From Bleak to Bright: Holding on to Hope

Text: Romans 8:18–24; Romans 8:28

Big Idea: Hope is not a seasonal feeling — it’s a Christian anchor.

Application: Being a Scrooge means holding onto a hope anchored in Christ.

Romans 8:18–24 KJV 1900

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

Romans 8:28 KJV 1900

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

INTRODUCTION

On Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge was shown a future without hope — lonely, empty, and bleak. But Christmas morning changed everything. He woke up with a new outlook, a new heart, and a new hope for a different kind of future.

Hope changed Scrooge’s story.

And hope changes ours too — but not the wishful, sentimental kind the world offers… Before we head into a new year, God invites us to embrace a hope that is stronger than circumstances and deeper than emotions.

Transition: Paul shows us where that hope comes from, why we can trust it, and how we should live because of it.

I. THE REALITY OF HOPE — WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE FUTURE 

(Romans 8:18–24)

He begins verse 18 by saying, “I consider,” meaning “I have thought it over carefully—I have weighed the evidence and thus reckon it to be so…

A. Our present suffering cannot compare to our future glory - (Vs. 18)

Paul says:

“The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared…”

Paul was not ignorant or blind to the sufferings of human existence; he experienced more of them than most any of us today. Yet he still considered that the future glory far outweighed the present sufferings.

In other words: What’s ahead is far better than what’s around.

“Belief in what the Scriptures say will change our lives. Some of us need to have our eyes lifted from the dirt toward the heavens.” - Kent Hughes

Scrooge only changed when he saw beyond now into what could be. Christian hope is even stronger — our future is guaranteed.

B. All creation is longing for restoration - (Vs. 22)

Romans 8 says creation groans — it knows this world is broken and temporary.

“Our hope is sure because we already have a foretaste — the Holy Spirit.” - Unknown

Hope isn’t pretending things will get better — it’s knowing God will make all things new.

C. Hope is tied to salvation - (Vs. 24)

We are saved “in hope” (v. 24). Hope isn’t a wish — it’s the Christian worldview.

“Hope means hoping when things are hopeless or it is no virtue at all...As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is mere flattery or platitude. It is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength." - G.K. Chesterton

Transition: That’s the reality of hope. But Paul also gives us the reason for it.

II. THE REASON FOR HOPE — WHY GOD CAN BE TRUSTED (Romans 8:28)

God’s sovereignty and ability to manage every aspect of our lives is demonstrated in the fact that all things work together for good to those who love God, though we must face the sufferings of this present time (Romans 8:18). God is able to make even those sufferings work together for our good and His good.

A. God works all things for our good

Not “some things”… Not “good things”… All things.

God is able to work all things, not some things. He works them for good together, not in isolation. This promise is for those who love God in the Biblical understanding of love, and God manages the affairs of our life because we are called according to His purpose.

“The hand of God is at the helm. He’s steering us through the storms of life toward home, toward a safe haven. And He takes care to order all the events of our lives right now to speed us on our way there. “ - Raymond Ortlund

That’s hope — not a possibility, but a promise.

B. God can do more than we imagine

Ephesians 3:20 KJV 1900

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

This is not optimism — it’s confidence in God’s ability.

C. False hope destroys; Christ-centered hope strengthens

“If we don’t set our hope fully on Jesus, it will be seized by a groundless ‘hope du jour.’” - Scotty Smith

Without Christ, hope sinks. With Christ, hope stands.

So what does this hope do in the life of a believer?

III. THE RESPONSE OF HOPE — HOW WE LIVE BECAUSE OF IT - (Vs. 23-24)

Life right now is very good for me. But in the future there will be joys supreme. I look forward to that time of deliverance from this body of sin, glory ineffable, seeing the face of Christ, experiencing without restriction the perpetual adventure of getting to know him.

A. Hope looks forward - (Vs. 24)

Christmas celebrates Jesus who came, but Christian hope looks to Jesus who is coming again.

We are looking for HOPE but once it appears it is not something we have to hope for any longer. Ultimately our hope is "Blessed"

Titus 2:13 KJV 1900

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

It is not an entity but it is the Person of Christ (1Ti 1:1 - Literally "Christ Jesus our HOPE!"). And when we see Him all our hopes will be fully and forever realized in Christ Jesus our HOPE! 

That future shapes our present confidence.

B. Hope strengthens our present

Hope doesn’t remove problems — it reframes them.

Believers can enter a new year saying: “I don’t know what’s coming… but I know Who’s coming with me.”

Psalm 118:24 KJV 1900

24 This is the day which the Lord hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

C. Hope encourages others

Scrooge went from hopeless to hopeful — and his hope became contagious.

Christian hope must do the same. We carry:

hope for families,

hope for workplaces,

hope for our community.

Because our hope is not seasonal — it’s eternal.

Titus 1:2 KJV 1900

2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Conclusion:

Scrooge’s story changed when he embraced hope. Our story changes when we anchor our hope in Christ.

Hope is not a Christmas decoration we pack away in January. Hope is the Christian’s lifeline — a sure confidence in God’s promises, God’s power, and God’s plan.

No matter what this new year brings, no matter what battles come, no matter what uncertainties rise — Christian hope stands.

Because Christian hope is Christ.