For the expectation we were saved. Now expectation, being observed, is not expectation, for what anyone is observing, why is he expecting it also? Now, if we are expecting what we are not observing, we are awaiting it with endurance.
Romans 8: 24-25, Concordant New Testament
I've listened to more than a few well intentioned Christians lately who seem to have given up hope for our country. Who could blame them? With an administration seemingly bent on the destruction of all we have come to respect over a lifetime and a government seemingly charged with protecting them at all costs. Some might wonder what there is to hope for. For those believers I would simply say, you've lost your perspective. Yes, at times it seems that this world is crumbling all around us. Yet I would say that, as believers, we were never meant to follow the lead of the world around us. That is not the meaning of our hope. Our hope, our expectation, is in Christ Jesus. Yet all too often we are bombarded by the media with the cares and worries of this world. I reminded my friend this week of the true nature of the mainstream media in this country, and worldwide. That being, when they smell blood in the water, all bets are off. Eventually, those who are snared in scandals will find themselves plastered across every major news headline. The media cannot help themselves, people love to see the mighty fall from grace. Against this backdrop, I can understand why many believers would be disheartened by the state of the world we live in. But if we simply take a step back and remember our expectation, we will once again see the hope we have in Jesus. Jesus never meant for us to embrace this world. On the contrary, He spoke of the Fathers desire for Gods children to be a light to a fallen world {Matthew 5: 14-16}. Not only that, but Jesus warned us about embracing the world long before the mainstream media came along {John 16:33}. I find it far better to hope in our expectation of the Lord than in that which is of no value to us spiritually.
Being, then, justified by faith, we may be having peace toward God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom we have the access also, by faith, into this grace in which we stand, and we may be glorying in the expectation of the glory of God. Yet not only so, but we may be glorying also in afflictions, having perceived that affliction is producing endurance, yet endurance testedness, yet testedness expectation.
Romans 5: 1-4, Concordant New Testament
Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing if, after watching the events of the evening news, that we could rest assured of our future? As children of the living God, we were never meant to despair over what might be. We are meant to glory in the expectation of what WILL be. This is our hope. This is our expectation. We expect that we are children born of God {1 John 4:4}. We understand that we are created in His image {Genesis 1:27}. Our expectation is that we are now one with Christ Jesus and the Father {John 17:21}. Our expectation has been met with the reality of Christ Jesus in us {Galatians 2:20}. Our future does not include the gloom and doom predicted by the media, but our reality in Christ Jesus. You could say that anything else is fake news. We do well to understand that the mainstream media will never pedal good news. That is not how they make their money. They make their money when they report on the tragedies of people to a population so consumed with seeing tragedy fall on others. Speaking to our expectation of Christ does not sell. However, judging from the popularity of anything Jesus in the mainstream media, we can come to the conclusion that people want to hear of Him. After all, Jesus is hope, and that is what many of us are seeking.
Anticipating that happy expectation, even the advent of the glory of the great God and our savior Jesus Christ.
Titus 2: 13, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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