Not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and this hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5 NASB)
This being Thanksgiving week, I would like to help prepare our hearts with a two-part message rooted in a hope that will not disappoint us — not ever.
Because we live in a fallen and broken world as fallen and broken people, there is nothing we have ever been involved in that did not deliver us some kind of disappointment at one time or another. Whether it was the job we hoped to get, the relationship we deeply desired, or that one thing we waited and saved for years to purchase, eventually, all of it eventually delivered us some measure of disappointment . . . in many cases a super-sized measure! But when we consider this sad reality, we know that this is the only thing this fallen world can deliver.
We can take just a cursory glance at the evening news, and virtually any hope we are clinging to seems to be dashed against the rocks of disappointment by unending waves of bad news. With every story, it seems like crime pays, honesty is not the best policy, and the bad guys keep right on doing bad things. A hit song from a secular band in the 1970s lamented that “The rats keep winning the rat race,” and that would certainly seem to describe our world today. And when all that dust settles, if we are still feeling even a little bit hopeful, we find enough disappointment within ourselves to last two lifetimes. I can testify that far too often in my own life, even when I am right about something, I inevitably deliver the message the wrong way, feelings are hurt, and hope disappoints once again.
So what is the way forward when life seems to be continually marked by one step forward and two steps back? We must reevaluate where we have placed our hope. When we place our hope in anything in this life, we will always be disappointed. Yet even in the hope that disappoints us, we have reason to be thankful, because God is at work through the grace of disappointment. You see, if the things of this life could provide a hope that did not disappoint, we would only grow into a fraction of the person God is calling us to be, and we would grow cold and distant in our relationship with Him.
The key that unlocks the door leading to a hope that does not disappoint is to place that hope, not in something, but in Someone, and His name is Jesus Christ. At this level of living, we have a hope that simply cannot disappoint, because it will be rooted in the One who will not disappoint us in any way — ever!
We will take a closer look at that truth on Wednesday.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 