Hope – Accessing Its Treasure

By Roderick Breem

The book of Colossians opens up with Paul stating his thankfulness for the believers at Colosse. One of the big reasons he gave thanks for them was because he saw a treasure that was stored up for them. Paul, in his own words:

“Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.” (Col 1:5)

First, I’d like to point out that in our culture and time the word hope means something different to us than it did to the early believers. To us it mans a desire we wish would happen like “I hope it doesn’t rain for my friend’s wedding.” To them it was an earnest expectation. This hope could be applied toward expecting – or anticipating – good or evil.

The Greek word for “laid up” is apokeimai and means “to be laid away, laid by, reserved.” It carries the idea of being tucked away and to be drawn upon. Now, when many of us hear the words “which is laid up for you in heaven” we may be inclined to think this hope will only be ours when we reach heaven. But I firmly believe that this hope is tucked aside and God is waiting for us to draw on its resources. We can have access to this hope right now.

Paul goes on to explain that this hope is active and is bringing forth fruit for the kingdom of God.

“which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.” (v.6)

This hope, which was accessed by Paul and others, was bringing forth fruit. This same hope is laid up for each of us. It is tucked aside, waiting for us to pull from its resources. It can be likened to the young man who has been given an inheritance. The money has been deposited. He has been given the account information and all he has to do it draw from the account. The good news is that this account will never run dry.

In Luke 19 we find the Parable of the Minas. In the parable a certain nobleman “went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.” (v.12) He called 10 of his servants and gave them each 10 minas and told them to “Do business till I come.” (v.13) When he returned he checked with his servants to see the outcome of his investment. One doubled the amount of mina and another added to the amount as well. But one of the servants came to the master and said:

“Master, here is your mina, which I have kept put away in a handkerchief. For I feared you, because you are an austere man. You collect what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.” (vv.20-21)

The master responded:

“Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, collecting what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, that at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ (vv.22-23)

The servants were given mina and were expected to do something with it. Likewise, we have been given hope and are expected to not only access it but use it to multiply for this kingdom. We are expected to pull from hope and apply it in our lives.

This hope is a treasure and an inheritance for us to access and use. Just like in the Parable of the Minas we have a master who has gone away and has distributed wealth to us. His will return and will expect his investment to be multiplied. What are you doing with the hope that has been laid up in heaven for you? Are you accessing it and using it to multiply the kingdom? I will leave you with our verse about hope being laid up in the Passion Translation.

“Your faith and love rise within you as you access all the treasures of your inheritance stored up in the heavenly realm. For the revelation of the true gospel is as real today as the day you first heard of our glorious hope, now that you have believed in the truth of the gospel. This is the wonderful message that is being spread everywhere, powerfully changing hearts throughout the earth, just like it has changed you! Every believer of this good news bears the fruit of eternal life as they experience the reality of God’s grace.” (Col 1:5-6)

photo credit: https://images.app.goo.gl/pmkajydDJfGGL75f6