Hope For Troubled Times
I hope it doesn’t rain. I hope I stay well. I hope God takes care of me. These are only a few of the ways we use the word “hope” in our present day. It carries with it a wish of protection in all of these areas and more. But hope as it is used in the Bible is much more than a wish; it is a firm conviction, a certainty if you will, that what God promises will be fulfilled. “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, (Hebrews 6:19). Hope is listed as one of the great Christian virtues in 1 Corinthians 13:13 (Faith, Hope, and Love).
The most common way in which the Bible uses the word hope is to convey an attitude of assurance concerning God’s promises. Our greatest hope is in the assurance of our resurrection which is based on the fact of Christ’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). But between now and then we are called on to “walk by faith, not by sight” (1Corinthians 5:7). To walk by faith means to trust God and His promises to us. This a great challenge for the Christian in the present world where so much of our experience is characterized by suffering, and we are referred to as the “scum of the world” (1 Corinthians 4:13). For encouragement in the midst of suffering please read the following:
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, 14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2Co 4:7-18)
I also find great comfort in the words of Hebrews 13:5 where God says, I will never leave you nor forsake you. These words were spoken earlier by Moses to the children of Israel and Joshua just before they were commanded to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land God had given them. You will remember that when they obeyed God’s command, God stopped the flow of water in the Jordan and the people crossed over the Jordan ON DRY GROUNG!
These words of encouragement are not promises to protect us from all suffering and challenge. Rather, it is through suffering that God molds and shapes us to become the men and women God intends us to be. True character is seldom, if ever, developed through ease and plenty. It does not take a great deal of faith to trust God when everything is going well in our lives. The quality of our faith is tested when we experience suffering and loss. A clear example of this truth is found in Job’s life. After experiencing loss of health, family, possessions, and respect, Job is able to respond with, Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. (Job 13:15)
My friends, the present challenge posed by this worldwide virus is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our faith in God and His promises. God has not promised to eliminate all suffering for us, but He has promised to walk with us in the midst of suffering. I urge you to spend the next few days reading and reflecting on Matthew 6:25-34.
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Blessings and Peace,
Pastor Wayne