By: Elder Vista Jeffries

 

We are in a time when it seems as though all hope is lost. Hope is defined as the ability to expect or look forward to something with confidence. We see banks failing, politicians involved in corruption, employees laid off and homes being foreclosed. During this time of economic uncertainty, we need to have our confidence and hope in something that is certain. We invite you to explore, hope in man verses hope in the Lord.

The abilities of man are limited, yet many have hope in man instead of God. We have had elections expecting campaign promises to be fulfilled only to be let down by those we have elected. In 2008, Barack Obama ran his campaign on the basis of hope and was elected by the American people. I have no qualms with that. I do have a concern that people are looking to him to solve all of our problems. The Harris Poll ranked Obama above Jesus Christ as a hero, in Feb 2009.  The scripture states, Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the lord (Jer  17:7). Peter at one time, was rebuked by the Lord Jesus for savoring the things that were of men over the things that were of God (Matt 16:23). The world stands on dangerous ground when we have more confidence in man than in the Lord God.

Our hope should be in the one who is able to do all things, the Lord. Out of all  the uncertainty of where to work, where to put our money and who should we trust, it is good to know that we can trust in the Lord.  The scripture states, Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is (Jer 17:7). The Lord asked this question to Jeremiah, Is there anything too hard for me (Jer 32:27)? I take note that when Jeremiah prayed to the Lord, he said, Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee (Jer 32:17). With the confidence of the scriptures supporting our hope in the Lord we should have a strong consolation that the Lord will not fail us, for there is nothing too hard for him.

In conclusion, our hope should not be in man, but in the Lord. Jesus said that it is hard for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God. The disciples ask Jesus, who could be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible (Mark 10:23-27). It is possible for the Lord to bless us with the things we need during this economic downturn.  When we hope in the Lord, patience must accompany our hope.  Patience is the ability to wait and if we have our hope in the Lord, we must wait on him to bring the desires of our heart to pass. Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4). We should hope in the Lord.