Stand for something or you will fall for anything. Today’s mighty oak is yesterday’s nut that held its ground. Rosa Parks

 

Random Thoughts

 

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Php 4:8  

 

Stuck in Old Fashion Beauty

 

There are two types of beauties which have awed me since childhood. And they both have to do with women. One is the nun, and the other is the sight of a woman in a veil.

The nun, with her habit, and dress, and beauty, and intelligence, and the fact of her complete separation from the world, is something that makes my heart stir with conviction that the world is still a beautiful place. 

Not that I hate the modern woman. She is good, and might even grow better, but I think there is nothing that beats the ancient woman in simple pristine beauty. The modern woman overflows with many accessories, which, inadvertently, always robs a person of what is authentic.

Probably I am still old fashioned, but that again is a throwback at conventionalism, which, at heart, really means nothing, when you peel off the mask.

For who decides this is fashion and that is not? Is it man or is it God? Well, if it is a mere man like me, why can’t I also be a fashion setter? Fashion is a malleable thing, but then who is the world?

You see he is not a person, but a movement, or a tradition, but a movement or tradition is an ambiguous term.

So, these things disturbed me as a child. I felt the tenuous nature of it all, the falsity, the lack of solidness. It is like darkness, which approaches at night but fades in the morning. Or like a dream, which, after you wake up, it’s gone.

I felt that way, but I was a child.

Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 

While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 1Pe 3:1-6  

 

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1Co 13:9-13  

 

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Rom 12:18  

 

The Real, and the Unreal

 

Yet the heart craved something more. I felt there was something more. I felt restless.

The world made me believe many things. It overloaded my young mind. The world urged me, it compelled me, and that sense turned me rebellious…

One thing stands memorable. It was my first flame. She was as beautiful as an artist can appreciate beauty. But I didn’t like her hair. It wasn’t natural, and I told her. I wanted her to remain in her natural hair, but she said I was jealous, because I feared other men would love her!

Needless to say, I lost her, but I think I lost her on principal.

It was I who was going to live with her, but she chose to hear the voice of the world. And the world is a powerful thing, invincible, tenacious, superfluous…

Scripture calls it “the prince of the air”. Elsewhere it speaks of principalities.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Eph 6:11-12  

And all these are terms which reflect on the world. The world was beautiful once, because God created it, and he saw that it was very good.

There in the day of Adam, in the pristinely dawn of the morning. But sin entered, and sin altered everything up to this day.

What was beautiful once the world called ugly, and what was ugly once the world called beautiful.

The nun to me represented the recalcitrance which is beautiful. I loved that conviction. She stands in stark contrast to the world, something fluid, opaque, meaningless, and her something solid, something true, and the other something false.

And that for me, even as a child, I understood that truth is inviolable, unassailable – because it is the truth of God.

A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 

He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 

In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 

He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. Psa 15:1-5  

 

Staying Fixed!

 

I thank God I felt the way I felt. I thank him I still feel the way I feel.

There is something intrinsic in the air, and again there is something which is very unreal.

My heart refuses to juggle these principals.

And I didn’t even know God then!

So, quite deliberately, and progressively, God has made himself known to me.

I wanted something. I was sure of something. And, in the end, God did not disappoint. Father, you showed me yourself!

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. 

Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. 

I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. 

For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Psa 57:7-10

 

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Psa 107:8-9  

 

God grant that your restlessness may bring you at last at home. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring” (Act 17:28). 

We are all prodigals, and we never know it until we are broke, and in far country.

 

From Ash to Beauty

Beauty must not always be subjective, it can be a road to what is true.

In poetry we struggle with words, but it is not a vain struggle. Just as there is no child who is vain. There is no labour which is vain.

Right now, it might not hold much meaning, but it always does, later. God grant that we shall not miss it, when it arrives. 

The Stubbornness of Joy

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. John 16:22

The Preponderance of Joy

Joy.

She may be described as a beautiful girl. And as it is in physical life so it is in poetry. Beauty is something you work at. Like a mineral which is hid deep in the earth, so it is with joy.

You have to dig for it.

You have to fight for it.  

Joy is the other side of wisdom.

Like a piece of good music (or painting) it may involve looking beyond the surface. Sometimes you have to launch deep, where the fish are in hiding. The bread is gotten on land, but for fish you have to get into the boat.

Joy is stubborn, it raises its head even in the middle of battle.

Happiness may imitate it, but it’s not joy. Joy is hard, like the Rock of Ages, which is Christ Jesus. Happiness can sometimes sink, like sand.

Not so joy.

Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they fine it.  Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. Job 28:1-2 

 

The Eloquence of Joy: Felt But not Seen

It’s there in the mercy of God.

And the name of Bartimeus has rang throughout history because of it.

Joy is a peculiar embodiment of God. It’s a peculiar inheritance of his saints.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Pe 1:3-8  

It’s carried in his love, it lifts up in praise, it is augmented by his peace. It’s there in the providence of God.

He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 

They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. 

By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches. 

He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 

He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 

And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart. 

The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; 

Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house. 

The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies. 

He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down. 

Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. 

The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. 

Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. 

LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 

So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. 

There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. 

These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

Psa 104:10-27  

It climaxes in Psalm 23.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

Nature proclaims the glory of God. The poets see it, and the poets declare it. Trees clap their hands at the preponderance of this joy.

Joy and Sorrow

Carrying sheaves. Shedding tears.

People think it strange, but that is a form of unbelief.

Don’t think it strange, warns Peter.

Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice.

That takes a divine hand, it takes the grace of God.

No, it’s not a throwback at masochism and sadism. Those are worldly attributes, lifting worldly virtues. Glorying in flesh.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1Pe 4:12-13  

 The Perfection of Joy

 “Be ye perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect.”

“Ye are complete in him.”

“And your joy no man taketh.”

There is joy in believing. There is joy in being in him whether it is by day or by night, him in me, and me in him, together as one.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 

Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Psa 121:1-4  

 

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. 

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. 

My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether. Son 2:14-17 

 

The Mystery of Joy

 It can make a man scorn riches.

“Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” (Pro 8:1).  

There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen. Job 28:7

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. Job 28:12-13

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Job 28:28

 

The Enemy of Joy

The joy of God is our strength.

Its markedly different from the joy of the world.

“I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

And yet it is a joy which is infused with all the contradictions and eccentricities which attend to man.

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

James 4:1-5

There can’t be joy without contentment, and there can’t be contentment without Christ. Therein is the rub. The contentment of the world changes with seasons. It’s high at Christmas time, and very low in the middle of January.

This world is not my home, I’m just a-passing through/ My treasures are laid up/ Somewhere beyond the blue…

And a man’s sorrow will increase just in proportion as the world owns him, or he tries to own it (the downside of social media, the social pressure (or tyranny, or the ache of conformity).

It is the craving after another god. They wanted to be like other nations (and their neighbours), and that was the beginning of their apostasy.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. Psa 16:4  

They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: 

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. 

And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul. 

Psa 106:13-15  

 

Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Ps 107:10-15

 

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36.

 

May the joy of Christ find you, persuade you, strengthen you, and establish you in every good work, through Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

He stands at the door right now. Will you let him in?

  

 “There is no love of life without despair of life.” Albert Camus

Count it all Joy: A Believer’s Prescription for Enduring Bitterness

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. Jas 1:2-4  

 

“when ye fall”

Count it all joy!

It may sound easier on paper, but in nature we know how hard it is. The body wills at any time, but the spirit is often weak.

For when we fall, either by temptation or whether by someone’s sleight of hand, the first instinct which rises to the heart is bitterness.

We are wired to win, wired to be at the top at all times, we are wired to trust our own strength, power, and knowledge at all times.

But many times nature has proven us false. We thought we were standing, but steadily we found we were sitting.

Nothing shifts a man’s life like that. And the reaction which we know so well is bitterness.

But here comes James the apostle, saying, no, count it all joy! It sounds crazy but then the things of God can seem like that. For his ways are not our ways, and neither are his thoughts our thoughts.

“when ye fall”, God is ever preaching, pray and repent, and afterwards proceed to the banqueting table.

The Temptation of the Prodigal

And that is exactly what the prodigal did. His temptations were astronomical, and the temptations of the youth are always astronomical. The prodigal was literally walking on air. “Give me what is mine.” And after getting what was his, the prodigal stepped out in regal form. And the nouveau riche greatest craving (as we know from experience) is to let the whole world know.

The prodigal’s temptations carried him high at first, but only for a while… and the overarching bitterness always lies ahead, crouching, and waiting. The prodigal walked right into it.

But it’s not even that we remember him by, but the season at the banqueting table! When ye fall, says James, count it all joy. And when ye fall, says the pessimist, go ye home and cry.

There is a Place for Sorrow

Yes, it is there. Sorrow must come! And it is good – when it leadeth to repentance, but afterward rub off the dust, rise up and walk home to the Father.

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 

For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 2Co 7:9-11 

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Heb 12:11  

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2Co 7:1  

David, The Man after God’s Heart

Next we land on the greatest temptation of all time, the temptation of the greatest character of scripture, the temptation of the ubiquitous David.

At first he attempted to shrug it off. Perhaps he believed time heals everything, but it didn’t. In the end, like in the affair of the prodigal, David came to himself. Only God could lift his soul from the dust of death.

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 

Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. 

When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. 

For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. 

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. 

For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. 

Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah. Psa 32:1-7 

Next we land on the apostle Paul, the iconic, and rugged Paul. It is easy of course to believe every day he was streaming upon a winning streak. But that is an error. For the truth is that many times he veered on the margins of a stammering sorrow.

For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Act 9:16 

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. 2Co 1:8-10  

Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 2Co 12:5-6 

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2Co 12:8-10

Lastly, and mine own favourite, the joys and the sorrows which encompass the countless and inimitable saints of all time.

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail

me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson,

and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of

the prophets: 

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 

Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 

Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 

And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 

They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 

(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 

God having provided some better thing for us, that

they without us should not be made perfect. 

Heb 11:32-40  

Hope is never more so lustrous, as when she is encased with his blood; the darkness, bursting into a robe of light. That light dazzling, a time capsule for eternity.

“To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life” (Rom 2:7). 

Therefore it is written, “All things are possible with God,” and “All things are possible to the one who believes.”

Believeth thou this?

Life is a Temptation Galore

Don’t be frozen, dear brethren. Jump in, claim your reward, and afterward rejoice!

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Heb 11:6). 

Temptations test the limit of our faith. “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Pro 24:10). 

“when ye fall”?

Yes, count it all joy!

For it is not by our works we are saved, but by his unmerited mercy.

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Rom 11:5-6  

 

Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 

Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 5:18-21  

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom 8:32  

God does not only command, but he gives the power to obey. God gives us not only the power to believe, but also the power to endure.

Have a blessed endurance!

Hope springs eternal in the human breast;
Man never Is, but always To be blest.
The soul, uneasy, and confin'd from home,
Rests and expatiates in a life to come.

― Alexander Pope, An Essay on Man

 

Saved by Hope

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Rom 8:24-25  

 

The Weight of Glory: From Hopelessness to Hope

There is a glory which begins when one is saved (born-again), and there is a glory which is continuing, day by day, and there is a final glory, which we are eagerly waiting for.

Hope trickles down to what one believes, to the one whom one believes, and to what one believes. Science is good, and we thank God for it. Education is good and we thank God for it. Lovers are good and we thank God for them. And wealth is good and we thank God for it. But the testimony of Solomon shows us in a most graphic way where true hope is.

Hope can be deep, and hope can be shallow. It can be the truth, or it can be superstition. From the Dark Ages, to the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the War, to the present, life has always revolved around in cyclical hopelessness – until Christ comes into one’s life. It is not until then that life gains meaning at last, and the song Amazing Grace by John Newton begins to resonate.

 

The Life in the Spirit

There is a flesh (carnal) life and a Spirit life. And these two are contrary. A Christ filled life is a Spirit life.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom 8:5-8  

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1Co 2:6-8 

 

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Rom 8:11 

God is the epitome of this glory. We came from him, and the soul craves a return to him. We begin as babes, but slowly by slowly he leads us into a perfect day. So we pant. So we wait. So we groan.

 

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Rom 8:21-23  

 

And this is a day to day battle. And this is a day to day victory. Where are you right now, fellow believer? God grant that you are on the victory side.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 2Co 4:7-10  

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:10-13  

Hope. The word is as sweet as honey. In Christ the word blossoms into life, as we emerge from death, the death of hopelessness and sin. In Christ we have a blessed assurance.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Joh 14:1-3

  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 1Pe 1:3-4

 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom 8:28-30 

 

And so we preach. And so we are enamored. And so we exhort. And Christ did not say it would be easy. The road will be narrow, but it will be a road through which he passed. And always, with him beside us, this hope has long ceased to be a prison and has become a joy.

 

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Rom 8:31-34  

And so there is no Christianity without suffering, without the cross. But it is a suffering imbued with joy. It is a waiting with hope.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Heb 11:1-2

  

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Heb 11:8-10

  

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb 11:13  

 

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:1-2  

 

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. Heb 13:14  

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:35-39  

 

Let us take Abraham for an example. Let us take the saints of old for an example. Let us take Christ for an example.

 

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Rom 4:18-21  

 

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus. Rom 15:4-5  

 

Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. 

For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2Co 4:14-18

  

Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col 1:26-27  

 

And so we hope! God grant that this is your hope too, even beginning this minute. May you be persuaded, may you believe, and may you know that your hope is not, and shall never be in vain. Amen.