"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Romans 15:13
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1
Our pastor has been going through Romans for a while now, just taking the entire book chapter by chapter, verse by verse. And I've studied part of Romans before in Bible Study Fellowship - but there are some things coming from the Word that are becoming more real and giving me a new perspective on my faith. This in combination with seeing all the miracles Jesus did recorded in the book of Matthew make me realize how unsure I've been about God's goodness and compassion.
The verses above talk about hope - this is something I don't think we really comprehend to its fullest. Hope isn't like hoping to get what you want for Christmas or hoping that things will work out to your advantage. The hope God has given is a promise - a sure thing. Real, not tangible at this point in our lives, but this hope of eternal life and glory is a guarantee to those who know Him.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgement, but passed from death into life."
John 5:24
This thing we hope for is what our life should be firmly resting on. In Hebrews 11 the author speaks of many great people from the nation of Israel who hoped in the Lord, without wavering, even without seeing the promise fulfilled in their life. How much more evidence do we have the God took care of His people throughout the worst times in History than they did?
We have no reason to not to hope in the Lord's promise as if it has already been given to us - because it has! Jesus said "It is finished" and there should be no doubting on our part. We know that eternal glory is what we were made for so how can we justify doubting the Creator when our minor, earthly circumstances are unstable? Do we not have the surest promise of anyone? Have we not seen more of history come to pass than any other person alive to this point? We truly have no excuse. We ought to live in the full hope of God's promise and not waver and change the way the world does.
We are not asked to believe the impossible by putting our faith in God. He has already shown that there is nothing He cannot do. Think of Abraham - one of the first men to really be asked to trust God fully without a lot of evidence of His work in the lives of others. Abraham was asked to believe the impossible! God told him he would be a father to many nations and that his people would outnumber the stars. That alone would be difficult to swallow, but being his age and being married for who knows how long, and still without one descendant!?! Here's what Paul says about Abraham's faith...
"He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."
Romans 4:20-21
Abraham's hope was completely in God - not in something unsure or someone limited by the world. This is the same for us. We can trust in God fully, without wondering if He has our best interest in mind or doubting that He can do anything He wishes. He created the entire universe and He does not need any earthly means to accomplish what He desires. It really comes down to whether we KNOW He wants to take care of us or whether we WISH He would take care of us.
I find my idea of being taken care of varies depending on my circumstance... which is a terrible excuse to question the character of God. If we claim to know Him, we must believe that He is what He has said and shown. Think of generations of Israelites wandering through the desert, being saved constantly from armies and kingdoms. Remember all the times they turned from God and all the times He made a way for them to be redeemed once again. Know that His greatest desire is to see us come to Him without fear, trusting Him to be the only thing that will ever fullfill our hearts. Our Hope is Him, and He is solid and sure. We should not come to Him doubting, but come boldly to the throne of grace, ready to receive the abundance of life.
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