Anchored in the Promise of Redemption

I have always been a hopeful person. Despite the difficulties and hardships I've faced, I never doubted that God is real and that there is hope and goodness in my life. I often say that I have the gift of hope. Yet, for a long time, I struggled to understand what this hope truly was. I knew I needed Jesus in my life daily, but I grappled with the deeper question: What is it all leading to, and how does the Bible, in its entirety, give us insight into this?

Over the years, the Lord opened my eyes and heart to comprehend more fully. The Bible is one cohesive narrative made up of many books. More than just a collection of writings, it is a divine story—a story authored by God, the Creator of the universe, and one that He continues to unfold.

We are familiar with the beginning of this story. God created the earth and everything in it, including humanity—Adam and Eve. In the garden, where they walked with God in the cool of the day, things seemed perfect, but only for a moment. When Adam and Eve disobeyed by eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil, humanity fell under the curse of sin. The essence of sin was revealed at that moment: choosing not to trust God's wisdom and evaluation, but instead relying on our own. From the beginning, we were designed to live in dependence and partnership with God, with trust being the foundation of that relationship between creator and creation. This trust was broken in that pivotal moment, creating disorder, dysfunction, and the undeniable realities of life: birth is painful, life is hard, and death is certain. 

Yet, even when His creation turned against Him, God continued to reveal Himself as tenderhearted, compassionate, merciful, slow to anger, and faithful. He did not abandon the desire of His heart—that He would dwell among His creation and partner with us. God promised a solution when all seemed lost, as humanity groaned under the weight of sin, incapable of living as He intended.

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15)

In this promise of Genesis 3:15, God provided the solution: an offspring would come who would walk in obedience, bring forth a people after Himself, and defeat both the enemy and the curse of sin. This "seed" is crucial, for it is the thread that ties together the entire Bible and the unfolding of God's redemptive story.

“All things were created through him (Jesus) and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16b-17)

God's redemption plan began here and continued through the Law, the Prophets, the Writings, and then into the Gospels, Acts, Epistles, and finally, the Book of Revelation. The fall brought disorder to the earth and into our hearts, but God is actively restoring and redeeming it all. We are part of this very story. It takes the entirety of Scripture to grasp the full scope of God's plan, as He progressively reveals more of Himself, especially through Jesus, the main character. Every part of the Bible is significant. As it is written in Luke’s gospel:

"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." (Luke 24:27)

We must read and study the Old Testament to truly understand the New Testament. God is the same in both—the same faithful, redemptive God working out His plan. It is one continuous narrative, where we find our ultimate hope in Jesus, who redeems humanity. God’s faithfulness is first demonstrated by His relationship with Israel, the people He chose to reveal His ways, and to whom He remained faithful, even when they turned their backs on Him.

"He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!" (Psalm 111:9)

"If we are faithless, He remains faithful—for He cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 2:13)

Through these chosen people, the seed was preserved, and Jesus was born. Fully God and fully man, Jesus came, died, and rose again to make purification for our sins, paying the debt we owed. He now sits at the right hand of the Father, having conquered death (Hebrews 1:3b)—but His work is not yet complete.

Jesus’ first coming was part of God's redemptive plan, providing justification and restoring our access to eternal life and the Father through His blood (Romans 3:23-25a). Yet, the fullness of redemption for all creation is still to come when Jesus returns to restore heaven and earth, putting an end to death and evil once and for all. Only then will the earth and its people be ready to receive God the Father, and we will dwell together for eternity. The beginning meets its end, as seen in the parallels between Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 21-22. This is our hope: that one day, we will walk with God for all eternity, just as Adam and Eve once did.

"For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope, we were saved." (Romans 8:22-24a)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." (Revelation 21:1)

"No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His servants will worship Him." (Revelation 22:3)

Thus, our hope goes beyond this life and beyond vague ideas of heaven. Our hope is in Jesus, His return, and His kingdom filling the earth. Whoever calls upon the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13) and reign as kings and priests in His kingdom, just as was intended from the beginning.

"To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5-6)

As my understanding of this hope, the redemption plan of God grows, it enables me to remain strong and faithful, even when life is difficult for my life goes beyond my lifetime here on earth. And the more I study God’s beautiful story and see my place within it, the more I fall in love with Him—our Creator, whom we are privileged to call Father.

Our hope is in Jesus, His return, and His kingdom filling the earth.