Hope

Happy Life

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Recently I was listening to a Christian radio station, and they shared a short vignette. The vignette’s main message seemed to be “Jesus will solve all of your problems.” I figuratively shook my head after listening to it, wondering why we are so tempted to make the Christian life sound easy. History and personal experience would tell us the complete opposite. This isn’t to imply that the Gospel is complicated, after all it’s message is fairly simply understood (repent from your sins and put your faith in Jesus.(Acts 3:19, Gal. 2:16)) Nor am I suggesting that Jesus won’t solve the ultimate problem – the penalty of death that is a result of our sin –  because for the Christian, He does (Rom. 6:23). However, being saved means that you have assurance that your eternal destination is secure and safe; it doesn’t mean that the rest of your life on this Earth will be. 

I was reminded though, that simply stating that for the Christian this life is hard is incomplete as well. Even though Jesus promised that His followers will have trouble, it doesn’t mean that we are also unhappy. As John Newton stated:

The life of faith is a happy life, and if attended with conflicts, there is an assurance of victory; if we sometimes get a wound, there is healing balm near at hand; if we seem to fall, we are raised again; and if tribulations abound, consolations shall abound likewise.

In other words, the Christian will surely face trials in this life, but the trials are not the end of the story. Because of our faith in Christ, we know that our victory is secured (I Cor. 15:57). We know that any pain we feel here, is but temporary (Rev. 21:4). We know that while our heart breaks, our God is near (Ps. 34:18). There will surely be moments of unhappiness and grief, but we can have confidence that His mercies are new every  morning (Lam. 3:22-23). Our trails are momentary, but our happiness, eternal.

The life of Christian faith is not easy, nor is it free from pain, but it is one of assured joy. 

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Hope

But If Not

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The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abdendego has long been a favorite of Sunday School teachers and flannel graphs. Few things can capture a child’s imagination like the fiery tale of 3 boys thrown into an inferno only to be rescued by God. The older I get, however, the more I’m convinced that the really instructive part of that story happens before the young men ever enter their intended execution chamber. After all, the fact that God, the Creator of the Universe and Commander of all living things, can save three young men from the flame’s intended damage shouldn’t come as a surprise to us. What is unexpected is that there were three young men willing to risk their lives in order to remain faithful to their Lord. It’s their ability to trust, regardless of the assurance of their rescue, that serves as a reminder of how we should live.

As they boldly state in Daniel 3:16:b-18:

“O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” [emphasis mine]

Can you imagine? They knew that God could alter their circumstances, but regardless of whether or not He did, they were going to trust in Him. And while most of us probably won’t face the flames of government injustice anytime soon, we likely have our own situation that we need to display this type of faith.

I want to get married, but if not, I will trust that God’s plan is better than mine.

I want to have children, but if not, I know that God is faithful still. 

 I want to achieve success in my field, but if not, I believe that God will use me in whatever way brings Him the most glory. 

And the list could go on and on.

We all have our own “but if not” circumstances in our lives – situations where we need to have confidence in what God can do, and even if He chooses not to do it, we choose to trust in His wise and loving plan.

What’s yours?

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