Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
~ Hebrews 6:18, NLT
"We who have fled to Him for refuge"....that would be me and you! Any of us who have turned to God in our times of fear, grief, anxiety, loneliness, betrayal......"WE WHO HAVE FLED TO HIM FOR REFUGE".....
"Can have great confidence".....not just confidence but GREAT confidence....not the thought that "maybe God will be there for us "but the knowledge that HE is there for us....not wondering but KNOWING.....not even "hoping" as we often use the word hope....like when we say, "I hope He comes through for me or I hope God answers my prayer"......."WE WHO HAVE FLED TO HIM FOR REFUGE CAN HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE"....
"As we hold to the hope that lies before us...." So we're holding on. That's where our great confidence comes from......the fact that we KNOW that there is something that lies before us that is amazing, wonderful, worthy.......THE HOPE....
And then Hebrews6 goes on to say.
Even the Hindu religion uses a curtain to separate the worshipers from the high priest. We attended a Hindu worship service and I was amazed to see the curtain drawn until the service began and then the opening of the curtain so that the people could watch a Hindu priest perform a ritual of smoke and fire on the Hindu god. It was very sad to see so many Indian people clamoring for just a glimpse into this shrine that represented one of thousands of their gods. A god that offers no hope.
And yet we have the blessing of KNOWING JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith, THE HOPE......and the curtain has been torn that once separated us from the throne of grace...which we are told in yet another passage can be approached with....
YOU GUESSED IT!!
CONFIDENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I recalled a couple other verses that are so packed with power as I thought about "the hope that lies before us!"
Romans 5:1-8
1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through 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. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Isaiah 49:23
Then you will know that I am the LORD;
those who hope in me will not be disappointed.
And after reading these I just sit back and think WOW! all over again.
For some reason, God has called me to a life of "disappointing circumstances," but I feel He has "appointed" me to share THE HOPE that does not disappoint.
So, today, as we celebrate Tim's 44th birthday and reflect on the 17th anniversary of the loss of our daughter (she died of SIDS on the morning of Tim's 27th birthday) and as we enter the month of May tomorrow and head towards Nick's 14th birthday on the 22nd......knowing he will celebrate it with Adrienne and with Jesus, I can't help but feel a sense of earthly disappointment....
BUT,
Believe me when I say that the hope that comes from God does not disappoint!!
I am able to write to you today because of this deep-rooted confidence in
"the hope that lies before us!!"
Jesus will return or I will go to Him one day - I just don't know which will come first - We all will!
And immediately we will understand and KNOW and EMBRACE Jesus Christ...
THE HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Praying for all of those who do not have THE HOPE,
3 Comments:
Happy Birthday, Tim!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIM!!!
Tammy,
Scott passed away on our wedding anniversary. We are never happy on that day...so we moved our anniversary to Superbowl Sunday because that was our first date. Has Tim had trouble with his birthday over the years. If he hasn't will you ask him how he does it so maybe we can learn from him. I Love You!! Char
Girl...I know today was probably rough...but, I just want to praise God for you guys and for what He has done, because like you said, you get the chance to how people WHO God is and how POWERFUL AND ABLE He is to care for us in the midst of difficulties...
HE knew you could stand up under the weight, with HIS help...You are a strong and faithful servant of HIS...be encouraged and know that others are learning from you...
Love ya!
Amber
Post a Comment
Home