Show Hope: A God Idea
by Scott Hasenbalg, Executive Director
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." -Heb 11:1
My wife and I decided some time ago that life is too short and full of too many responsibilities to invest in every good idea that comes our way. As for God ideas, we do not want to miss those and are wiling to sacrifice much in order to be a part. In church work and "ministry" there seems to be innumerable "good ideas," but they often accomplish far less good than is anticipated. Such cases remind me of God's words through the prophet Haggai, "You have planted much, but harvested little." Why? Where did the Israelites go wrong? They were busy building their own paneled houses (individual ministries) and not building up God's house, allowing Him to be the architect. Far too often we, in the church, invest in things that seem good but are not best because they are not of God. Still, we foolishly wonder when the dust settles why God did not empower our plans and work.
The Lord is our Shepherd, so we need not worry about our path as long as we are willing to follow Him and "do" for His name's sake. What does this look like? God recently reminded me that "without faith it is impossible to please God," and that the very definition of faith is "the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."
In other words… Faith is hope shown! Showing Hope is a God idea and has been in His mind before the foundations of the world. God calls His children to reveal the authenticity of their faith through obedient and loving actions to a needy world. Did not Jesus Himself show us the way to walk?
So if we are to "show hope," we must first ask ourselves what are those things for which the Word calls us to hope: the hope of glory, the hope of restoration and redemption, the hope of the weak becoming strong, the lame becoming whole, the poor becoming rich, the hope of joy replacing tears, the hope of a heavenly home…
How are we to show those truths to the world?
Show hope of your heavenly inheritance: give your money to the poor
Show hope of the marriage supper of the lamb: feed the hungry
Show hope of forgiveness in Christ: forgive your enemies
Show hope of God's justice: seek justice for the oppressed
Show hope of God's mercy: be merciful to others
Show hope of your heavenly citizenship: welcome a foreigner
Show hope of freedom from captivity, visit those in prison
Show hope of the resurrection of our risen bridegroom, bring joy to widows
Show hope of your heavenly adoption: adopt a child.
We must always remember that these actions are to flow out of a continual, daily walk with Christ—a relationship founded on prayer. Prayer maintains our perspective; only in light of our heavenly hope does our work on this earth make sense, remain sustainable, and have eternal value. To walk in the good works that God has prepared for us beforehand, we must stay connected to the source!
So, as a family and as a ministry, we've dedicated ourselves to the God idea of showing our heavenly hope to a waiting world. May our lives reflect the prayer of our Savior to the Father, "Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!"
