10-7-2015

Good Morning All!!

         Titus 1:2; “in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began”

     They are at it again.  They started in earlier in the middle of September and just got louder and louder.  You probably know one; maybe you are one.  They are not to be denied; they claim, “This is the year!”  We are talking about fans of the Chicago Cubs.  The Cubs are in the wild card playoff game.  If they win they will be in the divisional playoff series.  It is not much but it is a glimmer of hope for the forlorn Cub fan. They haven’t won a World Series in over 100 years or appeared in one since 1945.  So the Cub fan hopes to at least get there; maybe even win it.  What do they base their hope on?  They are still playing.  Most seasons, the Cubs are no longer relevant in September; they are out of the pennant races and the cry, “wait till next year” goes out loud and strong through Cub’s fandom.

    My apologies to Cub fans but it doesn’t take much to give you hope and it always crashes on you and you hope again for next year.  There seems to be little reason to really hope but the Cub fan does and never gives up.  But what does he hope on; it might be as little as the way someone ties his shoes but they hope.

    What do you hope for?  Do you hope to win the lottery?  Do you hope to get a better job?  Do you hope to lose some weight?  What do you hope for and what do you base that hope on?  Hoping to win the lottery is usually a desperate dream.  Hoping to get a better job or to lose weight is often based on simple wishful thinking unless you are doing something to improve your job skills or eating habits and exercise habits.  You can hope; you can have all kinds of hope but what do you base that hope on?  Why do you trust the thing that you place your hope in?     

    As a Christian, as a redeemed child of God, you have the hope of eternal life.  You live with this hope even now.  You possess eternal life right now and you can live with the hope of this truth.  No one can take this away from you.  It is yours to find comfort in; it is yours to find peace in this life.  This is hope that you can count on because it does not depend on some wishful thinking or some whimsical desire.  This hope is promised by God, who never lies.

    This is a truth that will outlast the world and all that is in it.  It is a promise that began before the ages began and will last even after the ages end; you have eternal life in Jesus.  You will always have this eternal life.  You can trust this hope; you can hold onto this hope when everything around you is falling apart; you will always have hope.  You have hope because God gives it to you so grab hold of this hope and rest in God’s loving arms.

Father of mercy, you give us hope.  You give us hope that will never fail.  Guide me by your Spirit to relish in the comfort that your hope gives to me.  Give us the faith to always know that your promise is for me and that I can always look to you for all I need.  Let me find peace in your grace.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret