Are you happy with the condition of the world and community in which you live? I would say that most people would answer with a resounding "NO!" Why is that? In today's world we see people who want to annihilate other groups of people, we have more families that are fractured or torn apart, we have seen people walk pass and ignore others who have been injured, and we sense that there is a strong feeling of indifference towards the needs of those around us. For a people seeking hope we appear to have come to the brink of hopelessness. How do we stem the tide of hopelessness?
In order to stem the tide of hopelessness you must have something that is of greater power than that which is pressing against you. Where will you find such power that you can have hope even in the most difficult of days? The answer is simple, God. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly," Jesus said in John 10:10. We can find hope for today in knowing that the purpose of God is that we should live an abundant life. Too often we forget that God's desire is that we should enjoy life.
Yet, you might say "how can this be when I see or experience so many problems in my life that I just want to pull the covers up over my head and never get out of bed." If we focus on these problems they will drain the hope from us, tarnish our joy, and bring us into the pit of defeat. Once again we are directed to God in Christ as we consider His words from John 16:33, "I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." Our hope is not in the situation but the Savior. The first step towards a hope we can believe in is to believe in and love the one who is our hope, God. In order to unleash that power of hope you must "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." Mark 12:30.
Once you have connected with the presence and power of God you can begin to draw from a well of hope and peace that will never run dry no matter how great the drought in the world around you. As you begin to draw from that well of hope it will flow in you and through you into the world around you turning the hopeless deserts of life into wonderful oasis of hope, joy, and peace.
How does this happen? When once you begin to love God with all that you are, it transforms your heart, mind, and attitude towards others. The second part of unleashing the power of hope is to follow through with the next step and that is to "Love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31. When you begin to love others as you love yourself you start treating them the way you would want to be treated. You begin to care for their needs and become concerned for their hurts. Imagine what would happen in a community where this was the norm. Hope and peace would increase while fear and despair would decrease. As more people experienced the hope that comes from God and sharing that love with others the light of His love would overtake the darkness around us and hope would abound. In fact, as we begin to live this out in our lives we will also fulfill the command to love our enemies.
It seems so simple to move from hopelessness to hope, from darkness to light. Why then is our world so filled with hopelessness? It is because we have become so focused on self rather than God. We have become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. The curtain of sin and self has blocked the light of life and love. Take a moment to consider where you measure up on loving God, loving others, and loving yourself. Are you adding to the hope of those around you by living out your love for God or are you robbing them of hope because you fail to show God's love?
Remember, Jesus is the hope, the answer for the world today. May you transform the world around you, may you bring hope and joy wherever you go as you live out your love for God and others.
May God bless us, everyone.
Pastor Chuck