Bible Ballistics: Vol. 7 No. 19  He Is Our Hope!!!

When trials come, and they will come, we need to be prepared! And we prepare by knowing that God is faithful and true to His Word—and staying in His Word. Unless we know the truth about our God and His Son Jesus Christ, and realize all that we are and have “in Him”, we will just flounder from one place to another, or be tossed about through the difficulties and challenges of life. Paul warns about the need for maturity and confidence in Ephesians 4:

“That we henceforth be no more children,

tossed to and fro,

and carried about with

every wind of doctrine,

by the sleight of men,

and cunning craftiness,

whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love,

may grow up into him

in all things,

which is the head,

even Christ:” Ephesians 4:14-15

We must have our bearings set on God and His Word, with our focus on the faithfulness of our God, and His Son, our Redeemer. We can rejoice that our God never fails, and He always knows where we are, and what we need. In Him we can persevere, and stand in the “Blessed Assurance” that is found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

“The Lord reigneth;

let the people tremble:

he sitteth between the cherubims;

let the earth be moved.

2 The Lord is great in Zion;

and he is high above all the people.

3 Let them praise thy great

and terrible name;

for it is holy.” Psalm 99:1-3

“And said, O Lord God of our fathers,

art not thou God in heaven?

and rulest not thou over all

the kingdoms of the heathen?

and in thine hand is there not power and might,

so that none is able to withstand thee?”    2 Chronicles 20:6

In Psalm 139, the Psalmist paints an amazing picture of the sufficiency, sovereignty and security that we have in the Creator of the Universe. Confidence in the God who is the omniscient, omnipotent Redeemer of our souls—the one who had the plan before we ever needed it. God is in total control, and never fails! He will accomplish HIS purpose in you and me:

“O lord, thou hast searched me,

and known me.

2 Thou knowest my downsitting

and mine uprising,

thou understandest my thought afar off.

3 Thou compassest my path

and my lying down,

and art acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word in my tongue,

but, lo, O Lord,

thou knowest it altogether.

5 Thou hast beset me

behind

and before,

and laid thine hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

it is high,

I cannot attain unto it.

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit?

or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

8 If I ascend up into heaven,

thou art there:

if I make my bed in hell,

behold, thou art there.

9 If I take the wings of the morning,

and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

10 Even there

shall thy hand lead me,

and thy right hand shall hold me.

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me;

even the night shall be light about me.

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee;

but the night shineth as the day:

the darkness and the light

are both alike to thee.

13 For thou hast possessed my reins:

thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.

14 I will praise thee;

for I am fearfully

and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works;

and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee,

when I was made in secret,

and curiously wrought

in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Thine eyes did see my substance,

yet being unperfect;

and in thy book all my members were written,

which in continuance were fashioned,

when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious also

are thy thoughts unto me,

O God! how great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them,

they are more in number

than the sand:

when I awake,

I am still with thee.” Psalm 139:1-18

Where can we go and not be in His presence? No where! God our creator knows us better than anyone else here on this earth! The God of all creation knows us, loves us and offers His “Amazing Grace” to all who will believe and come to Him in repentance and faith. He offers forgiveness of our sins, and deliverance from the penalty of sin–which is Hell—no way around it. There is only one way and that way is JESUS! Our God loves us and in that love, He provided His Son to pay for our sin!

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meetelse

to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath

delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”   Colossians 1:12-14

It is the greatest of all love stories that God sent His only Son to pay for our sin, to deliver us from the “power of darkness”. But not only does He deliver us from Satan’s power, He gives us entrance (translates us) into “the kingdom of his dear Son”—and the price of admission was, is and always will be, “through his blood”, and the blood of Jesus provides “the forgiveness of sins”! The salvation that Jesus purchased at Calvary—by His blood—is the one and only way to peace with God. And when we have peace with God through Jesus, He is ever working to conform us to the image of His Son.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace

with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also

we have access by faith

into this grace wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience;

and experience, hope:

5 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.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time

Christ died for the ungodly.”    Romans 5:1-6

But having peace with God, we will often have conflict in a world that is antagonistic toward our God, and His Son Jesus Christ. And this antagonism may bring suffering and/or persecution for which we need to be prepared. Peter wrote a letter to a group of believers who were suffering for their faith, and we can take heart and confidence from Peter’s encouragement for God’s people. He reminds us that our confidence is in The Lord, NOT our circumstances.

“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,

and his ears are open unto their prayers:

but the face of the Lord

is against them that do evil.

13 And who is he that will harm you,

if ye be followers of that which is good?

14 But and if ye suffer

for righteousness’ sake,

happy are ye:

and be not afraid of their terror,

neither be troubled;

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:

and be ready always

to give an answer to every man

that asketh you a reason

of the hope

that is in you

with meekness and fear:

16 Having a good conscience;

that,

whereas they speak evil of you,

as of evildoers,

they may be ashamed

that falsely accuse

your good conversation

in Christ.” 1 Peter 3:12-16

As Peter was preparing the believers of his time to deal with the suffering that they were encountering because of their faith in Jesus Christ, we can likewise take heart and be prepared for the times in which we live. Biblical faith is becoming more and more offensive to the world, and that can bring opposition and persecution for those who will stand faithful in the midst of these volatile times.

So where is our Hope? I pray that your hope and confidence are in the Lord God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ. He is able!

“For the which cause

I also suffer these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able

to keep that

which I have committed

unto him

against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith

and love which is in Christ Jesus.”    2 Timothy 1:12-13

Press on dear ones—our only Hope is in God!!! God is triumphant!!! Now and always. There is no better HOPE!