles 16:11) Follow the anchor point right up to God's glorious face!
Paul explained it in the new covenant way in II Corinthians 3:16-18
II CORINTHIANS 3:16-18
Seek the Lord's face! Jesus has entered the glorious Holy of Holies to give us a living hope. We are called to REFLECT on that glory. Our responsibility is to reflect. God's promise is to transform us! This is how we truly become like Jesus from the inside out! Meditate on God's glory! Seek his face! The veil has been taken away! Reflect on God is teaching us in his word and be transformed by his Spirit with ever-increasing glory! Isn't this what we want to become in preparation for the final day when we will be clothed in immortality! Hope is the anchor right into the actual presence of God.
CONCLUSION