Psalm 42:5
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation.
The distinctive Biblical meaning of the word hope is almost the opposite of the way we use it today. “Hope” is more often than not used to express uncertainty rather than certainty. But in Scripture, hope is certain. Jay Adams, the founder of the Biblical counseling movement in this country, wrote that biblical hope isn’t like the fisherman’s hope, who says, “I hope I’ll catch one today.” It is “hope” because what we’re hoping in may not have been fully realized yet but, unlike the fisherman, biblical hope is certain because it is based on the character and word of God.
BIBLICAL HOPE IS CERTAIN BECAUSE IT’S BASED ON THE CHARACTER AND WORD OF GOD.
And what is this hope? Why have hope? This is hope…
God created the world, and it was good.
Adam, the first man and our representative, sinned against God, plunging all who would come after into sin.
Ever since, all humanity, apart from faith in Jesus, are born totally depraved, wholly inclined to sin and self, living in active rebellion against God, their creator.
But nothing takes God by surprise, not even the fall. God had and still has a plan.
God sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. He raised Him from the dead on the 3rd day and, today, Jesus intercedes for all those the Father has given to Him. And He is HOPE!
He is hope that you and me, no matter who we are, what we’ve done or how many bridges we’ve burned, can be forgiven. Satan is here to steal, kill and destroy; Jesus came and now reigns that we might not just have life (the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life), but that even more abundantly (John 10:10)! The abundance that is promised has nothing whatsoever to do with you having a positive mental attitude or increasing your wealth. Instead, it is a guarantee that you can be free from sin and live a life pleasing and glorifying to God. Here is all that is necessary:
- Accept/admit that you’re a sinner, desperately wicked without God.
- Believe that Jesus died for your sins and was raised so that you can now live differently
- Confess that to others, especially to a local church, so that you may begin growing in your new found faith!
Sounds easy, doesn’t it? Let’s be honest. Any one can say they believe this or that. Few people really mean it. I first said a “sinner’s prayer” when I was a teenager but I went on to commit horrible crimes and was eventually sentenced to ten years in prison, which I discharged with “good time” between 1992 and 1996. It was in prison, however, that I was really born again and came to a true, saving faith. More than 20 years later, today, by the grace of God alone, today I am a husband, a father, a grandfather, an author and a teacher of the same truth that continues to change my life.
The Scripture is filled with examples of people who say they believe in Jesus, but they really don’t. Indeed, the scariest words in all of Scripture are found in Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” What makes these words so terrifying is that there will be many, many people in hell who sincerely believed, even had works that might seem to prove, they were going to be in heaven.
Here’s the bottom line: the only way you can truly accept/admit that you’re a sinner is if God by His Spirit really reveals 1) how sinful you really are, 2) how great of savior Jesus really is, and 3) His love compels you to repent–to think differently about who you are, who He is, and to turn to Him for wisdom and direction) and to place your faith and trust in Him. Once this is true, biblical hope means that users and abusers become Godly people, husbands, fathers, children, and givers! Addicts live sober, healthy lives in dependence upon their savior, even leading others away from addiction to Him! Unfaithful men and women become faithful and loving to all, and especially to their spouse (whether at home or on the road). Thieves get a job, save and learn how to give! On and on the story goes. Jesus came to give you hope. Real, lasting, certain, hope.
Now let’s return to the question the Psalmist asked, Why are you cast down (depressed)? Why are you in turmoil? This will always be the case whenever we try to find hope in anything or anyone other than in God Himself. Saint Augustine from the 4th century said it this way, “God has made us for Himself and our hearts are restless until we find rest in Him.” Find rest in Him. Find hope.
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