I Have a Hope!

Psalms 43:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Romans 5:3-5

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

As the days of this pandemic continue, I find myself seeking the Lord more than ever before for a word of encouragement for the people of God.  The people of the Lord are not like the world.  As the world awaits and hopes for an anecdote or vaccine to combat the dreaded COVID-19, the people of the Lord look to a different source for our deliverance.

The Spirit of the Lord reminded me that as His son and we as His people, cannot be grouped or categorized with those who have not been born again.  We know that we have been born again.  We also know that Jesus told us that we are to be in the world, but not of the world.  Therefore, as the people of God, we cannot expect carnal or human beings to deliver us.  As the people of God, we do not hope as others.

The word “hope” has two distinct definitions.  The most popular definition is one that states hope is a belief or feeling that what is desired will work out as the necessary events align satisfactorily. Synonyms might be luck or fate.  This definition leads us to accept we have no control over our destiny.  Those that are hoping the doctors and scientist develop a cure for COVID-19 have no control over if or when a vaccine will be developed.  They cannot control if they will be offered the vaccine, if they will be able to afford it, etc.

But there is another kind of hope.  The dictionary defines it as a belief or trust in an expected outcome.  We do not believe that our future is being decided by fate or some person.  We believe and trust our deliverance and future are in the hands of God.  We do not always know the exact outcome or events, but we do believe that God is working everything out for our good (Romans 8:28).  This is what gives me the strength and motivation to get out of bed every morning.  I am not waiting on any doctor or politician to save or deliver me: my hope is in God.

The Word of the Lord warns us about hoping and trusting in people:  “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Psalms 20:7) or “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” (II Chronicles 32:8); or “Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5).

I implore you not to pin your hope on people or things.  If you do this, there are variables you cannot control.  Again, that is luck or fate.  People that live in this realm are the one that carry rabbit’s feet or four-leaf clovers.  People who depend on luck won’t rent an apartment on the 13th floor, they will only attend church if their favorite person is speaking, they place more emphasis on the creature than the Creator (Romans 1:25).  It is a sad sight to see people that have lost hope: they act out of character or they are vulnerable to hoaxes or false information.  They drink bleach or disinfectant to cure the coronavirus.  They ignore the warnings of the God-sent prophet (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc.) and believe the false prophet that says Israel will be alright despite their idolatry.  People with their hope in flesh go to the revival and try to purchase a blessing (i.e. “If you sow a seed of $100, you’ll get a new house!”).

A few weeks ago, my pastor, Bishop and leader went to be with the Lord, but my hope was not in Bishop Thomas.  My mother passed January 2, 2013.  She was the one who taught me about holiness.  She was the one who instilled in me the need to fast and pray.  She was the one who instilled in me the value of living sanctified and being a Christian gentleman.  She taught me how to treat and respect women.  I could talk with her about anything:  she was a giant in my life, and I miss her terribly – but my hope was not and is not in my mother.  There is a familiar hymn that says, “My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name…”

Can you recall any biblical characters that lost hope?  How about Abraham and Sarah (when they had Ishmael via Hagar)?  How about Jacob deceiving his father and brother?  Look at the results when King David was lifted up in pride and ordered the census – 70,000 lives were lost.

In contrast, when Abraham displayed hope in God, his son Isaac was spared.  When David trusted God rather that King Saul’s armor, he defeated the giant.  When the widow woman of Zarephath trusted God and fed Elijah, the prophet was fed, her son was fed, and she was fed.  Furthermore, her meal barrel never went empty again.

My friend, maybe you have received some bad news.  Maybe sickness, death or another calamity has befallen you.  Maybe you have been patiently praying for a miracle.  Maybe you want the Lord to save your loved one.  Turn to the Lord.  Trust in His Word.  Place your hope and trust in Him. Remember what He said in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”