As this year comes to a close let hope rise up within your heart. Humanity is living in an hour of time that will only see more selfishness, greed, and human depravity. If the Christ-follower is not careful, he or she will be caught up in the hopelessness that has begun sweeping the globe. As I reflect back over the recent years, I realize how movies, games, and our culture have preached hopelessness strong and hard. It seems that their message is paying off.
Because of this a light—no matter how small—must continue in the world. That light is Jesus, and the carrier of that light is the Christ-follower. I say Christ-follower instead of Christian because being a Christian has been relegated to rule-following, and church attendance; neither of which amount to anything without a relationship.
The purpose of this blog, as well as this website, is to herald a close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. For most, perhaps all, it will begin as an unexpected journey—like Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit. Just as Bilbo’s ordinary life was forever changed by an unexpected visit from an old friend, so too the ordinary life of the Christian will be forever changed by the unexpected visit of the Holy Spirit with an invitation to go on a great adventure—an unexpected journey.
I recall a line in one of the movies of the recent past that mention how dangerous hope is. It gives people something to look forward to. Consider how powerful this statement is. Hope gives people something to look forward to.
In the Old Testament days of the Bible God spoke to his servant Abraham telling him that his descendants would be enslaved for 400-years before deliverance would come. For over 400-years the 12-tribes of Abraham suffered enslavement by the Egyptians. Each year they found hope to carry on because of the words of Abraham.
Therefore the question becomes, What is hope? Hope is an expectation. Hope is an assurance. The expectation of hope is that God will honor his word, while the assurance of hope is that God has honored his word in the past, so, he will also honor his word in the present, and in the future.
Since the Children of Israel (before they were called so) held onto words spoken by Abraham, what words does the Christ-follower have to hold onto? What expectation, and assurance can he or she have as humanity races towards such a dark hour in time?
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (The words of Jesus)
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (The words of the Apostle Paul)
The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. (The words of Solomon)
There is hope, embrace it, expect it, and live it.