 | ||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Something to Hope For
I think that the book of Ecclesiastes would interest you. It was written by King Solomon. He too, felt this way. Here is a small glimpse in chapter one “All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.”
Life seems meaningless, doesn’t it? You think you’ve seen it all, nothing new will happen. Nothing to HOPE for. “Hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” that is from the book of Romans 8:24-25.
I know that in my own life, there is only ONE thing that keeps from being caught in the “no-hope, lost-time” mode. It’s my hope that I have in heaven and the promise I have in Jesus. It’s that simple. This life downright stinks at times. It’s tedious, boring, disappointing, irritating, (need I go on?) There are moments of happiness like you mentioned (a birth of a child, playing with a child, friendships, enjoying time with your spouse, etc.) but they are fleeting. Jesus knew that life would be hard. He never promised anything different. He said “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.”
When you think of time sneaking up on you...what is the ultimate thing it steals? Life. We are facing old age and death. It’s coming around the corner. And there is nothing we can do about it.........or is there?
I know the Bible seems dry and boring to you. But that is because your eyes are closed to it. I mean -- you are blind ... AND SO WAS I. When I finally got to the point where I wanted to know what this life was about, what was heaven and hell about, and I was tired of wondering who was right.....I asked God to show me. I asked him to tell me the truth! I want to know the truth! I yelled at him in fact. I was angry. And after that it was like I was reading a new book. I had read it before, but now I was seeing and understanding. I’m not kidding you.
I wanted to know what kind of God would send people to hell! What I found was the kind of God that paved a road to heaven for ANYONE who wants to take it. That road’s name is Jesus. He is the Way, the Light, the Life, the Door, the Gate....etc.
So after my eyes were literally opened to the truth in the Bible, I understood salvation. About a year later, I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life and to save me and to mold me into the person he wanted me to be.
So anyway, God being a gentleman, and loving God, started to slowly and gently speak to me about different things.
If you want excitement in this life...here it is. I’m not talking about an audible voice, no. It says in the Bible that the “the sheep know the shepherd’s voice.” It’s true. Once I surrendered to Jesus (which doesn’t mean I did anything to change my behavior. I did not. I only told Jesus that I believed he was the Son of God, died on the cross, rose again, and that I wanted him to save me and be my Lord.) I began to recognize his voice and follow it. “I” can hear from the God of the Universe.
He began to reveal things to me about my marriage. It was a slow process but, after time, my marriage was 100% better because I learned the way God intended marriage to be. I know I am more satisfied and content that I was before. I was having a lot bitterness towards my husband and I seriously don’t know if our marriage would have lasted. But since then, I love him more than I ever did before. That was like the first thing God showed me.
And in these past 10 years that Jesus has been my Lord and Savior, He has revealed so much more to me. And every time I find an exciting morsel, I know that God is communicating to me. I see his hand at work all around and in my life. I feel a leading to do something or say something. I obey. Then I see his plan unfolding in front of me. He gives me confirmation. It’s exciting to be a part of it. It gives my life meaning and purpose.
And back to “hope”. I am not afraid of death. I am afraid of the process of dying. I don’t want to be sick and suffer. But “death” does not fear me. When I think about very much, I even get excited like a kid waiting for Christmas! I am not being morbid. I certainly don’t want to go now because all the people that love me and count on me. I do love my family and the life that I have. But I wouldn’t give up what’s coming for anything in this whole world! It’s mine!!!!!! and I want it!!!! and it’s the ONLY thing I’m sure of. I don’t know where I’ll live in the future, what I’ll do, if my family will live, what I’ll do tomorrow. This life is unpredictable. Most everything I plan falls through or turns out differently than I expected. But one thing is sure and stable. God’s promises. I have read the entire Bible and have studied it for nearly 10 years. When God promises something, it happens. About 95% of all the prophecies in the Bible have been fulfilled exactly. All that is left is the end and the second coming of Jesus.
All the knowledge of this world will pass away. But what I know -- from the precious Book -- that will last forever. I have purpose in my life. I have hope in my life. My life does not always go well. I have conflict, sickness, trouble, just like everybody else. But I do not despair. I have inner peace and hope in the midst of trials. I can see a bigger picture than what’s right in front of my face. I have connections. I have knowledge. I have wisdom.
So if you want time to quit slipping away from you, I suggest you start talking to the One who began time. Just sincerely and honestly ask Him to show you the truth. You don’t have to ask him to save you or be your Lord the first time you talk. Just ask him to tell you the truth about life, heaven, hell, time, and mean it. Then start researching. Start seeking. I promise you will find the answers. You will be satisfied. And I suggest you do it today. The clock’s ticking. What are you waiting for?