Hope
Saturday, September 25th 2010 @ 8:57 AM
You may remember studying about the German philosopher Frederick Nietzsche sometime in your years in high school or college. He is most known for devising the “Death of God” philosophy.
Frederick believed that society’s interest in God was dead. He sought to persuade everyone that we are the masters of our own future, not a distant God somewhere. However, one thing Nietzsche did acknowledge was that in removing God from our lives, people would be removing their source of comfort and peace. Perhaps Nietzsche himself lacked that comfort and peace in his own life, as he tragically went insane and spent the last 12 years of his life in an asylum cared for by his Christian mother.
This anti-God philosopher also believed that after society embraced the idea that “God was dead” a ruler would come to power in His place. Indeed, years after Nietzsche’s death, an admirer of his did in fact rise up to lead the people. His name was Adolf Hitler.
Another interesting figure in history is Edgar Allen Poe. He is considered to be one of America’s great writers.
History does not show evidence of him being a religious man. Poe’s parents died when he was very young and was raised by a very wealthy family. He was extremely talented. However his writings were very macabre and melancholic.
When his wife died, Edgar Allen Poe wrote one of his best known poems The Raven. Here are a few of the last few verses:
“And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor.
Shall be lifted - nevermore!”
The word nevermore is repeated throughout the piece; in fact the whole poem shows evidence of a writer whose heart is without hope.
Now let’s contrast Poe’s poem with a poem by Virgil Brock – a Christian man and hymn writer. He wrote this poem as he contemplated loved ones who had passed on before him.
"Beyond the sunset, O glad reunion,
With our dear loved ones who’ve gone before;
In that fair homeland we’ll know no parting,
Beyond the sunset, forevermore!"
There is a great blessing and promise that we as Christians have that the world doesn’t have – and that is hope. Lack of hope is why one poem ends with “nevermore,” while hope compels the other writer to end his poem with “forevermore.”
Hope comes from the Lord and is an assurance – not just wishful thinking. Hope is what separates believers and none believers. We have an assurance that our sins are forgiven and we have an eternal home in heaven. Once we become sons and daughters of The King, we can rest assured that our Heavenly Father is in control of our lives, watching over us and guiding us as we daily submit to Him.
Hope is also what we have in every situation and in every prayer.
The second part of 1 Corinthians 9:10 says “For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.”
So the work we do for our prodigals to come home, whether it is prayer, fasting, preparing a meal for them, or giving them an encouraging word, should all be done with hope. God wants us to live life in hopeful expectation, because The Lord is able to do even what we deem impossible!
Remember: NO situation, person, or prodigal is beyond hope! When we hope in God, we demonstrate our faith and God is pleased. The bible says “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” So we continually place our faith and hope in Him!
Hope also calms the storms of the heart and life, and blesses us with peace and rest. Hope overcomes worry and fear and gives us something good to look forward too.
Romans 15:13 says “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”
Hope is good and powerful and the Holy Spirit living within you releases that power. The hope we are blessed with is not of ourselves, it is supernatural because it comes from God.
Cling to hope - in doing so we grow in faith, grow closer to the Lord and grow closer to seeing that beautiful day our prodigal comes home!
