Philippians 1:6,
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
We all hope for many things
Whether it is lower cholesterol, a leaner body, a better job, a bigger bank account, more friends, a better relationship with family, a nicer car, a bigger house… and the list goes on. We could form a list a mile long of the wants of our hearts. Often, we are not only distracted but taken with these things. Unfulfilling as they are, our hope cannot be placed in these things. For many of these, to want them and pursue them is not a bad thing in and of themselves. But when they overtake our desire to have a close, personal and intimate relationship with God, we are out of balance.
Of the things mentioned, we all have hope that they would somehow materialize and we would be satisfied
Often, we work so hard to gain something and find that it is just out of our grasp. Hope is dashed and depression waits at the door. Failure has a way of lingering when we lose hope. Our enemy knows this and uses it to his advantage. Being great at what he does – accuse – he accuses our hearts of being less than what we truly are – a child of the King! We accept his argument because our expectations haven’t been met and we don’t handle failure well. Proverbs 24:16, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” God put that verse there because He knows us. He knew we would never reach a state of perfection until our feet step on the shore of Heaven.
Hope in any person or thing other than the Lord Jesus Christ, will lead to utter failure in the eyes of eternity
How we handle failure in our life depends largely on the amount of hope we have in God. Knowing that I am forgiven of ALL my sin; past, present, and future, places me as righteous in the eyes of the Father. I will reach Heaven one day – I am absolutely, positively sure of that because the hope is not in me, but in the One who purchased it for me. But the life that I now live must be as God wants me to live – not as I would. Here is where we depart from receiving the promise of hope provided by the Word of God.
Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
We may leave a church service ready to charge Hell with a squirt gun feeling as if we are larger than life because of who we are in Christ. David felt that way when he faced Goliath. He saw his God so much larger than the giant that stood before Him. When you and I can see God for who He is – both in our life and in the world, then the impossible becomes possible because
Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
But there are those things, everyday life things that literally suck the life out of hope and we are left feeling empty; wondering where in the world did God go?
We must hope in His power
Faith must rise to believe the promise that though I do not FEEL like a conqueror, I know that through Christ, I can do all things.
Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Romans 8:37 “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
We must hope in His power. I have hope in His protection, His provision, His power, His plan for my life, His providence and His position. The hymn writer said it best: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim; in the light of His glory and grace”. Settle your heart this morning that no matter what this day or this week presents you with, that you with God can and will handle it!
