Did you know that the last full week in January is supposedly the most depressing week of the year--with the Monday of that week earning the dubious distinction of being the most depressing day of all? Now I realize we haven’t quite reached this happy week (isn’t it great to have that to look forward to?), but I figured, close enough.
So in anticipation of next week, I thought it might be the perfect time to consider the third “Let us” in Hebrews 9. Because here’s the thing--are we really going to let a date on the calendar...or a stretch of bad weather...or some of relatively minor-in-the-big-scheme-of-life occurrence rob us of the hope and joy that is ours in Christ? Seriously?
Maybe you don’t need the reminder, but sometimes I just need to preach the gospel to myself to get my mind right and my oftentimes shallow perspective realigned to what’s really true and right and good. So here goes--
(Note: I’ve already covered the first and the third “Let us” the last couple of days, so this is technically the second one in the order they’re given in Hebrews, but since this is the third blog on this...oh brother, you get the idea.)
Heb.9:23 exhorts us: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” I could stop and end this right here--there’s some serious attitude-altering power in those words--but I won’t.
Okay, two quick reminders: first, the original readers of this epistle were suffering real persecution, so they were tempted, in their fear and discouragement, to go back to the old, empty rituals of Judaism. They needed some reminding of the source and supply of their hope, so Hebrews points to it throughout the book.
Secondly, the Hebrew believers (and we!) don’t need to hold fast to their/our salvation, because as believers, our salvation is eternally secure. If Jesus is our Savior, then nothing and no one can ever pluck us from His hand.
We do, however, need to hold fast to our confession of hope without wavering. Or, as one theologian explained it: “to believe what we’ve said we believe about the Christian faith--that God has made eternal promises to you that will not be broken.”
The only way to avoid wavering is to fix our hope on Jesus and His faithfulness. Thank goodness, it’s dependent upon His faithfulness, not ours! That’s really what the book of Hebrews is all about (if you ask me, anyway). Fixing your hope on the perfect, glorious, unshakable Savior...and doing so not just for salvation, but daily, hourly.
Can I just get a bit nosy and ask: in what have you placed your hope? Is your hope fixed on Christ alone or is it in your bank account, your appearance, your children, your spouse, your reputation, your achievements, your career? ALL other objects of hope will ultimately disappoint, for as the hymn puts it: “In Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.”
Biblical hope is not hope-so but know-so, because it’s based upon the “sure and steadfast anchor of our soul”--Jesus and His promises. (Heb.6:19) If you’re tempted to give up or give in, then return to the God of all faithfulness and ask Him to strengthen and enable you to hold fast to your hope as you look to Him.
Maybe you didn’t need reminding. But me? I’m a mighty fine forgetter--that’s why I have to constantly preach the gospel to myself. And in this case, it’s a stickie note to hope in Christ for with Him, we have an endless, glorious source and supply of hope.
Loved these words I just read from Paul David Tripp that were right on point when it comes to hope: “Hope is not a situation. Hope is not a location. Hope is not a possession. Hope is not an experience. Hope is more than an insight or a truism. Hope is a person, and His name is Jesus! He comes to you and makes a commitment of hope: ‘And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’ (Matt.2820). Now there’s hope. You have something profoundly deeper to hold on to than the hope that people will be nice to you, that your job will work out, that you will make good choices when tempted, that you’ll be smart enough to make good decisions, that you’ll be able to avoid poverty or sickness, or that you’ll have a good place to live and enough to eat. No, this is eternal and deeply personal hope. It rests in the the truth that Jesus has wrapped His powerful arms around you and He will never, ever let you go. If nothing you envisioned ever works out and all the bad things that you’ve dreaded come your way, you still have hope, because He is with you in power and grace.”
AMEN! Preach it brother! And can I advise us all--let’s preach it to ourselves today. And tomorrow...and certainly next week! What a game-changer--the all-powerful, all-loving, all-wise, all-everything Savior of the World is with you. Always. Amazing.
Live this day--no matter what it brings--with hope. Because you’ve got Hope Incarnate with you.
To God be the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment