Hope

I would argue that we currently live in a society that is largely void of any real hope.  When I lived in Italy it was common to hear Italians express low hope for change within their country or their personal situation.  They would often comment that “the beautiful life” in Italy had vanished.  The world is certainly a more connected environment than ever before.  People are anxious over the world economic situation, over constant war and terrorism, over environmental issues, over issues of poverty and social justice.  Anxiety seems to be overwhelming hope.

Hope, according to the dictionary, is to cherish a desire with anticipation-with the expectation of obtainment.  Hope is always future oriented.  Hope looks into the future and longs for fulfillment.  Hope may be directed towards something very specific or towards a general desire for change.

The Bible has much to say about hope.  The Bible offers hope for now because of a hope-filled certain future.  Below are several biblical passages that speak to hope.

Psalm 42:11  God as the supreme object of our hope

Psalm 62:5-6  God as the source of our hope

Isaiah 40:28-30  Hope in an eternal God, One who created all that we see

Romans 5:1-5  Hope in seeing the glory of God because of His justification for us through Jesus Christ-Hope through godly character

Romans 12:9-12  Rejoice in hope

Romans 15:4  Hope through endurance and through knowledge of the Bible

Hebrews 6:18-20  Hold fast to the hope set before us

Hebrews 11:1  Faith is the assurance of things hoped for

1 John 3:1-3  Hope, as a child of God, in the certainty of becoming like Jesus

The seven most important words in the Bible, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  (found in Colossians 1:27 as often quoted by Dr. Bill Bright)

The Assurance of the Word of God

Today I learned that a good friend back in Texas has inoperable brain cancer. He is married and has a family. This couple is a stellar example of one who loves God, lives with great integrity and has their eyes set on the Kingdom. I am kind of emotionally numb right now in light of this news. This kind of news always has a double impact on me-sadness and disbelief for the ones going through it-and a renewed sense of reality about my own frailty.

I found out this news by way of email-an email requesting prayer and believing God for healing. The wife quoted a verse in the Bible that God was using to give her hope and comfort-it was Psalm 27:13. This was bedrock for her-it was the absolute knowledge that there is a God and He is able to do whatever He pleases-and He is good. I was reminded in a fresh way that the Word of God is what provides true perspective-it is alive-it truly does instruct, reprove, correct and train-it changes us. No other book can do what it does. It becomes our compass in the fog and points us to Christ!

Seek Me and Live

More from the book of Amos. Yahweh, speaking through the prophet, commands Israel to “Seek me and live.” Israel was guilty of idolatry and social injustice. They had been seeking their own comforts-not apart from religion-but apart from the Lord. They had actually turned religion into mere tradition-religion without heart. Yahweh was calling them to repentance-and he made it clear that he would be actively involved to thwart their efforts to seek their own comfort at the expense of the needs of the less fortunate. In Amos 5:1-15 three times the command is made to “seek.” Twice the people are commanded to seek the Lord and once to seek good. The end result is the Lord himself-life-righteousness and justice.

As I studied this passage this morning the command to “seek” caught my attention. A little word study revealed that this term can mean to search out, to read or study, to inquire, to consult, to ponder, to investigate, or to beat a path to. These are rich notions of what it would mean to seek the Lord. The New Bible Commentary makes note of the fact that the call to seek Yahweh is a call to relationship and intimacy-to closeness to the God of the universe. That is an unimaginable privilege. Yet how easy it was for the Israelites to substitute intimacy with Yahweh for tradition and idolatry. Could it be any less true for us?

There is a regular seeking that must take place in the life of a believer. We are seeking creatures by nature-we will either seek Yahweh and that which is good or we will seek our own comforts and end up with that which is evil and does not lead to life. To seek our own end actually leads to injustice-subverting justice with a bribe or dismissing the seemingly unimportant and less fortunate of the world. But to seek the Lord leads to life, righteousness, justice-and compassion for the less fortunate.

Note too in v.14-15 that the seeking may precede the loving-in other words our will may have to precede our emotion. To seek good will lead to loving good-we cannot afford to wait on the emotion to act-the act will lead to the emotion.

May you and I “beat a path” to the God of the universe today-that we may live and show compassion to all whom He created.