Manna in the Morning

Kelso Carter wrote an old Gospel Hymn entitled, “Standing On the Promises” which has blessed the hearts of many through the years. “Standing On the Promises” is more than a title to a song. It is the very heart of our faith. It is the only place we have to stand. Once, a song leader stopped a congregation in the middle of singing that song. He asked people in the audience to volunteer some of the promises on which they were standing. One said, “Lo, I am with you, always.” Another said, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Still another said, “Where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst.” Soon, a dozen promises had been quoted. When the singing resumed, there was a marked increase in enthusiasm. As we go about our day to day... let us remember that the best place in all the world for us to stand is “on the promises of God.”

Tomorrow is Good Friday... the observance of the day when Jesus was put to death on a cruel cross. Think a moment about Christ. Suppose the cross had never happened. Suppose Jesus just lived to be an old man, drifted into senility and died in His sleep. Would there be any such thing as the Christian religion? You know the answer to that. It’s “No.” But history tells us that the cross was real... that Jesus died on that cross. In the forceful words of Bob Shannon: “Jesus took the cross and turned it into a hammer. He battered down the gates of Hell. He took the cross and turned it into a lever and moved the world. He took the cross and turned it into a bridge so that you and I might pass over from darkness to light and from death to life! That’s why Good Friday is so good. God was busily at work accomplishing our redemption through the blood of the perfect sacrifice... His Son!

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome about the kind of living that is required of Christians for day in and day out commitment. Part of what he said in Romans 12 was, “Rejoice in hope.” Someone has said that one of the main things our world is really short on is “hope.” But because of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ we have the hope that will carry us through any valley. Earthquakes may hit... tsunamis may barge in... death may rear its ugly head and life sometimes is very difficult... but we have much to hope about. This life may have its trials and troubles but God is greater. We may have to deal with burdens and difficulties but God is greater! It may look like evil is winning the day... but God is greater! Satan may win some battles but he will not win the war! Jesus conquered death and in doing so conquered Satan and his plans... so we can truly “rejoice in hope!” There is no reason to despair... God will have the victory and those who are His will share in it. So today make up your mind to “rejoice in hope!”

Today I received an e-mail from Chuck Colson, the heading of which simply asked the question, "Do you need hope?" Being fairly sure that he was not referring to Bob Hope I opened the e-mail to read more. Also today, I have received an e-mail from the wife of a dear friend who is battling cancer and survives on "hope in God!" I also heard from one of our missionary families who are wrestling with a monumental decision about going back to the mission field oversees that would separate them from their families by great distances... they are hoping for clear direction from God. All of these notices drove me to the Scripture to be reminded about the hope that we have that is fully anchored in Jesus Christ, "who is our hope!" Job of old asked, "Where now is my hope? Will it go down with me to Sheol? Shall we together go down into the dust?" (Job 17:15-16) Sometime later Job got his answer directly from God. David also made this declaration in Psalm 39, "And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in Thee!" (Verse 4) Some years ago I developed an acrostic with the word "H.O.P.E." It helps me quite often when I need to be reminded of just how much I can depend on God. Hope is a Heavenly Optimistic Powerful Expectation! One last word from the Word: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!" (Romans 15:13).