Hope In The Valley

David Hopper’s Talent

David had a talent that impressed his wife Elaine ,but probably annoyed his kids-He could accurately predict the ending of just about every movie he watched. Almost as if he had seen it before .

God the Holy Spirit as it says in Genesis 1:2 was hoverig over the formless existence that would shorlty become Creation. “It was dark , formeless empty.’ But God called it;

“Let there be Light!” God said and God saw to it that it was good. And on and on it goes through the Creation process.

Death wasn’t in those plans. It wasn’t intended by God but I didn’t surprise Him either.

Psalm 23 says even though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of death I will fear no evil. while I’m greiving, while I’m vulnerable to attacks , physically, mentally and most of all Spirtually. God is with us. He will not fail, He will strengthen . He will lead. He will guide. He will do all of those things and more, but He can’t be jus “The Shepherd” He must be YOUR Shepherd. Jesus said in John 10 “I am The Good Shepherd” What audacity. For anyone who ever tells you that the Lord Jesus never declared His deity has probably never made the connection. He’s basically saying “I AM that Good Shepherd that King David talked about. “I Am the one who satisfies your wants and needs, I AM the One leads you besides still waters and restores your soul. I lead you in the paths of righteousness -for my own sake-I prepare a picnic in the midst of your enemies. Jesus laid down his life for His sheep. So when it comes to seasons like this one , We need not fear the worst, because Jesus the Lord has already done it with his death, burial and resurrection. So now we as sheep open up our hearts and our lives to him and boldly declare to a watching world: “The Lord IS my Shepherd” He leads , he guides me down here. but when that day comes,when well something like this is for you . In that day, where will your boasting be? Look around. This is the best that the world has to offer those who settle for the blue pill of unbelief. It’s like the movie the Matrix. Morepheus calls Neo into his living room and offers Him a choice. The red pill or the blue pill. The blue pill is the way that you don’t have to accept but many do. Yeah another loudmoth preacher at funeral. “I”ve heard it all before” ..” I can tell you how this is going to end”. South Familiar? But if you take the “red pill” he says that you can see just how deep the rabbit hole goes” Well we’re not chasing after a rabbit. But the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. That’ s our biggest problem by the way. Sin destroys , robs of joy, peace anything good . It’s the reason that death is all around us today. Sin entered the world. That’s why we have days like this. But God entered the world too, He took on the likeness of sinful flesh, nailed it’s weaknesses to a cross. 3 days later he rose from the dead to officially autograph the work that He finished for all of us. The really great part is that it doesn’t end there. 1 Corinthians 15 tells us this:

New American Standard Bible (1995) Chapter 15

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53 For this perishable must put on athe imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

God is making us ready to dwell in the house of the Lord forever! No more sickness, No more death pain sin. No need for decorated stones. It gives me great pleasure to announce to you the Gospel of Jesus Christ,

He came. He died for us.

He’s risen. He’s alive and so are His promises. He is the Lord Our Shepherd. And as Morpheus said all I have to offer you is the Truth. I’ll take it further the Way, The Truth And the Life . Let ‘s Pray.