Hope That Won't Disappoin

Proclamation: The word of God is true. Lord, help me to believe it. Help me to expect what I believe. In Jesus name. Amen.

Introduction: Malcolm X

Transparency: The hopeless struggle of the last eight years.

Last week, I began reading Malcolm X’s autobiography after hearing two Christian Bible teachers talk about his amazing impact despite his Islamic commitment and convictions. As I read his autobiography, I must admit that I gained a greater admiration for Malcolm X who I often contrasted against Martin Luther King as the militant and hostile activist who was against peace. From reading his autobiography I saw that he was actually a committed member of the nation of Islam and later a devout follower of orthodox Islam.

He was a convicted believer that, who’s conviction changed his life. From a life filled with drugs, sex, and vain living to a life of discipline and Islamic evangelism-- He was a moralist, though his morality was determined by the nation of Islam. In his words, Islam changed his life.

As a Christian, I wrestle with this, because we have condemned Islam for their non-Christian values and disbelief in Christ. Surely, however discipline a person, whether Islam or not, may be, no man can enter the kingdom of God but by Jesus Christ. However, we, as Christians, have measured our spiritual aptitude not by our belief in Christ, but rather by our ability to live morally and without blame. What shall we say, then, about the Muslim who, without the power of Christ, live better than those who claim Christ? Malcolm X is such a figure.

What made Malcolm live this way? Why did he choose Islam? After having a preaching Baptist preacher and a Christian home, why did Malcolm Little become Malcolm X? I propose, Malcolm and any other person that walks away from Christianity does so, because they lose hope. Malcolm lost hope in the Christian God and the Christian dream he saw embraced by most Christians.

Have you ever considered that your hopes in life have the power to cause others to slip and leave the faith?

Hope is the general feeling that some desire will be fulfilled.

Malcom would target Christians, because he believed they were the ones, out of all, in the worse shape. They were the most blind of all, because we have been given a false idea of religion that keeps us bound. He writes in chapter 12,

"My brothers and sisters, our [white] slavemaster's Christian religion has taught us black people here in the wilderness of North America that we will sprout wings when we die and fly up into the sky where God will have for us a special place called heaven. This is [white man's Christian] religion used to brain-wash us black people! We have accepted it! We have embraced it! We have believed it! We have practiced it! And while we are doing all of that, for himself, [this blue-eyed devil] has twisted his Christianity, to keep his foot on our backs . . . to keep our eyes fixed on the pie in the sky and heaven in the hereafter . . . while he enjoys his heaven right here . . . on this earth . . . in this life."

It’s that part that speaks of the “pie in the sky” that gets my attention most.

The adjective pie-in-the-sky is an unrealistic enterprise or prospect of prosperity Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc.

Whatever hope Malcolm Little had as Christian, it left him disappointed. If we’re honest, we all have been where Malcolm was. We have all experienced this for various reasons.

Reasons We’ve Lost Hope

Examples of Disappointment

Ruth loss her husband and her two sons: Ruth 1:20

Hannah was childless: 1 Samuel 1:10

Samuel’s disappointment in Saul’s failed leadership 1 Samuel 15:11

Disappointment caused by people and circumstances

Unfulfilled dreams: Proverbs 13:12.

Tragedy: Ecclesiastes 6:1-2

Disappointment caused by lack of understanding

The missing Messiah: Luke 24:21

Unanswered prayers: Job 30:24-31

Disappointment caused by sin

Misplaced hope: Proverbs 11:7

Share your story of praying for God’s honor amidst being publicly humiliated over and over again about lower economic status among friends and family.

All of these examples have something in common with Malcolm X—they all had hope in things that had the possibility of disappointing.

I almost suggested that I we should not hope in things, with only exception. However, I find that this is too impractical and unrealistic. I will hope in things…even vain things, perhaps. Yet, I will not be disappointed when that which is vain does not meet the expectations of what I’d hoped for. For, there’s only one thing that I shall place my absolute hope in, because I know only that one thing will never disappoint me.

Hope That Does Not Disappoint: Romans 5:1-3

If these individuals placed their hope in the wrong things, then to what are we to place our hope? Our hope is in Jesus who brings God’s status of glory.

As believers, we are to trust that we have been made right with God, and we have peace with God through the work of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).

Made right = To be justified means we have been judicially vindicated as having complied with the requirements of the law.

That is, God has satisfied our obligation to the law in and through Jesus Christ.

Peace = we have a harmonious relationship that makes us free from disputes about our old obligation.

Faith gives us... (Romans 5:2).

Access = Special guests

Access is about being granted the opportunity of admittance. It is as if we were invited as special guests to the room of the king.

Grace = privilege

Boasting = Bragging rights/ showing off, verbally

Hope = The expectation of God’s glory

Believers are to expect that God will give them a status of high honor.

Conclusion (Romans 5:3-5)

Paul talks about this idea of hope, because those who possess real hope will experience their share of tribulation. If hope is expectation, then one must be found in a position of lacking in order for the expectation to be fulfilled. Paul is trying to help the readers move from faith (trust) to hope (expectation).

For so long, we have believed God, but we have expected nothing from Him. And since our expectations were low, so was our manifestation. When we were told to just believe, we were told incorrectly. We should have been told to believe (trust) and hope (expect).

Since 2021 was the year of faith, 2022 shall be the year of hope (expectation.)

However, expectation requires preparation:

Tribulation: trials and problems --------> Rejoice/ Boast/ glory

Rejoice/ Boast/ glory

Christians should be loud about what they expect from their God.

Interestingly, our endurance does not come through our boasting, but through our tribulation.

Patience/ Endurance: the ability to withstand hardship or stress; the inward fortitude necessary; steadfastness

Experience/ Character: reliability and dependability

Hope: feeling that my desire will be fulfilled