Hope Does Not Disappoint…if it’s in the right thing.
“…we exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts…” (Rom. 5:3-5)
We are living in a time of hopelessness. Pandemics and politicians have painted pictures of doom and gloom wrapped in a cloak of resolution and abandonment. Misery is the new normal. “Natural” disasters—floods, fires, and the like—coupled with humanity’s selfishness and evil behavior toward each other, have monopolized the news media for months.
It’s been said
that we are what we eat. If all we’re consuming is a steady diet of negativism and lies from the Fourth Estate, we’re bound to show signs of malnutrition in our thinking and beliefs. Hope in science (and scientists), politics (and politicians), or “the innate goodness of mankind,” leads to nothing but more hopelessness. Intuitively, you know that to be so from personal experience. In the last 18 months, science has been so distorted by “scientists” as to not be believable. Politicians lie with impunity. And as for the goodness of mankind, really?
If you’ve read any of our other posts, you know we write the truth from a Biblical perspective. Anything we put hope in besides a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the mercy and grace available to all from God the Father cannot deliver anything but disappointment, despair, and disillusionment. That’s why, as a society and as individuals, we’re in the condition we are. Recognizing a problem is the first step toward a remedy, a change in outcome.
Permit one example.
The state of California, where I was born and raised, is in shambles because of bad decisions by leaders for decades. Taxes, unemployment, and homelessness are at or near the worst in the nation. Changing governors through a recall election is only a Band-Aid on the real problem, which is sin. And that’s a heart problem, nothing that money or a change of leadership can correct. Until individuals recognize their utter depravity apart from Jesus Christ, nothing will change.
God is patient along with loving, kind, merciful and more. But He has a timetable that’s immutable. Sin will extract its due: “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23). “For the wages of sin is death,” (Rom 6:23a). But we’re a site of good news and if I left it there, it wouldn’t be good. So, in the same verse, Paul gives us the answer: “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23b). Free is good, right? You say, “yeah, but it sounds too good to be true.”
It’s true.
God loves you no matter what you’ve done. But He has a standard of perfection that none of us can attain on our own. Before you think, “What’s the use?” there’s more good news. Jesus Christ was born for one purpose: to save sinners. He lived a perfect life and paid for our sin by his death on the cross. He rose from the grave and is now seated with His Father in heaven, where He advocates for us with God. What’s the catch? There isn’t one. But it does cost us something. We have to give up our pride, come to Jesus in humility, admit that we’re sinners unable to save ourselves, and throw ourselves on God’s mercy. He promised that if we do that, “…the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37).
That’s a lot to say to get to the message of hope. There’s an old hymn that has the line, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” That’s the source of our hope, the sum of our hope, and the security of our hope. For a little more in-depth look at hope, read our last post “Free From the Fear of Death.” And if you’d like to know more about how you can have this relationship with Jesus, read our “Steps to Salvation” page on this site. Thanks for stopping by.