Believing in Hope Against Hope

“Dream” by Lacrae. Available from Reach records.

Believing in Hope Against Hope

Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. Romans 4:18 (KJV)

Have you ever wanted something so badly, you could taste or touch it? Desires of the human heart are compelling, being at times able to draw that which is desired into reality. People connive and scheme to get what they want, believing that the ends justify the means. The plans that the Lord has for our lives can be likewise compelling, something that we want soooo much we can see, feel and taste it.

In Abraham’s day, a man’s wealth and strength was measured in part through his offspring. Children meant genetic and cultural continuity, a manifestation of existence that lasted beyond the grave. To die childless was to die twice on this earth. Not having children didn’t keep you out of Paradise, but it did stop your presence here on earth. Abraham was rightly distressed that he did not have any children. In one of his conversations with the Lord he lamented the fact that his heir was a stranger, “one Eliezer of Damascus” (Genesis 15:2). The Lord had compassion upon Abraham, but even greater than compassion for the man was his plan for salvation in which Abraham would play an important role. One starry night, the Lord calmed Abraham’s fears and feelings of inadequacy about his childlessness, saying:

“Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” (Genesis 15:5)

Now Abraham was an old man, some say about 75 years old. But age for men is not a stumbling block to conception. Men of Abraham’s time sired children into their old age, just as they do now. But at the time of the promise, Sarah was postmenopausal, and all hope that she might conceive was humanly speaking, gone. Abraham knew the chances of he and Sarah having children were to human eyes, impossible. Yet, Father Abraham looked past that and believed God. In looking past the deadness and inadequacy of his own flesh, he took a leap of faith and decided to trust God, and in the process he became the man we call the “father of faith.”

Abraham has been dead for thousands of years, civilizations have risen and fallen around his tomb, and the Savior of the world, Whose coming he helped to prepare for, has been born, died, was resurrected to live forever and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Hallelujah! Christians of the 21st Century have a world of history and examples of faith complete with written records and archeological evidence, yet the basic act of faith remains as challenging as it was in Abraham’s day.

In today’s world, surrogates and medical manipulations make it possible to have children and conceive despite menopause. From fertility in old age to time travel, we have no problem believing what scientists tell us about that which is possible.Yet we struggle with whether or not the Lord will give us the desires of our heart at any given point in time. We despair at not having found the right mate after a certain age, and in our doubting, we often reach for sinful remedies such as co-habitation. Some allow their minds to be captured by those who clearly are not spiritually fit and healthy. They linger long at the Vanity Fair where they routinely get drunk, wear revealing clothes and flirt with people of the opposite or same sex. They engage in sexual behaviors that put their lives and risk, some even become ill and die. All the while, they blame the Lord for not having sent “the right one.”

Our choices today are no different than they were thousands of years ago. Either we believe God or we don’t. It may come as a surprise to some, but the fact that we often have to believe against the odds of reality comes with the territory. God is able to do the impossible. Either we believe this or we don’t. God has a plan for our lives. Either we believe this or we don’t. God is able to make His plan for our lives come to pass. Either we believe this  or we don’t. One thing is clear, we can never hope to gain the promise of God while living in disobedience, despondency and rebellion.

The Lord has told us plainly of His love for us. He has us “engraved on the palms of His hands” (Isaiah 49:16). The nail scars in the hands of the Savior and the wound in His side are evidence of this. Our ancestors had it right when then instructed us in song to “hold to His hands, God’s unchanging hands.” We are instructed that the “just shall live by faith”(Romans 1:17) and to “walk by faith not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith requires that we believe when we cannot see. Faith requires that we hope against hope, which means we must live and plan according to hope when we know there is no visible evidence that that which we are hoping for is possible.

Still hoping for that job? Prepare for it in such as way that your excellence is irresistible, regardless of what you are doing now. Hoping to marry a God-fearing man or woman? Then sober up and quit slicing away your heart and soul with premarital sex (yes that includes any sex with anyone or anything), clubbing and addictions. Want your marriage to work? Try love, joy, humility and forgiveness. Above all, like Abraham, choose to believe God. The Bible says “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). If you have trouble believing that, then pray to the Lord “Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)

Reflection:

Knowing that God is able to do all things, and that His plans for me are for “peace and not for evil” (Jeremiah 29:11), and that He is able to bring even the most astonishing reality to pass despite all evidence that it is impossible, what then is my prayer?

My prayer is this:

O great and powerful, marvelous, wonderful and merciful God. Father of all creation Who loves me and engraved me in the palms of His hands, You are indeed beyond description and glorious beyond words. Lord, I am in awe of Your grace, majesty and mercy! Hallelujah! Lord forgive me for the many times I have doubted you. Forgive me for the many times I’ve tried my own plans for my life instead of yours. Forgive me for trusting what I see more than I trust You, Who made all that is seen and unseen. Help me Lord to endure trials and temptations. Help me Father to humbly remain in will and plans for my life. Grant me patience to continue living according to Your word, even when doing so defies human logic. Let me be an example of Your love, power and grace, to those around me. May the joy of Your salvation ever ring true in my heart. These things I ask in the mighty and precious name of Jesus. Amen and Amen.

Until next time, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might!”

Your friend in Christ,

Verneda

© 2011 Verneda Lights. All Rights Reserved.

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 The video “Dream” by Lacrae was posted on Youtube.com by hall81388 on Jul 6, 2009. Verneda Lights and E-graphX Omnimedia have no ownership in this video. It is used for instructional purposes only.

 

Related articles

• Abraham, Our Father in Faith (ptl2010.wordpress.com)
• Advent Series Day 3: faith in the promise (everydayawe.com)
• I Know Where I Am, but Where Am I going? (thetestofthecross.wordpress.com)

Updated April 11, 2015