My Dear Sister,
I have been pondering lately and I wanted to share these thoughts with you in order to encourage you. There are two ways to view life: with or without hope. Looking back over time we can see the pain of wars, death, destruction of cities, prostitution, murder, betrayal, lies, homosexuality, death of marriage and the family, government failures, and even stealing the innocence of children. We see the masses dismiss God through evolution, feminism, existentialism, and the “freedom” of religion. The support and comfort of the family has turned to the power of individualism. Hope has been deferred.
Or…has it?
Paul tells us in Romans 15:4 “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
What hope comes through the encouragement of the Scriptures? Don’t we see a thread of hopelessness through the kings, judges, and even the prophets? Are not the psalms filled with cries to the Lord to defeat persecuting rulers and painful situations? Yes. But you also can see a thread throughout the scriptures screaming of hope. This hope contrasts the darkness of each pain and cry of our hearts. This hope is the ANSWER to each pain and cry of our hearts. This hope is never deferred. This hope never disappoints. This hope is never a wish; it is a sure thing.
This thread of hope is the gospel. The gospel reveals the hopelessness of sin so that the sweetness of the Savior shines sure. With every pain written in scripture, the hope of a Savior is promised. With every cry of the heart the hope of our savior is preached. This Savior’s birth is what is celebrated this Christmas. This Savior humbled himself to come to earth as a man to live a perfect life so that he could die to pay for the hopelessness of our sin. He rose again so that this hope is SURE forever. Our hope is a forward hope. A hope that we have eternity with our Savior and Lord in the new Eden where there is no pain or tears.
So sweet sister, how are you viewing your life today? Is your focus on the hopelessness of this world or the hope of our Savior? Be encouraged today of the hope that is yours through Jesus Christ!
Your sister,
Colleen