Hope When the Future Looks Bleak

"And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD that thy children shall come again to their own border." Jeremiah 31:17

Much of Jeremiah’s prophecy is about Judah’s coming captivity, the destruction of Jerusalem and their impending deportation to Babylon. Their future was bleak.

Included in Jeremiah’s message are three themes. One in spite of the coming doom there is hope. Two, God would once again demonstrate His goodness to them. Three after God’s purpose for them was accomplished; He would bring them back to their land.

Jeremiah also prophesied, “For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” [Jeremiah 29:10, 11]

We all have those times in our lives when the future looks bleak. A bleak future is not a hopeless future. We need to turn our eyes away from our circumstances and look for the goodness of God as he works out His purpose for us.

During our day darks God is near and wants us to call upon Him. It’s all found in Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” My understanding of this verse is that for the believer all things are for our good and His glory. Read the book of Jeremiah and you will see these two themes at work in the life of Judah. For our dark days we need realize God’s purpose in our circumstances, experience His goodness and allow the Word of God to be our hope.

Hope

Hope’s foundation is God Himself as He has communicated to us through the Word of God. Peter tells that we have “also a more sure word of prophecy.” This so because the one who has spoken to us has the ability to bring to pass that which He has promised.

Our hope is more than something that might come to pass. This coming weekend millions of fans will be watching the Super Bowl hoping their team will win. For many fans, their hopes will be dashed because one team will lose. Until the clock runs out the winning team may not be known. Our hope is different. When God speaks that which He promises is absolutely certain no matter how impossible it may seems to us or how long it takes for it to come to pass.

Hope is not something that we automatically possess because God has spoken. We need to exercise faith in God and trust Him no matter what circumstances we face. Why because our hope is in God, the God of Hope not in the changing circumstances of life. To do this, we must have an understanding of God’s character.

The Apostle Peter records the scoffers who questions God when he asks “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” [2 Peter 3:4] Peter goes on to tells us that this question arises out of the scoffers’ ignorance of God’s longsuffering, power and purposes.

Hope that sustains us through the difficulties in life is the result of our study of the Word of God and our faith in its author. Let us not forget Paul’s benediction in Romans 15:13: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” He not just God but He is the God of Hope. People today put their trust in many things that cannot provide them with a lasting hope and more often than not are nothing but empty promises that bring discouragement and despair.

In what do you place your hope today? The promises of government, money, politicians, a business, etc. or have you placed your hope in the unfailing God of Hope who we can and do know in and through the person of Jesus Christ.

In the next post we will try to answer the question: Is it possible to have hope when the future looks so bleak?

Discernment

Discernment is the ability to recognize the differences between objects and teachings so as to determine what is real and what is a copy. When it comes to religious truth, it is the ability to discern the teaching of men and to recognize truth and error, right and wrong, prophets and false prophets, real and counterfeit.

Discernment is based upon one’s knowledge of the truth. How does a government agent discern the difference between a real twenty-dollar bill and a counterfeit one? He studies a real twenty-dollar bill with all its nuisances until they know it so well that they can spot a counterfeit.

How then are we to be able to tell truth from error? We need to follow the example of the Jews in Berea who heard Paul preach. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” [Acts 17:11]

They recognized that they needed a reliable standard by which they could test the preaching of Paul. The standard was the Word of God. The Psalmist said, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” [119:160] Jesus prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” [John 17:17] The first standard we are to use in discerning the teachings of preachers, churches, religions and sects is to measure their teachings against the truth, the standard of the Word of God.

The second standard we’re to use in determining truth from error is the person of Jesus Christ. He is the way, the life and the truth. [John 14:6] How can any teaching be right that contradicts His teachings or His very being? Recently, a leader of a worldwide Christian organization when being asked about Jesus statement in John 14:6 said, “Jesus was wrong.” On the basis of the Word of God and the teaching of the Word of God, I can say unequivocally he is a false teacher and must be rejected.

One of the great dangers we face today is that people approach the idea s of right and wrong from two extremes. On one extreme is the blind acceptance as truth that which we hear from the pulpits, radio waves and TV as absolute truth. I am constantly telling people to measure what they hear from these sources by the Word of God. If they find something that contradicts the Word of God, question what has been said. Sometimes the difference are matters of fundamental truth and the teacher along with the teaching must be rejected and other times it may be a matter where there are two different legitimate interpretations of a passage of scripture. If the latter is true, we must be charitable and not cause a division.

The second danger is to reject everything we hear because it doesn’t measure up to our ideas of right and wrong. Nothing is more dangerous for both individuals and society than to have conflicting subjective standards of right and wrong. In this situation there is no right or wrong and no ability to discern the truth. The product is societal chaos that leads to anarchy. A reading of the book of Judges reveals the dangers of everyone doing what is right in their own eyes.

How then do we carry out the admonition of the Apostle John? “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” [1 John 4:1] We need to prayerfully study the whole Word of God and measure the teachings of others against it. We must avoid the error of measuring the Word of God against our ideas of right and wrong, truth and error and then rejecting the Word of God. We must set the teachings of men regarding the person of Jesus Christ over against the teaching of the Word of God and reject every teaching that contradicts what the Bible says about Him.

When confronted with a question, Jesus rejected the basis of the question by saying; “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” [Matthew 22:29] When the Jews questioned Jesus right to heal on the Sabbath Day his response was, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” [John 5:39] For Jesus the very Son of God the standard for truth was the Scripture. How dare we suggest some other standard?

One last word regarding truth and error, right and wrong. As you read the pages of this blog measure them against the Word of God. If you find something that contradicts what the Bible teaches, please feel free to contact me let me know what has been written contrary to the Word of God. It’s not a matter of what you or I feel is right or think is right but what the Bible says is right. Know the truth! Study the Word of God!

Den of Thieves

“It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Luke 19:46

Coming home from the store today, I went by a number of churches each with a sign out front advertising coming events. The events were not services or evangelistic meetings but secular plays [2] and bake sales [1].

What has happened to the churches in America today? The denial of the authority of the Word of God has deprived churches of their message so to draw people, they turn to entertainment. When this happens the church loses its distictiveness as a place where people meet God. Instead its primary purpose is a social club where people meet people. Fellowship is part of the church’s ministry but it is not the primary purpose. The primary purpose of the church is to be a place where people come to meet God and worship Him. A place where people are introduced to Jesus Christ.

The plays and bake sales are not for altruistic reasons but in order to make money and draw crowds. It is easy for us to point the finger at others but we need to take a good look at ourselves. We use music the same way. Music groups are invited to participate in our services but before they come they want a set fee, traveling expenses and the right to sell their CD’s after the service is over. Are we really any different from the churches that produce plays and have bake sales to make money to draw crowds?

Entertainment is entertainment no matter what guise we use. Churches that deny the authority of Scripture no longer have a message. We deny the power of the Word of God when we put entertainment over worship and preaching of the Word. We substitute entertainment for the message. The argument that we use is music is a form of worship. Is it really when we pay a music groups a minimum of $600, traveling expenses and income from CD sales for one service? How can we determine the difference between worship and entertainment? When was the last time any church offered an evangelist or special speaker the same package to come an preach the Word of God for one service? Why not? We have become convince entertainment draws more people than preaching the Word. It’s all about numbers not the faithful preaching of God’s Word.

Music can be a very effective ministry but when the musician puts money before ministry the line has been crossed from worship to entertainment. Using the house of God for entertainment instead of worship is a dangerous step toward allowing the church to become a den of thieves.

In the Beginning God

The Bible opens with a simple yet profound statement of fact. Immediately you realize this is not a fairy tale opening – once upon a time – and it doesn’t take long to realize that the Bible doesn’t have a fairy tale ending – and all lived happily ever after. These four words “in the beginning God” have cause learned men to debate over their meaning, to scorn the Bible as unscientific and subjected it to outright ridicule because men and women cannot reconcile them with what they believe to be true.

Man is not the center of the universe so what he believes is not the standard of right and wrong. If that were so, we would not have a universal code of right and wrong but total intellectual and moral confusion because so many men believe what they say is the ultimately right. Because man believes he is the center of the universe we live in a world of total intellectual and moral confusion with contradictory truths being taught with the expectation they will held in high esteem and serve as the governing foundations for life. Logically this creates an impossible condition because truth cannot be contradictory. It is either true or false but two facts cannot stand in contradiction to each other and both be true.

In the beginning God is a simple statement of fact. God was before the universe. With the creation of the universe came time and before time God was. The profound part of this statement is that in spite of all that the scientist says matter is not eternal and there was a creator. This simple statement collides with the naturalism taught by the scientists. The universe had a beginning. On what specific day at what hour we do not know but we know it had a specific beginning.

The universe was created not from something but from nothing [ex nihilo] and it carries the concept of the creation of something entirely new, something that did not pre-exist. In the second verse we find substantiation of this for we are told that the void and formless state follows creation not precede it. Therefore it was not uncreated or without beginning.

This simple statement has and will produce much debate but it is not a statement to be debated but believed. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” [Hebrews 11:6] We must accept the Word of God as truth. “In the beginning God” is a statement of fact that cannot be proved. Come to think of it neither can any other alternative be proved.

To believe in creation produces hope and gives life meaning. To believe in the alternatives rob life of meaning and bring despair. No wonder the world is in such a mess today. For more information email us and ask for a free copy of John Blanchard’s “Evolution Fact or Fiction?” We will send it to you free of charge and no one will contact you or ask you for money. If you have questions we will be glad to try to answer them for you.

Final Destiny

Even though he was a condemned criminal being crucified, the repentant thief's theology dictated how he acted during his last hours on earth and his final destiny.

What did he believe? He believed:
1. Eternal things mattered most – “Dost thou not fear God?” [Luke 23:40]
2. He was a sinner – “and we, indeed, justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds.” [23:41]
3. He could be saved – "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” [23:42]
4. He could not save himself – cried to Jesus for help
5. Salvation was by grace – “Remember me” no plea on basis of merit but simply asking for mercy and the grace that follows.
6. Jesus was sinless, God, Heaven’s King and in the resurrection –“This man has done nothing amiss.” He called him Lord, in fact he was the only person that day to do so and spoke of life after death and Jesus kingship when he said, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into they kingdom.”
7. He also believed Jesus was willing to save him, therefore he cried for help.

The repentant thief’s final destiny is that of being with Jesus in His kingdom forever and ever.

What do you believe? No one cries out to God for salvation in a vacuum of belief. In order to call upon God for salvation you must believe you are a sinner [Romans 3:23], you cannot save yourself [Romans 6:23], that Jesus died on the cross in your place [1 Peter 2:21 – 24] and that He is willing to save you [John 6:37]. Yes, your theology will determine your final destiny. As a result of your theology you wil either reject Jesus Christ or receive Him as your Savior. What will be your final destiny?

In order to be saved you need to pray something like the Publican prayed, “God, be merciful a sinner.” For more information write us and ask for the FREE booklet “Final Destiny”. We will not contact you unless you have questions you would like answers to and no one will ask you for money.

On Which Side Of The Cross Are You?

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.” Luke 23:33

Three crosses stood on Calvary. On the middle cross they crucified Jesus and on either side a malefactor was being crucified. As they hung there facing eternity, one of the malefactors made a very important decision. He asked Jesus to save him from his sins. He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into they kingdom” [23:42]. The other malefactor continued to mock Jesus with no concern about where he would spend eternity.

Those three crosses represent all of mankind and lead to the question, “On which side of the cross are you?” Jesus Christ is the divider of humanity. You are either be for him or against him. One malefactor chose to enter eternity railing against Jesus. He is now and for all eternity experiencing his just rewards in hell. The other malefactor realized he had a spiritual need and addressed Jesus Christ in faith asking for forgiveness. He is now and for all eternity experiencing his reward with Jesus in glory.

Some day you will have to make a final determination about your relationship with Jesus Christ. When you do, on which side of the cross will you be? If you want to know more about trusting Jesus, email us and we will send you free of charge the booklet “The Ultimate Question.” No one will contact you or ask you for money. If you do have questions we will be glad to answer them.

How Do You Say I Love You?

How do you say I love you? In Treasury of Love and Romance edited by Paul M. Miller there is a list of various countries and how they say I love you. According to his list here are some of the various ways people say I love you. The Dutch say Ik hou van jou, the Persian says Tora dost daram, the Pakistani says Mujhe Tumse Muhabbat Hai, the Norweigian says Eg elskar deg and the Iranian says Mahn doostaht doh-rahm.

In the Bible we are told that “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16] It doesn’t matter in what language you say it, it means the same thing. God’s love for us is so great that He sent his only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross in our stead for our sins that we might be made the sons of God.

How are we to understand the implications of this love as we interact with our fellow human beings? It is a love that “does what is best for others no matter who they are regardless of the cost or response.” It not an emotional, fluctuating feeling but an act of one’s will. It involves a conscious choice to reach out to those around us regardless of who they are, where they are and what think about them. The Apostle Paul talks about how God demonstrated this love toward us and by implication how we are to demonstrate this love toward others. Paul told us that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” [Romans 5:8, 10]

Did you read that, God sent His Son to die for us while we were still sinners and His enemies? Again our definition of love is “doing what is best for others no matter who they are regardless of the cost or response.” If were willing to demonstrate God’s love to those we meet every day, the world we live in would be different. Not just a little but radically different.

It’s not how do you say I love you but how are you going to demonstrate to others the love of God?

For a variety of love quotes we sugest you visit http://hopetriumphant.com/love_quotes.htm

Welcome 2009

Welcome 2009! Last year was full of personal joys, disappointments and challenges. Do you think 2009 will be any less challenging? As the children of Israel prepared to enter the promise land, Joshua told the people to follow the Ark of the Covenant so “that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” [Joshua 3:4]


With every New Year and every day, we venture onto a path we have not traveled before. What better advice to heed then that of Joshua – follow the Lord!!
Then he told them to “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” [Joshua 3:5] The only way we can follow the Lord is to sanctify [set ourselves apart wholly unto him] ourselves. What the days, weeks and months held for the children of Israel was unknown to them but known to the one they followed.

Here is my advice for not only tomorrow but for all of 2009. Follow the Lord wholly and see what wonders He will do in your life and in the lives of others. I will leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” [Romans 8:31b]