Hebrews 10:23
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for he who promised is faithful."
for he who promised is faithful."
First off, I've been terrible about writing this year. I was struck today by how early we still are in the year. Maybe it's just the reluctance of the cold weather to leave this area that makes the time seem so long, but we are only two and a half months into 2013. It's already been filled with so much.
Confession: I thought that I had to have it all together to make any sense here.
For me, the last few months have been a story of mostly trying to figure things out and determine what my next steps should be. And by I don't mean an occasional thought of what should I do next. No, I mean wrestling full out with what I should do next. It's been hard.
The verse above has quickly proven to be a theme verse for this year. Not just for me as I try and sort through my own sea of questions, but for every single person I've meet whether for a brief moment or to hopefully journey with through the next few years of life. More than anything, we need this message of hope. Unwavering hope.
God's timing is significant and intentional. It is not by accident that this lesson of unwavering hope is becoming more and more real to be as the season of Lent draws to a close.
What is this hope? Its laid out in Hebrews 10:12-14, "But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a foot stool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." See also 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.
This hope is that my sin is paid for, erased, no longer held against me. I am perfected by his sacrifice. It is also that death has been conquered. Chris arose. He sits at God's right hand, until the day of judgement when righteousness and justice is finally executed on the earth. This is the hope that this earth we trod is not the beginning and ending of our existence. Our purpose is not contained in the clothes we wear, the titles we bear, our jobs, our salaries, our visible impact on the world. Our purpose is eternal: to glorify God. His perspective on our situations, on whatever battle you've been dealing with, whatever glad moment you are rejoicing in, and whatever breakthrough you've been praying for, is eternal.` And he urges us to have this same perspective: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4 (See also 2 Corinthians 4:16-18;10:3-5).
When Easter arrives, we will throw off the "mourning clothes." We will end our fasts, and we will celebrate the victory Christ has won over death and the hope for eternal life that provides to each one of us who believes. It's been a really challenging thing to participate in Lent, but it's also been a constant reminder that we are seeking something more than the temporal comforts of life.
And in the midst of this season, the theme has been hope.
"For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the Living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
My friend, I pray whatever your circumstances right now, that you will take a few moments and ask God to simply remind you of the hope that is yours through his Son, Jesus Christ. You may be surprised how it trickles and even overflows into every other part of your life, even the most practical and mundane of tasks.
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12
