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JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 24, 2020 — Christian hope is based on the words and actions of God and is ultimately based in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 51���� President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said Aug. 21.

“The modern world has sought hope in human effort and a belief in the inevitability of progress that assumed everything would naturally get better and better,” Oliver said. “The reality is that when men and women hope only in their own abilities or possessions, they really are not free to give of their resources to others.

“However, when believers are justified by God’s grace and receive his certain hope, we are free to share with others.”

Oliver’s fall convocation address in G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel on the topic of hope was the sixth in a series on the virtuous life. Previous convocation messages by Oliver have addressed courage, justice, prudence, temperance and faith.

“I want to remind us as we begin a new academic year that the virtuous life isn’t automatic, it is developed – it is the fruit of contemplation, experience and practice,” Oliver said. “Virtue is cultivated.”

In focusing on the topic of hope, Oliver referenced the university’s theme verse for the 2020-2021 academic year, Romans 15:13: “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.”

Oliver said in an era when a worldwide pandemic continues, cries of injustice echo throughout the country and seemingly intractable conflicts flare in the midst of a presidential election, people desperately feel like they need hope. They may be tempted to look away or despair over the current circumstances, but that is not the way of hope.

He referenced a scene in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Fellowship of the Ring” in which Frodo laments to Gandalf about the ring coming to him. Gandalf responds, “So do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

The illustration is relevant to current circumstances, Oliver said – circumstances in which God’s people need to “abound in hope,” as Paul says in Romans. The Union president also referenced Hebrews 6:19, which refers to hope as “an anchor for the soul,” and said the anchor was an emblem of hope from the early days of Christianity.

He encouraged Union students, faculty and staff to anchor themselves to the right thing by trusting in the dependable promises of God. Hope is not irrational but is based upon God, who has proven himself faithful.

“Since God has already overcome death through Christ, we can live with confidence in the present,” Oliver said. “No matter how dark the present age seems, those who follow Christ have experienced the living hope.”

Hope isn’t merely a belief that things will be made right in the last day, Oliver said, but it gives believers confidence and reassurance in the present life, allowing Christian to lead effective lives for God. Hope is faith in the face of fear and gives believers courage to stare reality in the face and still claim that though evil, suffering and death remain, they have already been defeated.

“Hope is standing in the valley of dry bones and daring to believe God will breathe life into them once again,” Oliver said. “Hope is mustering the courage to go to the tomb on the third day in the early hours just as the dawn breaks. Hope is living as a resurrection people in a dying world.

“Hope is joining God right here and right now in the renewal of all things.”