Hope in darkness

“Hope is not the idea that all will turn out well but rather all will turn out to God’s will!”

The world tells us to put our hope and trust in our government, economy, technology, education, achievements, and humanity. The Bible however warns us from putting our trust in the false hopes and idols of the world. There is not really much difference between false hope and no hope except that the person with no hope is not expecting the cavalry to come charging over the hill.

“What profit is the idol when its maker has carved it,

Or an image, a teacher of falsehood?

For its maker trusts in his own handiwork

When he fashions speechless idols. (Habakkuk 2:18)

It saddens me to see the long lines of people waiting to get into the retail stores after Thanksgiving, a day which is supposed to be set aside for family and giving thanks. Lines of worshipers bowing down in pursuit of consumerism – the religion of greed - buying things they don’t need with money they don’t have to impress people they don’t like.

We know that we are trusting a false hope if our hope does not rely upon God. If God is not a part of the equation, then we are trusting a false hope. Who are we looking to ultimately deliver us: technology, achievements, family, or the government? These are not bad things in themselves, but they will not save us apart from God. Without God as a part of the equation, these will ultimately fail.

Sunday I will define true hope – hope that is divine and eternal! The kind of hope that sustained Simeon and Anna in Luke 2 and led them to the newborn Jesus. Join us for the first week of Advent as we light the Candle of Hope and hear God’s Word of hope and light.

Pastor Mike