People are HURTING! There’s no question that in today’s world: PAIN ABOUNDS. To deal with the pain, people turn to many pain remedies. Some remedies are helpful, prescribed, filled with God’s own healing, life-giving. But far too many pain remedies in today’s world are harmful, addictive, destructive, death-giving.
Turning to the eternal healer, Jesus Christ, is a not a mere “remedy.” He is the source of true life, given (prescribed) by God. He is eternal life for us! Though it’s true that pain abounds, we’re living at our best when HOPE ABOUNDS!
The stories of the Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) are all about God-given hope. After Adam and Eve were removed from the Garden of Eden, after facing the painful consequences of disobedience, God gave them hope in their new life.
After suffering the pain of a world-wide flood, God gave Noah, his family, and us, a reminder-in-the-sky, the rainbow, that there would be a sign of hope for the world.
After the pain of 400 years of slavery, God called Moses to bring hope to the people, a pathway to return home. After the kingdom split, and the people were in exile in Babylon, God sent prophets not only to bring warnings, but to announce hope.
In the fullness of time, God sent his Son to the world that God loves. This Son is hope-in-the-flesh.
The night before he died, Jesus was on a mission to give the apostles hope. Pain and suffering don’t get the last word. Hope didn’t die when Jesus was crucified, executed! Christ’s resurrection is our hope in eternal life! The last book of the Bible, Revelation, was written to proclaim this hope to Christians being persecuted.
Pain abounds. Suffering abounds. Despair abounds. God’s Word has been spoken to us, not that we become eternally afraid of these things. No, God’s Word has been spoken that we might have eternal faith, hope, and love. Turn to God, and you will have hope!
I close with a blessing from the Bible: “May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
