Pastor's Ponderings, October 26, 2015

Yes, I Will Keep My Hope Up!

We have all heard the discouraging warning, “Don't put your hopes up too high. Don't expect too much, because the higher you are, the deeper you might fall."  The reasoning behind this disheartening saying is that we should not expect much in our future because there is a good chance that it will not work out very good and it also may be very bad.

It is sad that people will hear that disheartening saying and reduce their expectations that great things can occur in their lives.  While many are not surprised that others can run successful businesses, complete multiple degrees, have good marriages, or write great books, it is not their lot in life.  They are doomed to meander about drifting hither and yon but never living life to the fullest.

The Bible says that God created the universe by faith (Hebrews 11:3). That faith is the material of things that are “hoped for” and it is the sign of things that we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1).  We cannot please God unless we have faith (Hebrews 11:6) and we cannot have the faith unless we can base it on hope, which is the expectation that good is about to happen.  David said it best when he said that he knew that God is for him (Psalm 56:9)!  If God is for us, He is more than the whole world against us (Romans 8:31).  Therefore I can hope that good things are going to happen to me sooner or later, but they will happen.

This week, let us remember what Reverend Jesse Jackson from Operation Push says, “Keep hope alive!”  Never expect the worst, always expect that all things are working together for your good.  Let us go forth hopefully in Christ!

Hebrews 11:3
New International Version (NIV)

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Hebrews 11:1
King James Version (KJV)

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:6
New International Version (NIV)

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Psalm 56:9
New International Version (NIV)

9 Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.

Romans 8:31
New International Version (NIV)

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?