Time for Hope

Reading through the Old Testament something jumped out at me.   We certainly see the “God of wrath and judgment” far more than in the New Testament.   But we also see something else in the midst of all that wrath and judging.    We see long spans of time over which things play out.    So many prophecies were laid out over the course of years or lifetimes.   This patient unfolding is a reason for us to hope.

On one hand, it might be argued that things unfolding over time is a bit cruel.   A judgment is made known, and then it’s this long, drawn out “hurry up and wait” for the axe to drop.   It is the long, painful process of knowing it’s coming, wanting it to be over with, and having to anticipate just how bad it’s going to be.    That’s one way of looking at it.

The other, and the one I prefer, is far more hopeful.   Seeing something bad looming far off can be intimidating.   Knowing we have time before it gets here is hopeful.   It’s hopeful because when we have time, we have opportunity.   When we have time, we have a window in which change and transformation can occur.   In other words, when we have time, we can course correct and set our path for a brighter, better future.

Yes, there are things to worry about today.    Yes, there are fearful consequences for the actions of the many and the few that could be off in the distance, or for some perhaps much nearer.    However collectively, knowing that the best and the worst things often take time to unfold gives us hope that adjustments can be made.

This hope is, and should be, the hallmark of Christianity.    There is no place for fear mongering among us.   Fear only works if we resign ourselves to the inevitability that evil will have its way.     We are called to a much bolder and brighter outlook.   We are called into the courage of the first disciples and of Christ Himself.    We are called to never succumb to fear or accept that good will only triumph at the return of Jesus and we just ride it out until that day arrives.

People of faith are called to shake the world.   We are called to live radically in love, peace, compassion, and justice.    And we are obliged to inspire others to live likewise and in relationship with Jesus.    The clock has not run out, and so each and every day we have one more chance to change the world around us.   Each new day is another burst of hope that tomorrow, should it come, can be better.

The disciples lived for this.   Jesus died for this.   They began a movement that had a single, noble, high goal.   They sought to transform this world into the Kingdom of God one soul at a time by following Christ.    It wasn’t easy.   It took great bravery, patience, and persistence.   Yet over time their message spread and lives, communities, and nations changed.    And the message continues to play on.

Perhaps the ultimate hope is not just that as long as we have time we have opportunity to improve.   There is, for us, the hope that as Adam Hamilton puts it, “the last thing is never the worst thing” when we put our faith in Jesus.    The last thing is resting eternally in the light of God’s love.    The catch, however, is that the hope of eternity hinges on us living into the hope of today.

Why Not?

“The rain falls on the just and the unjust”.   I got some perspective on that sentiment last night.    The idea that rain falls on us all carries a depth to it.   Rain is life giving.   It can also be deadly if it comes down hard and for a long time.  And it is indiscriminate.  Whether you are an atheist or devout Christian, when the heavens open you get wet.   Whether you love Jesus, or have no time for him at all, when the flood waters come your house is just as prone to be swept away.

The implications of this passage are far reaching in a life of faith.   We have to understand that we can substitute just about anything in place of the word “rain” and it would be fitting.   Unexpected fortune falls on the just and unjust.   Tragedy falls on the just and unjust.   Wealth falls on the just and unjust.   Poverty falls on the just and unjust.

While we can point to a handful of miraculous events or coinciding events through which God speaks the truth of life is that many things are either the consequence of our actions or indiscriminate acts of chance or nature.

Nevertheless, many times people of faith have some degree of expectation that our faith will somehow elicit a charmed or favored existence.   When hard times come, we can quickly gaze at the sky and ask “why me?”

A friend whose life has been turned upside down for the last several months added some perspective.  In the midst of his trials, he had been privy to seeing many other people in similar circumstances.   His situation is terrifying and heart wrenching, yet as he shared his story he said “as bad as our situation is, 90% of the people I saw were even worse off.”

The reasons were varied.  Some it was extremity of their health condition.   Others it was how many other conditions or struggles were piled on top of their already tragic circumstance.    And for many it wasn’t so much their condition as it was the utter lack of support or aid they had available.   It was that they were enduring a major trial alone.

He shared all of this and said “I know a lot of people would be in my situation and say ‘why me?’ but after everything I’ve seen my conclusion is ‘why not?'”

Then he flipped our notions of favor and privilege firmly on their heads.

He marvelled at all of the support his family has received.  He was in awe of the outpouring of love and compassion not jut from friends, but from complete strangers.  He noted all of this with immense and humble gratitude.   Then he wondered aloud about those souls who have to endure such hardship all alone.   He shared that in truth, it makes far more sense and seems far more fair that his family, with wells of resources and support even he never dreamed of, be given the challenges they are facing than a person or family with no one to speak of to rally around them.

Why me?  Why not?  And when perspective strikes perhaps a much more heartfelt “why them?”

Naturally this isn’t wishing tragedy only on the well supported and well to do.   Even if it was it’s a futile notion.   The rain falls on the just and unjust.

What it does for the person of faith is offer perspective.    It inspires us to make a difference when and where we can because we see the difference our love  makes.    It reminds us to be grateful in the good times because the bad ones can strike with randomness and without reason.    It drives us to stay connected to a community of faith because it is in community that we have opportunity to rally around another in their hour of need and places us in the midst of God’s people who will rally around us when we are in our own hour of trial.

This sentiment should shift our attention when we struggle.  What are the things in our life that are helping us through?   Who are the people that have been sent to care for us?   Who has answered the call of God knocking at their heart to act as the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus?

And even in the middle of perilous times we  can give thanks.   Even in the middle of fear, confusion, and chaos we can point to the glory of God being shown.

Why me? is really the wrong question.   Why not? is even off base.

The question isn’t about why.  It’s about where.   Where is God working in the midst of this?   It’s who.   Who has God sent?  It’s how.  How is God using this unfortunate circumstance to speak into life and the world?