Since humans have the ability to imagine the future, they can have basically just 3 different views about the future: a positive view, a negative view, and a neutral view. One with a neutral view would be one who is indifferent about their future, and don't really care. The negative view would be the idea that the future is dim, and filled with failure and disappointment. However, the positive view looks to the future with expectation that good things will happen in the future. This positive view is called hope.
For sake of time, let's look at only the positive view of the future: Hope. A non-believer's definition of hope is much different than Christian's definition of hope. A non-believer will see hope as a positive outcome of some future situation, either by chance, by effort, or by personal skill. For example, winning a card game, or buying a newer car, or getting a better job, or developing a close relationship would be their hope.
A Christian's definition of hope differs greatly from a non-believer's definition in the fact that it involves faith in God. There's a supernatural aspect to it. So, for a Christian, hope can be defined as this: A confident expectation that some future situation or condition will turn out favorably based on faith in God's sovereignty, providence and promises.
A Christian's confident hope is founded in Jesus, and if we are in Christ and He is in us, our hope can never be taken away. Our hope gives us peace. The question then becomes what does a Christian hope for? What does hope look like?
Below are 4 types of hope for believers.
1) HOPE IN HIS WORD
We put confident faith in every word of scripture -- that whatever God says is truth -- that His promises are trustworthy.
"I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word." (Psalm 130:5)
2) HOPE IN HIS PROVIDENCE
We believe that, as God's children, whatever we go through in life, He will be aware of our situation, will go through it with us, and has the ability to intervene if it's His will. And God desires to work all things for our good.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
3) HOPE IN HIS RETURN
As Christians, we believe in the resurrection of Jesus, and that He is currently alive sitting at the right hand of God. Therefore, we have the hope that Jesus will literally return in a visible, glorious way as He has promised.
"...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13 ESV)
4) HOPE IN ETERNAL LIFE
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 ESV)
One of the core foundations of Christian faith is the belief in the promise of eternal life in Heaven.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16 ESV)
In conclusion, as Christians we absolutely do have the ability to imagine the future, and we do it with faith and confident hope -- hope in His Word, hope in His Providence, hope in His Return, hope in Eternal Life.
"I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance." (Ephesians 1:18)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)
