The God who gives hope
In 1965 when The Byrds made the song, “For Every Season (Turn, Turn, Turn)” popular, the world was heading toward a revolution.
The world of politics, the media, the family, the arena of arts and entertainment as well as education and business were about to have a major shift. Through the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, Americans were rediscovering themselves in light of post-modernism and the nation shifted from its moral and cultural moorings to something different. Many things needed to change, while other arenas went into uncharted territory ignoring the warning signs from those within and outside of the religious community of that day.
It has been over 50 years since a song taken directly from scripture (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) was a national hit, hitting number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Dec. 4, 1965 (I haven’t researched, but might be the only #1 Bible song to do that). Many things are not that different today from then with the amazing polarization of politics, religion, and what makes for a healthy community. For many people, every day is another day to fight, to accuse, to slander and to paint their “opponent” in the most demeaning and shameful way possible. For others, there is an active longing to bring peace, to love, to value the individual and connect with the hearts of those we live near, even if we disagree.
For those who believe in Christ, and serve Him with their lives, there are instructions on how to live every moment in His peace, ways to love those who we would consider an enemy and a perspective that brings forth hope and healing to the world around us. Jesus wanted us to experience Him, to know His voice and to encounter His purpose for coming into this world (See Luke 4:18-19, John 3:16, John 10:10).
Knowing that Jesus never said, “Look back at the past and wish those days were here today” should encourage us to look forward and take hope for our community, our government, and every other arena of life. As the Body of Christ on the earth today, we are called to live as he lived, to see the brokenness and invite the healer to intervene. The hope that we carry is not that someday this life is over, or that we get swooshed to heaven in the blink of an eye, but that God wants to do something right here and now with us and through us.
My prayer is that we who are in Christ would always choose His ways above our own. That we would trust in His unfailing love for all of mankind, knowing He loves each one so dearly that He paid the price for them, regardless of their lifestyle, race, or politics. God is the only one that can truly change a heart, so I pray that He intervenes in all our hearts today.
Romans 5:1-6 reminds us of a few things we should take to heart today. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
Chris Bassett is the senior leader at Harvest Valley Worship Center. Find out more at hvwc.com.