The world can be hard to take, can’t it?
The bombings in Brussels last week were out of the blue, so sudden, and so frighteningly random. Halfway around the world, we hurt and feel the burden of what people, their families, and communities are enduring.
Add to that a world where these things are happening with greater frequency, a world where ISIS can pull even seemingly average people into their evil ideology, and a world in which Israel deals with random but daily attacks on everyday citizens, and it weighs heavily on our hearts.
Recently, in my personal world, I’ve encountered some sudden tragedies as well. A friend’s brother had a major stroke a few days ago. The family is currently in a day-by-day crisis mode as they learn more about his condition, pray him through surgeries, and hear doctors’ reports about his prognosis.
Another friend died in a four-wheeler accident last week. He leaves behind a wife, five children, and 25 grandchildren. The family is still reeling and coping with the sudden loss of the vibrant man of God who was the rock of their family.
Another friend is helping her longtime friend deal with the loss of their second grown-but-still-young child. Such pain!
This earthly life includes some hard, hard things: death, sickness, and the evil of others. Each of us bears a load as we walk our own personal journeys. When life becomes especially overwhelming, we need hope. As Believers, we’re comforted by the hope of Heaven, but we also need hope for here-and-now. It’s like that television commercial for chicken: the company owner tells us that some of his competitors have announced they’ll be phasing out the use of antibiotics in their meat over the next few years. Then he asks, “But what are you having for dinner tonight?”
When times get tough, we’re particularly grateful for the hope of eternity in Heaven with our loving Father God, but we also need something to get us through this day and our remaining days till then.
I’m currently reading Jonathan Bernis’ new book, A Hope and A Future. It was only released a few days ago, so I’m just getting started. Already I’m encouraged. He talks about the Israelites in captivity in Babylonia and how in the midst of that difficult time, God spoke hope to them through the prophet Jeremiah.
Jonathan writes about a familiar story from the book of Daniel, “After years of captivity, most had lost hope. They were no longer able to see God at work in their lives, and they didn’t believe He cared about them.” Daniel was among the captives, along with three of his friends who were renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. When King Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to bow in worship to a golden image, the Hebrew youths refused. Daniel’s three friends were tied up and thrown into a fiery furnace. The king watched and saw four figures walking around inside the furnace, unbound and unharmed. Jonathan believes, along with most Bible scholars, the fourth man was Yeshua (Jesus) “in His pre-incarnate form.”
The thing that encourages me the most about this story is that Jonathan points out, “It was only because they were thrown into the fire that these three young heroes encountered the Son of God. The same thing happens to us when we find ourselves in the fire. We may not escape the flames entirely, but God will meet us there, and He promises to always be with us.”
When we think about what’s going to make Heaven so great, it all boils down to the fact that we’re going to be fully with God. All the goodness and joy of Heaven is because of God Himself, because of His presence. Hard times here on Earth drive us to God, and He meets us in our pain unlike at any other time. He meets us today with the love, strength, and encouragement of His very presence.
Though the world continues to deliver seemingly relentless blows, God stands ready to meet us in the pain of all kinds of bad news, fiery furnaces, or discouraging situations we find ourselves in. Perhaps it’s in these times, when God’s presence is especially near, that we can most profoundly get a taste of heaven today. Now that’s hope for today, and I’ll take it!
Jonathan Bernis Provides a Message of Hope for Today
Sometimes it's hard to understand why God doesn't allow things to happen right away. An important lesson to learn each day is that God works things out in His own perfect timing. Jonathan's new book bolsters weary faith and uplifts fainting hearts with God's powerful message. Find out more: http://bit.ly/Hope225
