HOPE
13th Jul 2022
The apostle Paul describes the condition of people who have not received Jesus as being, “without hope and without God in this world” (Ephesians 2:12)
Today, so many of all ages are experiencing hopelessness, the circumstances of life crushing them and they can see no future. Loneliness is reaching epidemic proportions, people are fearful about the economy, the planet’s future, as well as where to find resources for tomorrow. I want to write in huge letters -
But God! - But God! - But God!
God sent Jesus into an equally broken, helpless world to rescue us, to be with us, to give us His presence, His help, His wisdom - Himself. The gift of salvation encompassed forgiveness for sin and restored relationship with the Godhead. The Holy Spirit is given to us so we are never alone, we have a Person who will walk through every circumstance of life and it is that Presence that provides hope.
At one time a friend of ours, Chrissie Chapman, was working in a refugee camp in Burundi and spotted an older man, and learned from him that he had lost everything, all his family had been killed in the genocide, all his possessions trashed and gone. He looked at Chrissie and declared, “When Jesus is all you’ve got, you find Jesus is all you need.” What an amazing declaration; few of us find the reality that he did, but the truth is, Hope is found in the person of Jesus.
Recently I was reading about Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane; the circumstances were grim, the future pointing to death, the disciples asleep and unsupporting. Jesus, alone with God pours out His feelings, exposes His heart and submits to God’s way, and as He does supernatural resources are released to Him. His father was there for Him - He was not alone.
To me Hope is manifest in presence, and although we cannot know the future we can know the One who does, and He promises never to leave us nor forsake us.
Psalm 42:5 records the psalmist talking to himself, “Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God - soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” (The Message)
by Joyce Sibthorpe
