FRUITS OF HOPE

“The HOPE of the righteous BRINGS JOY, but the expectation of the wicked will perish” – Proverbs 10:28

Scriptures provide insight into the FRUITS of HOPE, key among which are JOY and PEACE: “The HOPE of the righteous BRINGS JOY, but the expectation of the wicked will perish” (Pro.10:28, The English Standard Version). This verse implies that we who believe can REJOICE because we have an ENDLESS HOPE; whereas, the wicked have a HOPELESS END. Other Bible versions use ‘Gladness’ in place of ‘Joy.’ Proverbs 10: 11-32 contrasts the righteous and the wicked, focusing on their different speech patterns, lifestyles, attitudes, and destinies. Verses 21 through 27 particularly focus on the different outcomes that can be expected from pursuing godliness, versus pursuing sin. Then follows verse 28 which reveals that HOPE – Biblical Hope, the Believer’s Hope, our Christian Hope – bears the Fruit of JOY – “brings Joy.”

According to this verse, righteous persons experience trials, but they do not have any reason to despair. They know that their trials are timed and temporary, meant to end someday: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom.8:18). They hope for that day, and their hope enables them to be joyful despite challenging circumstances (Heb.11: 13-16). We have defined Hope as a confident expectation of good things to come: “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of HOPE until the end” (Heb.6:11). However, this HOPE is like a TREE with a number of fruits.

Let's picture Hope as a Tree:

The Ground of Hope – the soil from which Hope can grow is the sovereign Grace of God and the Gospel of Christ: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and GOOD HOPE by GRACE, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work” (2 The.2: 16-17). Colossians 1:23 also says: “If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the HOPE of the GOSPEL which you heard…”

Beginning of Hope – sprouting of the tree – happens through the work of God in Regeneration or New Birth: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant MERCY has begotten us again to a LIVING HOPE through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet.1:3). The nourishment that sustains this new Hope and makes it grow strong is the Word of God, especially the promises: “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the SCRIPTURES might have HOPE” (v.4). God’s Word is the cause and driver of Christian Hope in the human heart.

Contents of Biblical Hope are: the appearing of Jesus Christ (Tit.2:13); redemption of our bodies (Rom.8:23); consummation of our righteousness (Gal.5:5); sharing the Glory of God (Rom.5:2); and inheriting eternal life (Tit.1:2; 3:7). The strong fibers of the tree trunk are the confident expectation that someday we will: meet Christ face to face; have new bodies that never get sick again; be totally free from the struggle with sin; share in the Glory of God; and never be threatened with loss because this new life will last forever and ever.

The question is: Does this Tree of Hope bear fruit and of what kind? The answer of the New Testament is a resounding Yes! Five Fruits of Hope: the fruits of Joy, Peace, Love, Boldness, and Endurance. Without Christian Hope, our lives cannot yield these fruits. Any semblance of joy, peace, love, boldness and endurance that do not grow on the Tree of Hope, in the Ground of Grace and Truth, are of no spiritual or eternal value! People who do not hope or trust in God cannot manifest these supernatural Fruits of Hope.