You feel helpless!
Have you ever had someone make a promise to you, and then not follow through on that promise? How did it leave you feeling? Lost, helpless, abandoned, or some other empty feeling? Did the other person have a good reason to break their promise, and dash your hopes? Did their good excuse make you feel any better? I bet the answer to that, if we are to answer truthfully, is no. You may have understood, and even forgiven them, but it didn’t fill you with happiness or joy.
According to Webster’s dictionary the definition of hope is: to cherish a desire with anticipation; archaic – trust: to desire with expectation of obtainment.
There is an old saying; ‘a man’s word is his bond.’ I am sure there are many people, still today, that keep their word, no matter how insignificant the promise may be. What was the last thing you were promised, and who made the promise to you? Are you still waiting with anticipation for this promise to come true?
Palm Sunday is a day when a long time promise was kept. For centuries the Jewish people waited for the Messiah to come. The prophecy said He would be the Saviour of the world. As He rode into Jerusalem they took off their coats, and laid Palm leaves on the ground before Him. They could not contain their excitement, and shouted Hosanna! Hosanna! This promise fulfilled, would mean the end of the need of future sacrifices for forgiveness, and making all men equal, in their rights, to go directly in prayer, to the Lord for forgiveness for their sins. It was only a few days after the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, that those same people stood in the courtyard and screamed, ‘crucify him!’ That is exactly what they did, only to see Him defy the grave, and be resurrected three days later. So what of the promise and the prophecy, of Him saving the world? Fortunately for us the Bible says: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. II Peter 3:9 and again in Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; God knows the huge power that a promise holds, and has filled His Word, the Bible, with promises for His people. One of my favorite promises in the Bible is found in the book of Romans, the 10th chapter and the 13th verse: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or if you’re poor, or what the color of your skin may be, this promise is for everyone!
Whenever I can interject a song that reiterates the point I’m trying to make it is exactly what I do, and here it is:
My Hope Is Built on Nothing less
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
CHORUS
On Christ the solid Rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand
VERSE 2
When darkness hides His lovely face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
VERSE 3
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
VERSE 4
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless to stand before the throne
As parents it is important that we teach our children not to make promises lightly, and at the same time we should not make promises to them lightly. A promise should be something set in stone, unwavering, unmovable, and something dependable you can always count on! If our children cannot trust the promises we make them, how can we expect them to trust the promises God makes them?
We as authors, need to do our part in bringing back the hope of new life that spring reminds us of, and the cross promises us. Let’s keep this religious holiday with the reverence and anticipation it deserves. Being politically correct does not mean you are being morally correct. A Bible verse that will remind us of this is Romans 1:16a: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;
Have a blessed and happy Easter!
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Romans 15:13
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:2-5
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?
Romans 8:24
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:3