Finding Hope in The Word of God
- His Servant - Rob McKee
- Apr 26, 2020
- 15 min read
Psalms 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.
Psalms 61:1-5 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name.
I’ve had a song on my mind lately. It is called “In Times Like These”. This is an older song, and surly many people have heard it before, but for those who may not have heard, it goes like this:
In times like these you need a Savior In times like these you need an anchor; Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
Chorus This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One; This Rock is Jesus, the only One! Be very sure, be very sure Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
It’s true that these definitely are trying times. Often in the news we hear them say, “these are ‘uncertain’ times”, right? Well, what’s the difference between saying “trying times” versus “uncertain times”? Trying times, can test a person’s strengths and expose their weaknesses. Trying times can also expose problems or weak areas in relationships. What about patience? Trying times can even test a person’s faith in what they believe?
The difference between “trying times” and “uncertain times” is that an uncertain times can have a much more negative impact by trying some people through fear of the unknown. The good news is that If a person trusts God with their life, He will arm them with the knowledge of things that might challenge their patience and faith, so that they really need not fear those things; He will make them aware of what is taking place. Just keep your eyes on the prize: Him!
John 14:27-29 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
There is Safety in The Rock
Imagine yourself in a ship that is being tossed around in a violent storm. It is uncertain of where this ship might end up, and with that, what might happen to you? Then you see this huge and magnificent rock that rises up out of the water, much higher than you expected to find in this ocean. A thought comes to you that says, “go and anchor your boat to that rock.” But, as you get closer, looking on this rock, you begin to fear. You are afraid that, if you allow your ship to get too close to this rock, it might crush your ship and so you would die.
Being way out in the middle of this ocean, you may not know what will happen, but you have become comfortable with this uncertainty so long as your ship is still afloat. All that you know is you cannot be too far from the shore and surely the storm will eventually calm and someone will find you, or you will be able to see where it is to go to find safety. You call out to every ship that passes by, but they either do not hear you, or they simply are unable to help because they too, are in peril.
Just then, though, the waves in the middle of this sea get even taller and your ship begins to take on water. You are now forced to make a decision. You cry out, “help”, but you see and hear no one nearby to rescue you. Then you remember: The Rock! “This must be the Magnificent Rock that I have heard the other sailors talk about. I never thought that it was real, but I now believe that it is the only hope that I have in being saved. They say that if a person cleaves to it, they can be saved. What if I go to The Rock, and try to get as close as possible to it, and tether my ship to it so that it doesn’t get lost further out at sea? “
So, you look and see that you have drifted so far away from The Rock now, that you can barely see it, but you know it is there. You paddle your little ship diligently, searching for where it might be found. When you have no strength left, The Rock appears in plain sight. You cry out in thankfulness that the Rock has been found, just as if it had been there waiting for you all along. As you get against the rock, you anchor your ship directly to it, and then see a comfortable hiding place inside the rock, just near where you decided to anchor. Now you climb up our of your ship and into the rock and, being exhausted and now finding peace from the storm, you fall asleep.
The next thing you see is the bright shining sun on your face. You get up and see your little ship in the water where you left it. A thought comes to you, “maybe I should get going”, but the peace of the Rock prevents you. You need rest. The next day you do some exploring on this huge island of a Rock and find enough food for a lifetime, enough fresh water that it seems you will never stop drinking it. You are walking along and you see your ship floating where you left it. You are tempted to climb back in and take a ride, but soon that this thought leaves you again.
Several days later, you are walking along on the Rock and you come to a place that looks familiar. You then realize, “hey, this is where I left my ship, but now it is gone!”
For those that may not have noticed: The Rock is Jesus Christ Our Lord and Savior, which is The Word of God we find printed in what we call the Holy Bible (I recommend the KJV myself).
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The ship is your life. Where do ships usually reside? You got it – in the sea. What does the sea represent? -This world that we now live in. So, the ship in the sea, together, represent your life in this world.
What is the anchor? -Your hope. What happens when you place your hope in something? – That is called faith. Once you place your faith in something, you have only done this because you trust that, whatever you have decided to put your faith in, is able to provide those things that you are hoping for.
Okay, so where does belief come in at? We all have hope for something at some point in our lives. Through this hope, we search for things or someone that we can place our trust in: that they will make the things that we hope for come true. If we do not believe that a person or thing can do this, how can place our trust in them?
Romans 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Take a car for instance… if I have $10,000 to spend on a car, I will not buy and 1990 Yugo. I do not believe that this car is worth all that I have, because it may not be able to run long enough to get me where I need to go until I can afford another car. But, if someone were to offer me a brand-new car, and I am able to appreciate the value that I new car has to offer, it would be easy for me to believe that this new car can and will take me wherever I need to go.
If someone were to ask me if I believe that this band-new car is trustworthy, I would say “yes”. What if they then said to me, “well, if you really have faith in the new car, then prove it.” How would I prove my faith? I would go buy that car! My works of buying that car, would prove that I have faith in it.
You see here how real faith involves hope, belief, and trust? How many know and realize that showing trust is a work, and that God loves to see us performing this type of work? That is because trusting in God proves that we not only believe in Him, and that we also believe that He can and will fulfill our hope!
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
What, really, is it that exists within this world that we might believe in God? The answer is quite simple… His Word! Jesus came to this world. Jesus is The Word of God. He came and showed the Himself (The Word of God) by preaching to this world the things that God’s kingdom consists of. Jesus came bearing signs and miracles as proof that He is able to fulfill all of the promises that God has made to man over time.
1 John 5:10-11 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.
I watched a documentary about archeology pertaining to biblical findings, etc. They said that historians have said that there is overwhelming evidence that Christ did, in fact, walk on this earth nearly 2000 years ago. As a matter of fact, they said that findings suggest that there is more evidence of Jesus Christ walking this earth than of Julius Caesar! Chew on that I bit. Who knows that there were also people in the days of Christ who reported the news? Yep, there were other writers of that time. One recorded the event where the people let the lame man down through the roof of the house to be healed by Our Lord.
Anyone can find this information, but you better hurry before this ever evil-growing world wipes the record of these things from all of our learning resources. This world hates Jesus Christ, you know. The best news is that we do not need historical findings to know that God is real. We can still find Him. He is there, and not a part of our imagination either. Just like The Rock in the story, deep down inside, we know that He is real. All that we need to do is search for Him until we find Him.
We may not see Him, we may have to search hard and maybe even until we feel like we cannot go on searching; but do go on anyhow. When you sincerely search, doubting nothing, and find Him, you will then know that He is indeed alive and well, and that He still wants the best for you. He wants you to live the life that He originally intended for us to have.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
How Do I Find Trust In Him
Just remember, that God does not want slaves. If He did, there would be no such thing as sin. Sin is rebellion against the good ways of God. If we were slaves to God’s way, we would then not have a choice to rebel and do evil in His sight. What does God want then? He wants a relationship with us.
Psalms 107:8-14 Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: Therefore He brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Ever hear of a “toxic relationship”? Well, God definitely does not want to have a toxic relationship with us – He wants one that will last throughout eternity! A toxic relationship usually involves at least 2 people, and one of those people are the “toxic” or poison that will eventually kill that relationship. That person treats the other with disrespect and does things that hurts and betrays the trust that they have placed in him or her.
Relationships are a “2-way street”. One person gives, and the other receives. Having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is no different. He gives the riches of life to us by entrusting us with the life of His Word. We give our lives to Him by trusting the ways of His Word. By humbly disregarding our own ways, we acknowledge that God’s way is better and we show our love and trust for Him by simply doing things the way that His Word tells us to. No excuses – just the results that He gives us power to deliver. No drama, no limelight for us, just simply ‘resting’ in The Word of God because nothing else matters.
What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Why does His Word tell us to love not the world, neither the things that are in the world? Because this world is what we behold with our eyes. Things that we see with our eyes tend to distract us from the some of the things that really matter. Those things cannot be seen with the eye. For example: can you see love? Not really, you can see it in action though, can’t you?
1 John 2:15-18 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
If we “love” the world, then we will cater to it, to do the things that are in this corrupt world. What does the world love? Evil. Evil is self-centered. Evil only cares for others when that care provides an ROI to the caregiver. Do you know what “ROI” means? It means “return on investment”. The world loves to do things that brings joy and honor to the flesh. The problem? This world is corrupt, and something corrupt is not pure. Anything that is not pure, cannot sustain itself forever.
If we “love” God though: then we cater to His ways, because His ways are the exact opposite of the ways of this world, though, again – they may often look alike ‘to the eye’. Even so, God’s way is a way of purity. Purity represents something that is whole, healthy, and completely self-sustaining. God’s way, and the love thereof are self-sustaining; they are eternal and never-ending ways of life.
So, if we want to find God’s love and protection from the things of this world, we first have to be willing to give up the things that this world has to offer – sin. Sin is rebellion. Rebellion separates people who might otherwise get along with each other. Rebellion causes us to not be able to get along with the people that we oppose though our rebellion. You might say that, if we love this world, we are in rebellion with God, because He told us not to love this world? If that is true, (and it is) then, if we really love God, the world will say that we are rebelling against it. In reality we are wherever it might be wrong or evil.
Romans 8:7-8 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
How can you protect someone from something evil that they love? Can you protect an alcoholic from alcohol without making them a slave in tying them up somewhere away from the alcohol? But, if they truly see their condition for what it really is, and so they are willing to give up the alcohol and everything that goes with it, then they just might be saved from it. The problem: for those that have ever had a drinking or like problem, it’s not just the alcohol that they are likely to have to give up.
In order to stay away from the alcohol, they may have to give up ‘hanging out’ with certain people that they used to enjoy being around. Some may not be able to go to the places that they used to go to because the temptation may be to strong for them. Not so for you?
What if you have recovered from being an alcoholic and so you inspire one of your friends to quit drinking to save his or her marriage? If you were able to influence them to quit drinking, wouldn’t you think that, if they see you playing darts at the bar without drinking, that they might also think that they can do this too? And, what if they did, and next week you go and see them there drinking again. How would that make you feel?
You see, the love of God provides ROI not only to the person who invests in the things of God, but also to others, and most importantly – to His credit; that He is truly a wonderful and caring Savior.
Psalms 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
Remember that God’s Word is pure! He is a self-sustaining, one stop shop for everlasting life! You can search for Him, learn His ways, learn to trust in His ways, and have that relationship with Him that is safe from the pain suffering, and heartache of this world. All that you need to do is: search and once you find, obey without question.
Let’s take another look at one of the earlier scriptures we discussed…
John 14:27-29 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
Why did He say that if we loved Him, we would rejoice?
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.
John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him He heareth.
I John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.
1 John 3:19-22 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
The conclusion of this study is this:
We live in a dying world. If we trust in God and His Word, we can thereby find security and a way to escape the everlasting destruction that this world is headed toward. In order to truly find peace and contentment, we must trust in God’s Way. It is impossible for us turn this ‘trust’ on and off like a light switch and, at the same time, expect God to accept this ‘toxic’ behavior as an acceptable relationship with Him. -That would not be the respect that God deserves from us.
In order to really find trust in God, we have to do this His Way, and His Way is found in His Word. His “Way” is a ‘Way of Life’, and so since people cannot truly have 2 separate lives, we must be willing to discard the old ‘wordly’ life that we used to live, trading it in on the Real Life that Jesus has to offer!
Matthew 6:24-26 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
I hope that all who can hear, have found both peace, and a desire to search for God and obedience to His Word through this lesson.
Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Obey
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