Hope for Hopeless Situations
16. Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be by Grace; to the end the promise might be certain to all the seed; not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
17. (As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations,) before Him whom he believed, even God, Who quickens the dead, and calls those things which are not as though they were.
18. Who against Hope believed in Hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall your seed be.
Romans 4:16-18
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Advent is the special season wherein we celebrate the coming of the Christ into the world. This has particular significance to the Christian community as this occasion includes the ceremonial lighting of candles to commemorate the event. The first week of Advent is honored with the lighting of a purple Candle of Hope. The second week honors God by lighting the purple Candle of Peace. The third week is the pink Candle of Joy. The final week of Advent is celebrated with the purple Candle of Love. The ceremony emphasizes the coming of Christ Jesus to bring us Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.
So what? Why do this Advent thing? In case you haven’t noticed, people who don’t recognize Christmas in the Biblical tradition do celebrate the holy day in other ungodly ways. Some will do so with gluttony. Some will recognize the holy day with drunkenness. Others will become so commercialized that Christ will only be recognized as that little figure in the Manger scene. Thus, the most wonderful time of the year will pass by without people really knowing what it was for.
Advent helps us in the Church to memorialize Christmas versus commercializing it. The focus is on Jesus Christ as God’s Perfect Gift for the sins of mankind. The lighting of the candles helps us understand the True Light that Jesus brings into our hearts. It certainly helps us appreciate that Jesus is The Light of the World. St. John 1:9, that was the True Light, which lights every person that comes into the world.
While the Advent ceremony looks back to the first Coming of Christ into the world, it is also prophetic in that it anticipates the Return of Jesus Christ to rule the world. So, Advent is forward looking as well as reflective. In lighting each candle, we can all say, “even so, come Lord Jesus.” Revelation 22:20.
Celebrating Hope
Praise God for sending Hope into the world. When you consider the hostility, wickedness, and outright evil today, you might conclude that the situation is hopeless. You may think that “society is too far gone” and that pending judgment is the only future for mankind. Far from being out of control, all things are under God’s control. Granted, there is an abundance of evil but there is also an abundance of Hope that comes from God.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome regarding this Hope. The Apostle used the Bible patriarch Abraham as an example of that Hope. Father Abraham was in a hopeless situation and yet, against Hope believed in Hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall your seed be. What was it about this man that seemed to be “against Hope?” For starters, God said some things to Abraham that he did not know about himself. He did not know that he was the “father of many nations.” Abraham did not know that his future descendants would grow into the nation of Israel. Abraham did not realize that one of his grandsons would be the Anointed Savior of the world. But here’s the real kicker to the situation. Abraham did not have any idea of how these promises would be fulfilled after God informed him that this was the plan.
Now enters Hope into the situation. Abraham, against Hope believed in Hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall your seed be. God did not just speak this to Abraham, but also spoke it into Abraham so that even though the probability of these things happening was zero. After all, he was an old man. His wife was past the child-bearing age. In the world’s estimation, there was no way it was going to happen. Yet, Hope helped Abraham believe that what God said, He would perform. So, Abraham believed God. What about us? Can we believe God when He speaks to us? Do we come up with excuses that feed our hopelessness? Do we dare question God? Let’s talk a bit about Church culture and three things that are against Hope.
Three Things that are Against Hope
Most Christians believe that they are being faithful to the Lord, but if the truth be known we can become our own worst enemies. Many believers assume that because they have “belonged to the Church” for a number of years that they now possess enough goodness to understand and do God’s Will. The truth is, the more you know God, the more you should be convinced of your total need for God. Rather than trusting in God’s Hope by God’s Power, we as Christians, base our hope on feelings, opinions, and experience. These are a couple of notorious enemies of Hope.
Feelings are based on our emotional energy and the way we respond naturally to life situations. Opinions are based on our personal knowledge and how we define these life situations. Experience is based on what we have encountered in the past with the assumption that we have enough skill to help us succeed in the future.
Did Abraham have feelings? Of course he did. Yet, Abraham did not place his confidence in feelings, but rather believed God’s Word. Who was it that spoke to him and called him Abraham, “the father of many nations?” It was God. God’s plan was to take Abraham from the familiar into faith. Faith can only come by hearing God’s Word. The emotions are limited to the natural but faith works in the supernatural realm. So when God spoke Abraham, against Hope believed in Hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall your seed be.
Did Abraham have opinions? Yes he did. When God spoke these powerful words, the natural response would have been, “who me?” The Bible says (Romans 4:20), that Abraham did not stagger at the Promise of God in unbelief … That word “stagger” means to sway, waver, or doubt by having counter thoughts and opinions. Abraham was by no means, ignorant of his physical situation and abilities, but he did not allow his opinions to run parallel to what God had promised. His Hope was secure in the Promise of God so that he did not rely on the opinions of his own mind. At this point, Christians of our age must follow Father Abraham and be steadfast in our Hope in Christ. If we don’t do that, we will surely be led astray by our own opinions. Please take in consideration that our opinions have an instigator named Satan, who will do all he can to blow up the thoughts of our mind against Hope. Remember that Hope is a virtue that will stand throughout eternity. Now abides Faith, Hope, Love … these three. Against Hope believe in Hope.
Let us also consider Abraham’s experience. You cannot live seventy-five years and not have an abundance of experience or what we might call “life knowledge.” Abraham had a lot of wealth and that takes experience. Abraham had a lot of servants so that required leadership experience. Abraham trained the members of his household to defend themselves against enemy threats. That certainly required experience. However, contrary to popular thought, experience IS NOT the best teacher. Hope led Abraham to believe that God had prepared something greater than experience or life knowledge. Thus Abraham, against Hope believed in Hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, so shall your seed be.
How does Hope work? Hope helps you to see pass the adversities of life. Yes, life is tough, but with Hope you are able to see God’s Promise. Hope holds up the Word of God so that your Faith will grow in God. How does Hope work? Hope causes you to grasp God’s Plan. A Plan is of no value for things that already exist. You don’t need a building plan if the house is already built. Abraham needed a plan to become the father of many nations. God gave him that plan and the Promise was fulfilled. Not only does Hope help you see God’s Promise and know God’s Plan, but it also helps you to receive God’s Provisions for life. By not allowing himself to be swayed by his own opinions, his feelings, and his experience, Abraham placed himself in a position for God to supply all of his needs.
At one critical point in his life, Abraham learned first hand that God will provide. When God asked him to sacrifice his son on Mount Moriah, Abraham did not hesitate or stagger. When that hopeless situation presented itself, Hope was on the scene and did not disappoint. God provided a substitute for Isaac and Abraham said, “God will provide.” And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh: as it is said to this day, in the mount of the Lord, it shall be seen. Genesis 22:14. Without Hope, you will never see what God provides, nor will you understand how God provides. Hope helps you stand up to the situation and declare God’s Goodness. If we hold on to Hope, Hope will hold us up through every hopeless situation. Believe in Hope.