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Something Is Changing - Hebrews 11:1
Something Is Changing - Hebrews 11:1
In an article posted from the New York Times, we read:
“But something is changing in the United States, where the suicide rate has risen by about 35 percent over two decades, with deaths approaching 50,000 annually. The U.S. is a glaring exception among wealthy countries; globally, the suicide rate has been dropping steeply and steadily.”
Why? While there in fact are many diverse factors that would underlie the reason(s) one would choose suicide as a solution to their problems, one encompassing factor is the complete loss of hope. We as a nation are discovering the age old reality that wealth and materialism can not give us a real purpose for our living, after all, we all die and leaven everything (read again the book of Ecclesiastes). Even in this life, we in this country have taken away acknowledgement of ability and achievement. There is no recognition to be given to those who excel (school, sports, or work). In a large measure, we have taken away people’s purpose and with it, their hope.
Jesus provides hope, hope of eternal life and glory. Yes, we will still die and leave all of our earthly hopes, dreams, and achievements, BUT we will hear the Judge of all the earth declare: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant! Enter into the joys of your Lord” (Matt. 25:21,23) Thus we live with the steady hope in Jesus. Let us “hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.” (Heb. 3:6). “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).
Let this hope be your “anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil,” (Heb. 6:19). Whatever happens, we have purpose and confidence that we are important for we are important unto God. Our purpose is not any supposed excellence in the things of this world, although such is OK, but to glorify God in all we do and say and thus be faithful unto Him. Death will come, but I am to live my life for Him. As Paul stated: “ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)
Trust Jesus! It is this faith (trust) that gives us our hope, for “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1).
Hugh DeLong
