Most people that know me know that I’m into restoring old cars. What some people don’t know is that I’m even more into restoring “old” people. In this context, old is not an age; it’s an idea. It’s not a number; it’s a status.

 

For the last twenty-or-so years, it has been my passion and my call to preach and present the Gospel. Repeatedly, I have found that the Word that is contained in the Gospel does more than save people; it has the ability and the creative power to restore their being. The principle that establishes the foundation for a restoration is hope and the entire Bible overflows with it. Every word, phrase, book, or quote is brimming with untapped power – the power of hope. Charles Capps gave one of the best definitions available when he said that hope was a goal-setter. It makes sense, because to receive anything we dream about, we must hope.

 

Several great leaders have believed that hope is the fuel that furthers progress. Others have said that it’s the fire that fueled man’s passions and pursuits. Without hope, Moses would have stopped wandering thirty-nine years earlier. Without hope, the woman with the issue of blood would have died an outcast. Without hope, our forefathers wouldn’t have given life and limb to establish a free nation. Without hope, the Wright brothers would have never made it off the ground. In fact, without hope, we wouldn’t set our hands to much of anything. It is the end- result that keeps us going. It’s knowing that the kid’s will love us for the discipline, that the car will look great after thirty-six hours of sanding and buffing and effort, and that the next check will finally pay off the mortgage. More importantly, for our spiritual life, it’s knowing that a life in Christ is worth the world.

 

Romans 8:25 NKJV

“But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

 

Hope creates a state of mind. Before we can receive the object of our hope, we must add some faith. Kenneth Copeland says that we must clothe our ideas with beliefs and actions.

 

All of this enables us to achieve our goals and to walk in a state of being. Here are some examples:

 

In each of these instances, my hope established a destination or something that I would like to receive, but my faith got me there. (See Hebrews 11:1)

 

If you are exactly where you want to be…

If you have everything you’ll ever need…

If you’re content with life as it is…

Then you can disregard all of this nonsense about hope and faith.

 

However, if you know that there’s more to this life than that which you have seen recently…

If you know that God is bigger than any situation but wonder where He is when you need Him most…

If you know that you should be doing more for God but you don’t know how…

Then, listen up. I can’t answer all of life’s questions, and I can’t give one answer to suit a hundred different situations, but I can provide the road map that seems to apply anywhere at anytime.

 

The Word. You must get into the Word. It has an answer and a plan for every situation life could hand you. Use its wisdom and knowledge to build yourself a destination – whether it be healing, blessings, prosperity, answers, or salvation. Then, go to work! Start putting all of this information into action. Start letting the Word affect your day-to-day life. Walk, speak, and live in faith and prepare to receive in abundance.