Hope

The New International Version Chapter 5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Johnny Carson Toliet paper shortage video

During the past year, our congregation has experienced some significant challenges. Early in the year, we discontinued meeting together for a short period. We survived. However, because of concerns about the virus, some of our church family have not been able to gather with us for nearly a year. We honestly do not know what to believe. We have been told what we can buy and what we cannot buy, individual sections of stores were closed, and we were told we could not buy certain items like garden seeds. We have seen ridiculous shortages of things like toilet paper. We are told to follow science to stay safe, but what science are we following? We have seen the science change depending on who is presenting the science. Another question that comes to mind do we trust what our politicians are telling us? Now there is a vaccine, do we take it or not? Some are concerned about adverse reactions, and some are concerned about how it is made. There is panic not just in the community but also within the church. The pandemic has had different issues in different parts of the country and different parts of the world. Last week the United Kingdom locked down.

However, churches have fallen victim to the pandemic and the ensuing panic. Some churches, big and small, are wrestling with meeting or not meeting. Some churches refuse to make allowances for those who can not wear a face covering and do not allow them to fellowship and resort to locking the doors once services have begun. Admittedly it has been a challenge for the church leadership to determine the best and safest way for us to assemble. We have initiated our own set of COVID protocols. We have handwashing stations, we have changed the way we have communion (by the way, we have had much positive feedback on that change.).

Another victim of our pandemic has been the family. Some families have taken to quarantining themselves from each other as a precautionary measure. I am not referring to quarantining due to sickness, we have seen that, and it is probably a healthy measure.

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, new unexpected and extraordinary scenes and sounds of aesthetical biblical and apocalyptic proportions are witnessed. Community and religious gatherings in public spaces are prohibited. Most were not aware in Michigan; there was never an executive order for churches to close or curtail their assembling. There were varying interpretations of executive orders. We even fell victim to this for a short time. Modern, conventional, and traditional human achievements have become futile. One can describe the COVID-19 pandemic and this new search for meaning as a contrasted tension of symbolic apocalyptic vistas and metaphorical biblical vistas. The Bible holds the same contrasted tension that may help humanity rediscover the semantics of biblical truth and hope.

I believe hope is one thing that has suffered the most, and fear is the one thing that has grown the most. We have just talked about fear. Fear limits our ability to accomplish the things of everyday life.

What are we to do?

As I look around and visit with people in our community, one thing I see as a common factor, people are scared or in fear of what is going on in our county, our state, and our country. We are concerned about what is going on on the world stage. Nevertheless, we are more concerned about what is going on in our community. How do we respond as Christians? The community is watching us. Our friends and families are watching us. When we face a debilitating illness that is potentially life-ending, what does the world see? The one thing which is becoming more prevalent is that people are suffering from a lack of hope. At times, as Christians, we are overwhelmed and begin to feel as if everything is useless, and there is no hope. What do we do in the crisis our community faces?

“They did not teach me this is seminary” refrain, and there is part of me that wants to challenge this. I want to say, “Actually, yes, we did teach you this.” For example, seminary does teach us how the church responds during a pandemic health crisis. The course is History of Christianity. There, we learn how Christians in the second century moved toward those sickened by the Antonine plague. In the third century, Dionysius wrote of Christians who “heedless of danger … took charge of the sick, attending to their every need.” The church grew significantly during this time as God’s people bore witness to the hope of the gospel. Many have quoted Martin Luther’s pastoral advice to a church wavering fearfully during the bubonic plague. He wrote, “The plague does not dissolve our duties: It turns them to crosses.” It turns them into opportunities to minister to others.

We need to look at an example of how Jesus taught us to respond to a crisis. “Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd” (NASB Mt 9.35-36). The next thing Jesus said to His disciples should cut us to the quick, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore request the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (NASB Mt 9.37-38). These are our marching orders during any situation, crisis, or not. Be a ready worker.

However, there is more, and our faith kicks in. It is the same faith that brought about our salvation. Our faith is the starting point to expound on the implications of being declared righteous by God. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And 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 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”(NASB Ro 5.1-5).

Notice then the scripture tells us through this we have peace. It is the well-being, prosperity, safety from harm, and deliverance from enemies. It is the peace we receive as we experience peace with God. At the close of this passage, it speaks of hope it is poured into our hearts. As Peter declared on the Day of Pentecost, it is the Holy Spirit that has been poured into our hearts. The hope we have does not disappoint. Maybe a better way to express this is the concept scripture is teaching. Hope is not suffering shame when it is put to the test.

Later Paul writes: “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (NASB Ro. 8.24-25). The hope is not wishful thinking. Instead, it is a confident expectation of God’s promise. This hope, the patient enduring means no matter what happens, all of our troubles are manageable. The same Paul wrote these words of encouragement: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (NASB Ro. 15.13).

There is still more. Paul told Titus to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, we are to live with anticipation of the return of Jesus. (Titus 2. 12, 13). Regardless of what may happen, believers have confidence on the day of judgment. (1 Jo 4.18). Finally, we have riches of the glory: Christ in us, the hope of glory (Col 1.27). In the closing book of the Bible, we have the promise Christ will reign forever.

In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge;

Let me never be ashamed;

In Your righteousness deliver me.

2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;

Be to me a rock of strength,

A stronghold to save me.

3 For You are my rock and my fortress;

For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.

4 You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,

For You are my strength.

5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit;

You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of truth (NASB Ps 31.1-5)