St. Augustine wrote: “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are.” If all the disciples understand this, the world would be transformed amazingly, beyond human imagination or understanding. Sadly, disciples neither comprehend nor apply this in their lives.
Abiding spiritual elements: Paul writes that there are three that abide now for believers: Faith, Hope, and Love. (I Corinthians 13:13) Of the three, the eternal abiding element is love. God’s love is eternal, and it is expressed every moment, and it was displayed on the cross, when His Son bore the death penalty of sin, as the Lamb of God for humans. Without faith, it is impossible to know God and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. Love and faith make hope dynamic and a catalyst for transformation.
Anger: As Augustine writes, for those with eyes of hope, get angry with the things that are corrupted, polluted, and defiled on earth. The holiness of God inspires a believer so that he cannot accept things as they are. A disciple says: “It is not what God intended.” Hence, has a deep desire to bring changes in the families, communities, and nations. William Wilberforce saw the system of slavery and angrily asked, “Is this how God intended for humans to create structures like this?” The Lord gently nudged him to act.
Courage: Getting angry could be easy. But there is a need for courage. William Wilberforce got the courage to speak, write, lobby, and create a group of people who would oppose this and bring change; God gave him success. The Holy Spirit gives courage, not fear or cowardice, a sound mind, love, and self-control. (II Timothy 1:7) There are several kinds of bondage in all fields, human institutions, culture, and governments. They enslave humans, make them powerless, and mould them into instruments of unrighteousness. (Romans 6:13) Hence, there is a need for spiritual, moral, mental, emotional, and physical courage to confront Satanic systems.
Does my hope nudge me to act and transform things around me?