Lord, I Believe
Hope Series
“Unlike those who do not know Jesus, those of us in Christ have hope…”
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
Explanation:
Many people in the secular world object to a loving God allowing suffering, maintaining that the Bible gives us no answer or sweeps the question under the rug. The truth is that the scriptures do not deny or sugar coat the reality of suffering, and this passage of Paul's is a great example. In fact, the scriptures are emphatic that to be united to Christ is to in some sense be estranged from the world. Yet, unlike those who do not know Jesus, those of us in Christ have hope. We have the assurance that our salvation has already been won and is "to be revealed to us" (v. 18). Moreover, Christians not only look to the hope of our own redemption in Christ, but of the whole creation which is bound up in him and has been set free from the bondage and corruption of sin and death.
Connection:
"Don't get your hopes up," I remember hearing as I was being wheeled back into the examination room to confirm an initial cancer diagnosis. "I could be wrong, but you've got a lot to be nervous about" exclaimed the doctor in a cold, matter-of-fact manner. I remember the sinking feeling I had hearing this, and in the moment a sense of dread and hopelessness overwhelmed me. It was as if the entire universe collapsed into that very moment, and I lay stunned at the callousness with which that information was delivered. Thankfully, I awoke to the news that In fact the doctor had been wrong, and that I indeed did not have cancer, the doctor's lack of bedside manner notwithstanding. I broke down in tears of relief, and the world slowly returned.
I've often returned to this episode in my life as illustrative of many things: God's grace in protecting me and the thankfulness I have for the benign diagnosis. However, I also return to the default demeanor of my physician. It seemed that hopelessness was their normal approach to life, and, without any proof, this physician was ready to break the news of a horrible fate to me. It was seemingly easier for them than having any sort of hope. It illuminates the deeply spiritual nature of hope in that, for the natural man, hopelessness is not only the default, it seems that in some sense it becomes easier to live with than faith and hope - as it demands nothing of us. Thanks be to God - for the hope which truly surpasses all understanding, and brings us through this life's burning trials, so that we may obtain this hope that all of creation might be redeemed and glorified, able to sustain us through the most hopeless of times.
Action:
1. Don't Lie to Yourself -
There is a difference between having hope and being willfully ignorant or naïve. There are times where we will reassure ourselves that we have not lost hope, but in reality we have. The Psalmist sings "When I thought, 'My foot slips,' your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up" (Ps. 94:18). We have to acknowledge that we are slipping, and allow God to restore hope to our soul.
2. Believe -
Hopelessness and faithlessness are necessarily linked. Where there is no faith, there is no hope nor love. Thus, cry out to God, "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief" (Matt. 9:24).
3. Look Ahead -
Paul wants us to view our current suffering In light of the hope of what is to come. Like a mother giving birth, all of the anguish subsides when she holds her child. Likewise, so it will be with us when we obtain "the freedom of the glory of the children of God" (v. 21).