“Doomer”Generation
I was reading an article recently that spoke about kids looking ahead and feeling that their future is entirely “doom and gloom.” Children are regularly being told that those who have come before them have ruined the planet. This “fear-mongering” has left our young people (and most people in general) with the feeling that there is no hope. I want us to consider some thoughts relating to "hope" because our lives work much better when we have it.
"Hope” should not be confused with “optimism.” Understand that optimism most often depends on human beings, and hope depends on God. As I view the world around me or watch the news, I see no reason to be optimistic about the future. But as I understand that God is in control and that God is always at work, I see every reason to have hope.
We should live with the conviction that what God has started, God will finish. When all the powers of sin and darkness have done their worst, God will have the last word. This conviction should make a huge difference in how we live life. Hope allows us to do many things. It is my conviction that the Christians in much of our culture have lost the view and understanding that God is actively working in this world and that He will return to bring all things into a right account. When we do not have a Biblical hope, we lose the proper perspective by which we can view and understand things. When we do not have a God-based hope, despair can set in. After that, apathy arrives and cowardice happens. While cowardice is an ugly word, it is an appropriate word to describe the life and actions of many Christians today. If Christians are called to be the light of this world and the salt that brings a “God-like” flavor to situations, cowardice seems to best describe the inaction and apathy that many current Christians display. God has the answer for all of the problems that plague our society. Why have Christians not proclaimed that truth? The answer is that Christians need an infusion of hope.
Hope creates fearlessness. It gives us leverage in the most difficult of times. While the powers of darkness attempt to claim victory, a healthy hope knows that God will not allow the current outrage to stand. Hope sees through the storms of difficulty and anchors the soul. The Good News of the Bible provides the fuel for our hope.
As you read this blog, I would challenge you to open your Bible with fresh eyes and see how the notion of hope is trumpeted from beginning to end. After the fall of Adam and Eve, God gave them hope by saying that the Messiah would save them. When the followers of Jesus thought all was lost after they saw their Lord crucified, the Angel of God said — "Fear not." As the Bible ends, the Book of Revelation proclaims a simple message — the lamb of God (Jesus) wins! Let us weave this message into the fabric of our lives. Let us live each day with hope as we look to Heaven. Keep looking up!