I cannot speak for how the national events are affecting you (and I write this before the election), but I do believe for many that “hope” is not the picture that they would paint.
I agree with Franklin Graham, who has tweeted that hope for our times will not be found in a political leader or party, but only in Jesus, who will seat Himself as the ultimate, eternal leader over all the earth.
Jesus tells his disciples and us in his own words what we can expect. “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Matthew 25: 31, 32).
I was reading Isaiah 51 recently, and I was struck by a picture of “hope” for any time. Here’s what’s happening.
The nation of Israel was divided politically — a northern and a southern kingdom. The enemies (Assyria and Babylon) around the divided nation were threatening.
Both the divided nations (Israel and Judah) were alienated from God because of their infatuation with the idols of their culture. It was a mess! Anxiety was suffocating, with people going to bed at night anxious and waking up unrested, uncertain and fearful.
While God was allowing the consequences that come when people turn to idols instead of turning to Him, He paints a portrait of hope for Judah through Isaiah with three words: Look! Lift! Listen! Isaiah pens this picture:
Look at the people who trusted in God. There is a verifiable history of the people of the Bible who hoped in God beginning with the founding couple of the nation, Abraham and Sarah. None who trusted were disappointed.
Lift up your eyes to see the created things. I recently spent a few evenings on Holmes Beach in Anna Maria Island, where people gather on the beach to watch the sun set out on the horizon. The rising and setting of the sun is one of the amazing pieces of work of God who is in control of the universe.
Listen to God. The nation of Israel became like the nations around it. Its leaders, priests, and people listened to the voices of the culture instead of listening to the word of God.
It isn’t that God had not spoken. He had, and God has not been silent regarding justice and injustice, morality and immorality, issues of life and death, honesty and dishonesty, religion and righteousness.
There is a clear word from God about everything that culture wants to compromise. The appeal of God is, “Listen to me!” None of the issues of life require a theology degree to understand, but they do require listening ears and heart.
Hope is available. It always has been. Look! Lift! Listen!
David Woods is a teaching pastor at Park Chapel Christian Church in Greenfield. This weekly column is written by local clergy members.
