Indestructible Hope: Why Optimism Isn't Enough

                                                         Indestructible Hope

Why Optimism Isn’t Enough

 

August 13, 2022

Larry R Evans

 

Introduction

 

In Luke 15 a father portraying God is found waiting for his prodigal son to return. In Habakkuk, we find God’s children waiting for God to do something. They are in need and in their desperation, they find God silent.  So, which is it?  Is God waiting on us or are we impatiently waiting for Him? In such situations are we called to be optimistic or hopeful?

 

QUESTION: Is there a difference between optimism and hope?  From a Christian perspective, how would you describe the difference if there is any?

 

The “Recency Effect” vs Biblical Hope

 

The “recency effect” is a psychological term that states that the most recent experiences we go through are the ones we remember. We assume that these experiences will continue. The focus is on getting through the day-to-day activities to survive.

 

Winston Churchill was immune to the “Recency Effect”. He was able to elicit the belief from the British people that they had a future and that they would win the war despite all odds against them. He gave them hope and made them feel brave. In his speeches, he motivated and inspired the British public to believe that they were winners and that surrendering to the Germans was not an option. Was Churchill optimistic or hopeful? Is there a difference?

 

From a biblical perspective, there is an important distinction. A noted theologian by the name of N.T. Wright wrote, Hope” and “optimism” are not the same thing. The optimist looks at the world and feels good about the way it’s going. Things are looking up! Everything is going to be all right! But hope, in Bible times, was quite different. Hope could be and often was, a deliberate choice when the world seemed dark. It depended not on a feeling about the way things were or the way where they were headed. Instead, biblical hope was made possible by faith, faith in the One God.

 

Habakkuk, a Transparent Prophet

 

The book of Habakkuk responds to the question of God’s silence at a time when evil was rampant. As a prophet, Habakkuk doesn’t hold back. He doesn’t understand why God seems to overlook the sins of His people! He should be doing something about it. The flood of wickedness should be stopped. 

How long, LORD, must I call for help,

but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, “Violence!”

but you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice?

Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? (Habakkuk 1:2-3)

The prophet’s dialogue with God progresses,

“See, the enemy is puffed up;

his desires are not upright—

but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness (Hab. 2:4)

The word translated “faithfulness” does not mean “faith” so much as “steadfast faith”. (Andrews Bible Commentary, p.1124). N.T. Wright explains biblical hope,

It [hope] depended not on a feeling about the way things were or the way they were moving, but on faith, faith in the One God. This God had made the world. This God had called Israel to be his people. The scriptures, not least the Psalms, had made it clear that this God could be trusted to sort things out in the end, to be true to his promises, to vindicate his people at last, even if it had to be on the other side of terrible suffering. “Hope” in this sense is not a feeling. It is a virtue. You have to practice it, like a difficult piece on the violin or a tricky shot at tennis. (Paul: A Biography, https://a.co/72hyJt3 )

With the eye of faith, Habakkuk finds his strength knowing that “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” (Hab. 2:20). In chapter three, after perceiving God’s awesome presence, Habakkuk contemplated God’s past mighty acts. In the end, Habakkuk did not respond to disaster in fear and trembling but in triumphant faith (Heb. 3:16-19a). God’s past mighty acts bring peace, assurance, and new hope for the future by building trust in God and His word!

 

“Our Father”

 

The first occurrence in the Hebrew Bible of the idea of God as the Father comes when Moses marches in boldly to stand before Pharaoh and says: Thus says YHWH: Israel is my son, my firstborn; let my people go, that they may serve me (Exodus 4:22–3). For Israel to call God ‘Father’, then, was to hold on to the hope of liberty. The slaves were called to be sons. When Jesus tells his disciples to call God ‘Father’, then, those with ears to hear will understand. He wants us to get ready for the new Exodus. It may not be immediate, but a new Exodus is coming. We are going to be free at last^.

 

This principle becomes clear in the book of Job.  Because of Job’s tragedy, he loses everything, except his life and his wife. Even then his wife suggests that he “curse God and die!”  What an encouragement that must have been! Troubling questions were obviously on Job’s mind. How could God sit back and let this happen?  Job 38 is a fascinating chapter.  In response to Job’s questions, God asks his own questions—60 of them. Job’s questions aren’t answered because they aren’t addressing the heart of the issue.  If Job can’t explain the marvels of creation, how can he explain God’s mind and His way of dealing with sin? In chapter one, Job’s trouble began with a storm that destroyed his home killing his sons and daughters (1:19) and now God speaks to Job in chapter 38 out of a storm.  Job’s life was indeed a stormy experience. However, Job was listening and while he listened, he was learning more about himself and his God.  Job’s friends did not make it easy and isn’t that the way Satan works to create distrust in the One who is working for us during the storms of life? 

 

Those who denounced Job interpreted the suffering as punishment or discipline because he must have done something wrong.  However, the book of Job shows God has at least two purposes:

 

1.     A demonstration that Satan’s allegations against Job were false.  Job’s faithfulness, not his sinfulness, was the object of the tragedies that befell him.

2.    Job’s spiritual insights grew even deeper as he “weathered the storm” that was thrust upon him.

 

While Job’s questions were not answered his trust, his faith in God, served as the resolve he needed.

I know that my redeemer lives

and that in the end, he will stand on the earth.

And after my skin has been destroyed,

yet in my flesh I will see God;

I myself will see him

with my own eyes—I, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me! – Job 19:25-27)

Our Father’s Presence

 

A.W. Tozer in his classic book, The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine, wrote

 

Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision, and getting God into focus. Sin has twisted our vision inward and made it self-regarding. Unbelief has put self where God should be and is perilously close to the sin of Lucifer who said, ‘I will set my throne above the throne of God.’ Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line. (p.85)

When the Jews were in exile God’s presence seemed far away. During that time God had a spokesman who was called to direct their attention out to their God. The message Isaiah conveyed from God was, 

For I am the LORD your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.

Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob,

little Israel, do not fear,

for I myself will help you,” declares the LORD,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. (Isa. 41:13-14)

The words “For I am the LORD your God” are reminders of God’s covenant with His people. Assurance and redemption are a reminder that He is with His people despite the troublous times they were experiencing.  Faith brings the assurance that everyone and everything is measured from the fixed point identified by Isaiah as “I am the LORD your God” and by Moses, “I am that I am” (Ex. 3:14). God’s presence breaks through the darkness and hope abounds (Romans 5:13).  Tozer drives the point home: “We can get a right start only by accepting God as He is and learning to love Him for what He is”(p.95).  It was Plato who wrote, “We can forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” God’s “presence” for Israel was a cloud by day and a fire by night. With God’s purpose came a plan for His people.

 

Our Father Has a Plan for Us

 

Most of us relish the idea that God has a plan for us. We are drawn to Bible passages like Jeremiah 29:11,

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Such promises help build hope.  Faith clings to the belief that whatever may be troubling us will be swallowed up by the sunlight that is behind the darkest clouds over us.                                            

The secret to realizing the plan God has for us, however, is to focus on the nature of God rather than the strength or wisdom we may have. The experience of Moses at the burning bush is a prime example. God had a plan for the people he was asked to lead but Moses had to lesson to learn first.  The classroom was the desert and to learn the lesson he had to first take off his shoes. The enrollment fee for the class is found in Exodus 3:5,

God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 

With these 14 words, Moses enrolled in an introductory class about God. There was no time spent convincing Moses what he could do, but there was much time spent explaining to Moses what God can do!

 

We sometimes get things backward.  When facing difficult times, we encourage one another by speaking of their gifts, their training, and their experience. God doesn’t start there. The strength of Moses is not considered. There was no pep talk, no recruiting, but there were many words used to reveal who God is.  There was no greater assurance than to hear God say, “ I will be with you.” (Ex. 3:12) The strength of Moses is not the issue; the strength of God is! Everyone and everything is measured from one fixed point as spoken by the One who was to deliver His people from Egypt,  “I am that I am.” (Ex. 3:14)

 

Motivating words may create momentary optimism, but optimism without the presence and assurance of God will not last. Biblical hope, as stated by N.T. Wright, biblical hope is made possible by faith, faith in the One God. To be a servant of God, in good times and tough times, two qualities stand at the top of the list: (1) Be moldable and (2) Remain available for God to use you. Both qualities are the fruit of living faith, a Bible-based hope.

 

The Certainty of Hope Despite Disappointment

 

Dr. Paul Brand taught medicine at the Christian Medical College in Vellore India. He founded a leprosy hospital. He tells of an old man with leprosy in New Guinea.  The man would reach into a bed of hot coals with his bare hands to turn a roasting potato. Dr. Brand discovered that virtually all the disfigurement that makes leprosy such a dreaded disease comes from a single cause: the person with leprosy does not feel pain.  The old man no longer treated his fingers as something worth preserving, as part of self, because his fingers felt no pain. A healthy body attends to pain even if it is the weakest part of the body. 

 

Two weeks ago, we saw how suffering is a normal part of living in an abnormal world. God never intended for pain to exist yet today, pain is an alarm reminding us that an enemy has come and distorted God’s original design. Living in such an abnormal world calls for an abnormal perspective. Paul describes this perspective in Romans 5:3-5,

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Suffering can do one of two things to people. It can crush them, or they can view hardships as instruments to open up new opportunities for growth and development.

A Christian in a Communist country, pressured to give up his faith and conform, declared, “We are like nails: the harder you hit us the deeper you drive us.”  Paul reminds us that Christian hope is often formed during the most difficult of circumstances, yet it does not disappoint us, it does not shame us! Why? Because God’s love is poured into our hearts.  Once again we are reminded, that even in the most trying times we are not alone. God’s love is so close that it is described as being in us, part of us.

Conclusion

 

The story is told of a little boy who fell out of bed.  When his mom asked him what happened, he answered. “I don’t know. I guess I stayed too close to where I got in.” 

 

It is easy to do the same with our faith. This can become evident when things don’t go the way we had intended. We eventually learn that everything in life is out of order because God’s basic purpose for life is out of order. Hebrews 12:2 provides the single most effective way of facing hardships that may come our way which is done 

By fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer, and perfecter of faith.