WE NEED
HOPE
Matthew 4:15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Who are the people who sit in darkness if not those of us who are looking for a ray of hope? Perhaps it is you? The darkness of life often overwhelms us, don’t you think? Whether it be bad health; the loss of a job; relationship problems; or any more of a dozen reasons; one thing is for sure; we need a ray of hope.
- "For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; Isaiah 60:2 (NASB)
The light that shined in Bethlehem so long ago offers a ray of hope for the entire world. Many of our citizens here in the US, as well as other nations of the world, are desperately looking for a ray of hope. They are wondering “Where are the jobs they have been promised by their government?” They are contemplating their future and the future of their families in the light of current realities. Many of our relatives and friends are searching the horizon for a tiny bit of sunshine. Their health has cast a dark shadow over any hope for the future. They need to get the message which was delivered by the angels to the shepherds:
- Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:10-14 (KJV)
Oh how that message resonates in our hearts at Christmas as well as all other seasons of the year! Do those words bring hope to your situation in life or are you looking for something else to bring a needed ray of hope for you and your family? How might you express your needs today?
Haggai the prophets reminded of a time when God’s voice shook the earth and prophesized of the time when he would shake not only the earth but heaven as well. The writer of Hebrews referred to this passage. Heb. 12:26 The wonderful thing immerging from this great shaking will be that “the desire of all nations will come”. Jesus fulfills the desire of all the nations: the desire for peace, love and sustenance of life. The nations of the world are looking for a ray of hope.
- I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. Hag 2:7 (KJV)
I am so glad that Jesus stands at the epicenter of my life. He continues to be the determining factor that makes the distinct change in my life. For over 55 years he has made the difference for me. (I was eleven when I believed the gospel and was immersed in the waters of baptism) My hope for the future, which for all intents and purposes gets shorter and shorter every day, is through the Son of God. Do you have a hope for your future? The baby in the manger; the teacher who preached the gospel of the kingdom giving a ray of hope to his listeners; the Christ on the cross by whose stripes we gain healing; and the coming king of the earth; he is the hope for the world.
He is my ray of sunshine in the darkness that covers the earth and the gross darkness that covers the people today. I shutter to think of where I would be today without Christ Jesus in my life. I am a sinner saved by grace. I am so glad to be a Christian. It’s great to be a child of God. Being a Christian brings peace and blessing to my life every day.
I am reminded every year of the prayer list which appears in our worship folders at the church where I pastor. On a particular Sunday in December of 2005, there were seventeen names on that list. That seems a lot considering our small size. In December 2011; out of that list of 17 dear people, nine precious souls have been lost to the enemy death (Contrary to the way many think, death is not a friend it is an enemy. I Corin. 15:26) reminding us how much we need hope? Where should we look for a ray of sunshine in this darkness?
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- For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4 (KJV)
Let me point you again as I have throughout my years of ministry to comforting words of the Bible. There, is the primary place we can find a ray of sunshine for our darkened hearts. The recent losses of the past few weeks continue to speak to us of our need for hope. During this time we have lost two more of our small number to death. Paul wrote words of comfort and hope to the Thessalonians. They needed this comfort lest they sorrow as others who have no hope. Many of those who are ignorant or perhaps, uninformed, or even misinformed about those who have fallen “asleep”, lack the comfort that they desire. Paul’s words of comfort were such, because they came by “by the word of the Lord”. I Thess. 4:13-15 It is only through the patience and comfort of the scriptures as well as the words of the Lord Jesus, his apostles, and Luke and Paul that we have hope today. It is great to have hope in Christ for today and today’s needs; but as Paul said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” I Corin. 15:19. We desperately need a “solid” hope for the future.
My prayer list changes from time to time. The special needs are there all the time but across the years those on the list move from being “the living in Christ who are battling the problems of life” to being “the dead in Christ”. However, because of the Babe born in Bethlehem; who grew up to minister to human beings much like you and I, they will one day be “the living in Christ” again. Ah! Let’s listen to that message again:
- Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:10-14 (KJV)
FUTURE HOPE
Listen to a part of the letter which Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exile, the priests, the prophets and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. Jer 29:1 (NASB)
- "For thus says the Lord, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place.11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:10-11 (NASB)
At that time many of the children of Israel were looking desperately for a ray of hope. They felt that God had forsaken them and needed to hear the words in the letter which Jeremiah wrote. The message included God’s assurance:
- “I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jer 29:11 (MSG)
We need to hear God’s message sent from Jeremiah as well.
- “I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” Jer 29:11 (MSG)
What is in the future you hope for? None of us can have any assurance for the future outside of the “word of the Lord”. (This we say unto you by the word of the Lord) (That we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.)
Over the years your name and mine will be included on a list of concern by someone. Perhaps cancer will be the reason; or perhaps a stroke; maybe a heart attack; or just old age will remind us how much hope grows even more precious as the years go by.
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