The Need for Hope - Excerpts from my message on Feb. 1, 2009

News about the struggling economy dominates the airwaves. It is part of nearly every conversation we have. It is impacting lives. Our shaky financial climate is scaring people, even those who are in a good place. It is taking a toll on marriages, families, employers, employees, even churches. We cannot escape this reality. Do we like it? No! How do we deal with it? There are no simple answers. Yet, throughout history when times are difficult people look to God for hope. There is a huge need for hope as our world struggles with continual bad news regarding our fragile economy.

Listen as much as you might not like hearing this: the state and fate of the economy is not our hope – it’s not our future. At least not for us who profess that we are followers of Christ. Although everything in our society seems to be dependant upon money, it is not our salvation; it’s not our ultimate hope. We brought nothing into the world and we will take nothing with us when we leave. Our hope and future is not based on money. It’s not the stuff we accumulate or the size of our bank account. It’s dependant on God; our intimacy with Him and our obedience to Him.

My friends, in ways we cannot fully understand, in Jesus we have ‘enough!’ He is our hope – now – He is our future – tomorrow. Yet, we have to call upon Him. We have to come to Him with our prayers. We are to seek Him with all our heart. And He promises us that He will listen. He will answer our prayers. Yet there is a requirement. It’s our hearts.