A future and a hope

This week’s column is dedicated to Year 12 as they prepare for exams and consider their future. It reflects on the Bible verse found in the front of the school handbook. (Jeremiah 29:11). We pray that they Year 12 may know the future and hope God has planned for them.

Have you ever felt like God has forgotten you? Have you ever thought that God wasn’t listening or didn’t care? God’s people felt like that when they were taken as prisoners of war to Babylon. They had spent close to seventy years away from their homeland when the prophet Jeremiah brought his message of hope to them. Through Jeremiah God said,

“I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen.
"When you come looking for me, you'll find me.
"Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, [14] I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree.
"I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 The Message)

God's promises of hope

I know what I’m doing. Most of us need a regular reminder that God knows what he is doing in the world, and in our lives. Sometimes we are tempted to believe that he has abandoned us or is giving us a hard time. But God says, “I have plans for you. I will take care of you. I will give you the future you hope for”. When life is difficult or uncertain we can lose hope. When we are moving away from comfortable and predictable patterns we can become anxious and uncertain. But God wants us to rest in the knowledge that he “knows what he is doing, and it’s good”.

I’ll listen. Have you ever tried praying? Most people give it a go at some time in their life. It may be during a crisis or a time of special need. But often we give up or become discouraged. We may wonder if there’s any point to it and whether it makes any difference. But God says, “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen”. Be encouraged to keep on talking to God, in the good times and the bad times.

You’ll find me. Is God lost? Why does he need to be found? No, God isn’t lost, but we often are. Jesus tells a series of parables to make that point in Luke chapter 15. Some people wander away without realising it. Others choose to “leave home” and fight against God. Jeremiah’s people felt distant from God, punished for their sin and unsure of how to get back home. God said to them, “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me”.

You wont’ be disappointed. Some people tell me that they’ve tried the “God thing” but it didn’t work, so they’ve given up. Often our searching is half-hearted. We are not that “desperate”. God says, "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed”

Living hopefully in an age of uncertainty

The fifth anniversary of “September 11” terrorist attacks and the death of high profile figures Steve Irwin and Peter Brock have unsettled many people. They are reminders of the fragility of life and the uncertainty which is part of our world. Such awareness can overwhelm us unless it is balanced by a greater awareness of God’s love and power. How are we to cope with such unsettling events and the fears they can stir within us?

The biblical book of Hebrews was written to Christians facing an uncertain future. They were experiencing suffering and persecution for their faith. Some of them were tempted to give it away altogether. But they were encouraged to keep on trusting God with words such as:

“We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place. Jesus has gone there ahead of us, and he is our high priest forever, just like Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6:18b-20)

Run to God for safety

Where do you turn when you feel scared or in danger? Who or what do you look to for help? Some people install an alarm system and put bars on their windows. Others escape to a remote location away from the pace, pressures and dangers of city life. Alcohol, drugs and other addictions are another way of escaping from things. The Bible encourages us to “run to God for safety”. This means looking to him for guidance and protection in difficult and dangerous times. We can do this through prayer, reading the Bible, attending a Christian fellowship group or church. In each of these settings we can learn about God so that we can trust and follow God. We can also find support, encouragement and help in answering our questions.

Take hold of the hope that is right in front of us
We are also encouraged to exercise initiative or take action. In the midst of the world’s fear and despair God offers hope. This hope is found in the person of Jesus Christ. It is described as being like an “anchor for our souls”. An anchor gives stability. It keeps us in place during stormy times. It stops us drifting off course or getting lost. Trusting in Jesus Christ gives us this hope and security. It does not guarantee freedom suffering or difficulties but it promises hope in the midst of them.

The Father of the heavenly lights

“The Father of the heavenly lights” is “God our heavenly Father”. He is unchanging and life giving. Fathers’ Day can be a time of mixed emotions. For some people it is a time of great joy and thankfulness. Others can feel empty or angry about the absence of a father figure or the negative memories it brings. We may be tempted to pattern our view of God on our experience of earthly fatherhood. Instead, we are to model earthly fatherhood on God’s perfect fatherhood. It is described in Bible passages such as Isaiah 40:18-26, James 1:16-27

God is unchanging

God is the “unchanging One”. Theologically he is described as immutable. His character and nature are always the same, always consistent. This is reflected in God’s goodness and perfection. God is the giver of “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17) But sometimes we can be tempted into thinking that God is holding out on us. The apostle Paul reminds us that God gave us his best gift in sending Jesus into the world. So, how could be possibly hold back anything else that is good for us. (Compare Romans 8:32) We are cautioned not to be deceived about this (verse 16). This is in the context of a discussion about temptation and sin and where it comes from. God is described as “the Father of the heavenly lights” (NIV). He is the Creator of the universe but he still cares about each of us. (Compare Isaiah 40.25-27)

It is also seen in God’s constancy and faithfulness He is the unchanging One the same yesterday, today and forever. (Compare Hebrews 13:8 which describes Jesus Christ in this way. His position is always the same. He is always on the Throne, in charge and in control of the world that he has made. (See the book of Revelation) He never turns his back on us. There is no “shadow” as a result of him looking the other way and ignoring us. I remember greeting a friend who was walking past in a hurry one day. I reached out my hand to shake his. But he kept on walking. I didn’t know what to do with my outstretched hand! So, I pretended I was about to scratch my ear. God never leaves with our hand outstretched waiting to connect with him. (Even if it sometimes feel likes that)

God is life giving

Who gave you life? Did earthly parents? Yes, but ultimately God our heavenly Father did. James mentions four dimensions of this life which are linked to God’s word. (James 1:13-27) He says that God gave us birth through the word of truth (verse 18). When we hear the good news about Jesus and believe in him we are “born again”. (John 3) This means we begin a new life with God. Secondly, we receive salvation through the implanted word (verse 21). A seed of spiritual life is implanted and growing in us. This seed takes root, grows and bears fruit as we let the rule and reign of God take hold in every area of our lives. (Compare the parable of the Sower – Mark 4:1-20) Finally, we experience freedom through the perfect law (verse 25). God’s word is like a mirror which shows us who we are so that we can become who God intends us to be. (Meditate on Psalm 119 for a deeper insight into this concept)

The result of opening our lives to God in these ways is a righteous life not dominated by anger or evil (verse 19-21) but a self- controlled tongue and a compassionate lifestyle. (verse 26-27) What about you? Are you depending on his unchanging nature? Are you drawing on his life-giving power?