Hope in Troubled Times
Today is the 10th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers. A lot has changed in the past 10 years yet some things have stayed the same.
I. Seeds of Fear
We now have heightened security at our airports, terminals and other major gathering places. We have a new government department called Homeland Security. We have wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We keep a closer eye than we did before on Iran, North Korea, Pakistan and others. In the past 10 years, our economy has dropped and the bickering between politicians is worse than I've ever seen it. Mistrust, accusations, finger pointing and blaming seems the standard for both Washington DC and Olympia.
II. Moving From Fear to Faith
I have vivid memories of September 11, 2001, Colleen and I were packing to go to our daughter's who was getting married on the 15th. I flipped on the TV in the bedroom to have some noise while I packed and I couldn't believe my eyes. I switched to another channel and there it was again. I saw the second plane hit the second tower. I would have been sickened by the sight, but I simply couldn't believe my eyes. Were we under attack? What was next? Would Seattle be hit? Was my family safe? Hundreds of questions poured through my mind and the only answers were when I asked if our souls were safe and I knew God's love was unwavering.
The words of Horatio Spafford often comfort me in dark and difficult times.
When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
Spafford wrote six stanza's to this hymn, four of them are quite familiar, two are seldom heard. Here is one that is usually omitted,
But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
When we remember that it is well with our soul, fear is repealed and faith is ignited.
III. Path to Glory
Today we recall a dark day in our history. Despite the horrors of 9/11, something beautiful sprang up from those ashes. A mournful prayer went up from our nation and though tragedy is never worth it, God does replace ashes with beauty.
NLT Isaiah 61:1-3
1The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
2He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord's favor has come,
and with it, the day of God's anger against their enemies.
3To all who mourn in Israel,
he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
In Luke 4, this passage resurfaces when Jesus entered the synagogue at His hometown Nazareth,
17 The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
19 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come."
20 He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21Then he began to speak to them. "The Scripture you've just heard has been fulfilled this very day!"
IV. Accepting our Path
Often when we read a passage like this we say, “Oh Isaiah 61 is fulfilled and that’s the end of it.†Today I want to challenge you that Luke 4 is the fulfillment of this prophecy, but it is not the end of this prophecy.
Every time we speak of the hope that is found in Jesus Christ, we pass this prophecy onto another generation.
When we "bring good news to the poor," or "comfort the brokenhearted," when we tell captives "they will be released and prisoners they will be freed," when we do that we carry the prophecy of Isaiah onto a new generation. When we boldly step out with the message of hope in Christ; we go against the flow of this world and we enter that long line of royal priests that are sent "to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies."
It is also important to keep in mind that anytime there are enemies, there are wounded and anytime there are wounded there is mourning. But when the sunlight of God’s hope shines bright upon the storms of this world, a rainbow arches connecting confusion to security. When that happens we can chose between living in fear & chaos or peace and security. This is when Christians can carry the message that God “will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair†and then “they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.â€
V. Lighting the Path
Despite the despair of a world at war, we are God’s messengers to bring hope. But our mission is not limited to days like 9/11, our mission expands to everyday and every conflict whether great or small.
Jesus said, "You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden" (Matt. 5:14). God's people are the ones who shine brightly despite rainy days. No matter the tempest-tossed, we are the shinning light that reminds everyone that there is a safe shore of security held in place by the all-mighty hand of God.
Whether terrorists attack or a coworker treats you like trash, Christians are the ones with the message of hope. When children back talk and doctors bring bad news; when bill collectors call and loneliness overwhelms; we are the bright and shining city set on the hillside of hope. Sometimes we may have to refocus, sometimes we have to reset, sometimes we may have to repent, but we are always one action away from rejoicing!
VI. Pathway to Hope
On this anniversary we reflect on our loses, but we can also reflect on our accomplishments and our hope. The world news reports Americans need to be concerned about safety. Security agencies advise us that we remain at "a heightened level of vigilance."
The Bible reminds us we need to be worried about our sins and separation from God. The world depends on the Armed Forces and worry whether they can protect us in the future. The Gospel focuses on what Christ has done and guarantees the future.
Psalm 146:3-6 says, "Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.
But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever." (NLT)
And
Psalm 20:7 & 8 tell us, "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright." (NLT)
I ran across this quote and thought it was appropriate for today,
I asked for Strength... And God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom... And God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity... And God gave me a brain to think and brawn to work.
I asked for Courage... And God gave me obstacles to overcome.
I asked for Love... And God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors...And God gave me opportunities.
"I received nothing I wanted...But I received everything I needed."
When the world tries to overwhelm us,
when people fail us,
when freedoms leave us
and discouragement tries to take us,
remember God loves us,
God has redeemed us,
God restores us,
He replenishes us,
He rewards us,
and that is His plan for us!
VII. Finding Hope
Our task is to walk with Him. The President cannot order that, congress cannot legislate it, lawyers cannot prosecute it, schools cannot teach it or stop it; it only comes when a heart is turned over to the healing touch of the living God.
Deuteronomy 6:4-13
"Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
"The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you …. The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery …. You must fear the Lord your God and serve him...."
