Hope Continually
Most definitely, humanity can feel overwhelmed.
The leading news stories can cause us to sense a certain turmoil revealing the global conflict that continually rages.
With unpredictability, the daily weather forecasts tell us moment-by-moment weather situations. These forecasts can cause us to dwell on the different regions focusing the world on the fear and worry which plagues.
With uncertainty, persistent political division makes us fretful, creating a prevalent distrust within our ruling government institution. Those who should be leading us as civil servants follow their own agendas, usually ones that bring shame.
Human beings can feel overwhelmed, most assuredly.
Therefore, the question becomes: Who can we trust?
The Bible speaks the guiding principle, the trustworthy statement, and
Hope that continues forevermore!
Listen to the psalmist’s words as he writes of the Trustworthy Hope!
“O God, do not be far from me;
(The Psalms 71: 12-16 NASB)
O my God, hasten to my help!
Let those who are adversaries of my soul be ashamed and consumed;
Let them be covered with reproach and dishonor, who seek to injure me.
But as for me,
I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.
My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of Your salvation all day long;
For I do not know the sum of them.
I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD;
I will make mention of Your righteousness,
Yours alone.”
Daily, each person must decide, asking himself: “To Whom Shall I Be True”? The great theorist Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote in 1841, “To thy own self be true,” He wanted to focus on the concept of self-reliance that emerged in the New World because of the practical necessities that faced in early Americans. They had to build their own homes, cultivate their own food, and govern themselves, all while straining to survive in an untamed landscape. They were striving to sustain their independence by being personally responsible, and this forward thinking occurred years before the westward expansion. Emotions were high, times were tough, and, often, morale was low. The early Americans alive in the 1840s were trying to survive; therefore, self-sufficiency became celebrated, influencing the literature of the day and the identity of Americans.
Let us be reminded of what Solomon wrote in The Book of Proverbs, speaking of our heart, telling us to recall how our heart is deceptive, tempting us to follow ungodly thoughts and desires. Thus, instead, we are to exclaim:
“But as for me,
I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more and more.”
There will be days when we will overcome by life, when our enemies outnumber us, and when those who dislike us want to bring us harm. It is within those times that we must recall on whom we must call upon for our help.
“O God, do not be far from me;
O my God, hasten to my help!”
Agony comes to our person, to our family, to our community, state, nation, and even to the body of the church. Even then, we must not forget our duty the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us.
“My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness And of Your salvation all day long;
. . .
“I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of Your righteousness,
Yours alone.” (The Psalms 71: 15a & 16 NASB)
Friends, we who have believed in Jesus are here on earth for such a brief time, and then our eternity with Jesus will come. There we will reside forevermore. Yes, let us raise a Hallelujah! We are children of heaven!
However, Christians, we are only here for a certain brevity of time, for our days are numbered. ”For [you and] I do not know the sum of them.”
Therefore, in closing, may we be encouraged. Jesus is coming—again! Jesus will bring those who have believed in Him home to heaven, to dwell in His presence for all eternity. It is a promise of God. We do not need to feel overwhelmed by the world news, by the worrisome weather, by the persistent political division, by the turmoil we find in our family, or by any other, earthly thing, for We Are to Hope Continually.
We Are to Keep Heaven on our Mind.
We are to Orient our Lives by the HOPE our Heavenly Father gives to those who believe in His Son Jesus.
- It is a TRUSTWORTHY HOPE!
- It is a SUSTAINING HOPE! and
- It is our PLEDGE OF PROMISED HOPE!
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
(The Letter of Paul to the Romans 15:13 NASB)
so you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”