Hopes and Dreams, or are you dreaming of Hope?
Clinging to Hope
Rev. Adam Fox
This past week or two weeks I have been thinking about hope. I have been listening to Turning Point with Dr. Jeremiah and he has been preaching out of his new book on hope. And it is needed. Our country, our world needs to remember that we have hope still, and where that hope rests in.
Last month, we introduced the new President of these United States, Donald Trump.
And, half the country is still upset over him, his family, his cabinet, his choices, his words, his Twitter... or whatever. And why I am not here to talk on our President or his choices, I want to talk about the mood of the country.
I have the pleasure of sitting in two worlds in life and especially social media sites. I have the Baby Boomers and Gen X, Y, Z. Each generation has a different way of viewing things, and has different needs and priorities. It can be super frustrating, being stuck in the middle of each groups beliefs.
No matter what age you are, or gender, or race, or belief system - there has been two major vibes that has come to my attention.
- America is doomed. We are headed to a nuclear war. Trump is evil...
-The savior has come. Trump can do no wrong.
Each side is wrong. They have gone to the extreme and worst case. But let me show you the theme for both, and for all of America - HOPE.
We crave for hope when we are stuck, we want hope when life is rough, hope is our life raft in an uncertain time.
Lets look at what we hope for, and put our hope in.
May 25, 1977 hope was introduced to society in the form of a Princess, a Scoundrel, and a Knight. Hope for freedom from an evil empire.
This simple little film stole our hearts and has turned into the massive construct that is Star Wars today.
But this hope that they were showing, gave a glimpse into our own lives. Not needing to be forced down by evil.
Or the more modern example would be Barack Obama.
In 2008, the representative from Illinois ran on a platform of hope. Hope for our country. Hope for each of us, from the lowest to the richest. Hope that we can be a great country again.
While only time will tell if Obama did good, or set us back, or possibly and most likely - a little from column A and some from column B. But people voted for him because he offered hope in their individual lives, and people were desperate for it.
Finally, my favorite example is the NFL Draft. I have been a draft follower for years and years. I love it. These 22 year old men leaving college to play a sport professionally for too much money.
But it is such a big deal for NFL teams.
This year for instance, one of the worst teams in the league is my beloved Chicago Bears. And as a result of only having 3 wins, they earned a very high pick. Thy get to choose the third best player, a player who can make the Bears good again.
Can Jonathan Allen make the Bears line amazing? Or should they draft a stud safety like Jamal Adams? What about Quarterback?
The draft is exciting for me because these 30 young men have so much hope placed on them, hope that they can take their new teams to the next level, and to a super bowl champion. We're Coming for you Patriots!!
Hope is something that energizes us and motivates us to do things we never thought we could do. Each Presidential election is a hope fest. With two people sharing their vision for how they can make America amazing.
But some people have no hope.
They focus on the negative and stay down trodden. They embrace the message of Dante, Abandon All Hope
Should we have hope?
What should we have hope in?
Who should our hope be in?
We should have hope in God alone. God the Father is who we need to place our hope in. Our hope for our future, for our struggles, for our fears, for our country, for our leaders, for every facet of life.
Look at what Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:3-6
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
or what King David wrote in the Psalm 3
2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.”
3 But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.
4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
our hope can only be in God because of Jesus' death and resurrection and forgiveness of sin. It is God alone who gives us a living hope. Not any President. Not any college sport kid. Not even Luke Skywalker.
Life is rough. It is filled with temptations to sin, opportunities to grow through trials, and mountain top experiences. And we will fall down a lot. We will mess up, A LOT. But that does not mean God ran out of hope, or is upset with us. it is just another opportunity to trust Him more.
Dr Jeremiah said this about hope and the ministry of the church. "Perseverance of the Saints: It's falling down and getting up again until we get to Heaven."
So why should I have hope in a crumbling society? In a country that is morally lost? Because I believe in God, the one who has a living Hope.
2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. Romans 5
Until next time!
Cheers and Excelsior!
Pastor Adam
