The great philosopher and mathematician, Archimedes, once said, “Give me a lever and a place to stand and I will move the earth.”

We learn in math that the lever is a powerful tool. It’s principle powers scissors, staplers, wheelbarrows, and even the humble see-saw. A sufficiently long lever and a properly placed fulcrum gives us the ability to move heavy objects.

In the Kingdom of God, there is a lever — and that lever is hope. Hope, when placed on the fulcrum of faith, helps to move things in the Kingdom.

Romans 5:1-5 (ESV) 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

One of the most profound things God has ever shown me is that hope is the accelerator pedal of faith. Our faith is our potential to have confidence in a thing but hope puts pressure on faith to actuate that potential. Without an accelerator pedal to release it’s potential, the engine is little more than a dead weight; a boat anchor.

1 Corinthians 13:7 tells us that love hopes all things. This is because faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). In this context, we can see that faith, hope, and love comprise perpetual Kingdom motion. They are the components that propel God’s Grace throughout the world. 1 Corinthians 13:13 tell us that faith, hope, and love abide; that is, they dwell among us because they are alive.

Faith is the currency of the Kingdom of God and Love is the power that backs it. But hope is what helps these manifest. For example, you have money. It’s backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. But this money is useless until you apply it to something you hope for, like a television or a car. This is what hope does — it puts pressure on faith to produce!

The book of Hebrews has some really good guidance on faith:

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) Now faith is the assurance (substance - KJV) of things hoped for, the conviction (evidence - KJV) of things not seen.

Faith gives us the power to appropriate that which we hope for!

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

We cannot please God without faith. Just like you cannot please walmart without dollars! But here’s the too-good-to-be-true-news of Kingdom economics:

You know, the law of supply and demand? Well God not only demands faith, but he also supplies it!

Romans 12:3 (KJV) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

So God supplies faith — and since faith works by love, He supplies the love, too! But, again, here’s the too-good-to-be-true-news, again — God supplies the Hope!

Romans 15:13 tells us that God is the God of hope. But this one really drives it home:

Colossians 1:26-27 (AMPC) 26 The mystery of which was hidden for ages and generations [from angels and men], but is now revealed to His holy people (the saints), 27 To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ within and among you, the Hope of [realizing the] glory.

The Hope of Glory is the Hope of Heaven! It is the Hope of God. And if we trust the Hope of God, God gets what He hopes for which,