Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
As we all know by now this is an election year. On November 6 we will elect our next president; who will be either the incumbent candidate or his challenger. Between now and then we will be inundated with TV ad campaigns, mailings and phone messages from both candidates claiming that their vision, their platform, their party gives our nation, and gives us as individuals and families the best hope for a peaceful and prosperous future.
It’s safe to say that the candidate who is able to convince us that his version of hope is the truest, the most possible, and the best for our personal needs will win the election.
This is so because what we are all really looking for is not jobs, or financial security, or lower taxes; what we are longing for is hope!
The Apostle Paul was not running for office. He wasn’t trying to become the Emperor of Rome. But he did talk about hope.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Notice a couple of things about Paul’s version of hope; gospel hope.
First, notice that Paul anchors hope in both the glory of God and the love of God.
Second, notice that between these two anchor points of hope there is suffering.
Third, notice that Paul says this is a hope that does not disappoint.
Think about all the different versions of hope we will hear about in the next couple of months:
- Hope for the economy
- Hope for more jobs
- Hope for peace in the world
- Hope for better education for our children
- Hope for a cleaner planet
…and on and on. All these “hopes” are good – but none of them is certain. All of them have great potential to disappoint us; and when we become disappointed enough we will elect another president.
Not so with the hope of the gospel. The hope of the gospel is certain because it is anchored in the eternal; the glory of God and the love of God.
When Paul speaks of the “glory of God” he is thinking, in part, about heaven, eternity in the presence of Christ himself. His hope in heaven is certain no matter what suffering or hardship may befall him in his earthly life. In 2 Corinthians Paul writes:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
And when Paul speaks of the love of God poured out into our hearts, he is thinking of a love greater than we can imagine.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
This is why Paul can talk about a “hope that does not disappoint!” Because his hope is not anchored in temporary things – like politics or a great job or even good health - but on the eternal realities of God’s glory and love.
We all have hopes; you have hopes, I have hopes, it is the very nature of human beings to hope. The only question is where do we invest our deepest hope?
Is your hope invested in that which is temporary and bound to disappoint? Or have you invested your hope in that which is eternal; the hope that is the gospel?
Pastor Brian Coffey
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2 comments:
Yes, I had been feeling a little stressed about this year's Presidential election in particular. I just think that if my candidate doesn't win (and he's far from an ideal choice), this country will go down a road that's virtually unrecognizable as a country founded in freedom. I appreciate today's message; it reiterates what I had to remind myself of - that God is in control, that He can create good from bad, and that His promises are eternal. Thanks for the reminder!
I agree with anonymous...I don't want either candidate! Then so much turmoil in my personal life and with my family members, has been overwhelming at times and I have been very stressed! Thanks to many things The Lord is bringing into my life, like this reminder for one, that He is in control and will work all things for good even tho I can't see how it can possibly happen!!
Thank you, God's richest blessings!
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