7/21/13

From Jim McGuiggan.... Hebrews 2:9, We see Jesus (2)

Hebrews 2:9, We see Jesus (2)

Unchanging appearances can kill hope. The same enemies year after year. The same difficulties time after time. Failed methods, failed plans, failed attempts can kill hope. "I keep trying. I'm tired of trying. Nothing changes, nothing makes any difference. The brutal fact is that nothing can be done about the way things are. I'm weary of pep talks and pop psychology. It all sounds great until I turn to face reality."
Is that so hard to understand? I've felt and sometimes feel like that. But if things are so bad, why do we still feel in our bones that they'll get better? How do we explain that renewed sense of hope even after months or years when everything seems to be such a dead heave?
We continue to hope because we've "seen" something. Someone! We see Jesus (Hebrews 2:9).
Though we haven't seen our Lord and Saviour with our eyes, like the brave men and women to whom Peter wrote, we continue to hope for our salvation. He spoke of a salvation not yet fully revealed, a goal for which they aimed, a hoped-for inheritance. See 1 Peter 1:3-6. In his second letter he described these hopeful people as looking for a new heaven and a new earth and they looked forward to this new world simply on the basis of the Lord's promise (2 Peter 3:13).
It's true they were travelling toward something they hadn't actually, or at least fully, seen, but they had seen enough to know their journey was well spent. Along with those who maintained their trust we can say:
We don't see all the crooks behind bars, but we see Jesus.
We don't see the porn industry permanently put down, but we see Jesus.
We don't see the drug bosses out of business, but we see Jesus.
We don't see the vice rings smashed for all time, but we see Jesus.
We don't see any reason to believe the world's getting better, but we see Jesus.
We see uncleanness in our hearts, but we see Jesus.
We see our trivial ways and pathetic goals, but we see Jesus.
We see broken promises and suffocating nations, but we see Jesus.
We see increasing numbers of the vulnerable aged, the depletion of natural resources and massive unemployment, but we see Jesus.
They looked their world right in the eye and saw it for what it was and with confident smiles got on with living. When all the props are taken from us, when our friends are gone, our money spent, our health deteriorating and our hope for a better society is smashed on the rock of human wickedness then we'll be thrown on to Christ. In utter dependence on him we'll be able to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8).
From the book, "Jesus: Hero of thy Soul," used by permission from Howard Publishing, West Monroe, Louisana, 1998

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.