Sometimes I wish God would give us information instead of hope. I wish he would tell us exactly what to expect, when certain challenges would arise, and how he is going to deal with them, but he doesn't. He has always called people to places that make them hope. I was reminded of that as I reflected on this scripture:
"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."(Psalm 71:14)
What is God wanting you to do? Where is he leading you to go? How is God wanting you to change? Whatever, wherever, and however would be much easier with information, with something tangible, with something we could understand, control or manipulate.
This was the challenge for the people of God living in Canaan. The gods of the Canaanites did not operate on hope and faith. The idols of the land were built around that which could be physically touched and was within the realm of human comprehension. That was the appeal of these religions. The people of God were constantly being allured from a life of faith to a life of control. They exchanged the mystery of God for the user-friendliness of the Canaanite idols.
This temptation is alive and well today. What plagued the ancient Israelites confronts us today, but in a different form. There are all types of recycled idols from the days of old that have become the recycled lords of today.
I'm finishing a sermon series entitled "Jesus is Lord." I want us to think seriously about the hope that we have in that confession of faith. Do we hope in that which we can see and control? OR Do we place our hope in the one who has conquered death? When we proclaim that "Jesus is Lord" we are placing our hope in Him...wherever, whenever, whatever, and however. Jesus is our Lord...Jesus is our only hope.
