“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Disappointment is never where we are called to.
Our hope is in Jesus who is the tree of life and therefore we are never intended to settle for less or be discouraged. In life we come up against moments but He calls us always to re-engage with the source of life.
From that womb we bring forth new life and abundance. Hope is the expectation of God’s manifestation of goodness . We are refreshed in that triumph not in hopelessness.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
Our praise defies hopelessness and Jesus said that even if we failed to praise creation would.
“He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”
He always makes a way in any wilderness by pouring out afresh and bringing forth life to the scorched and parched places.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
The new thing of rivers, springs and wells opening up to revive.
The spiritual battle is not envisaged well if our theology sees it as the battle between good and evil unfolding like a Greek myth with a Zeus like figure in heaven.
It is better viewed as the light illuminating the revelation of Christ versus the darkness where there is an absence of that revelation. The moment the light of revelation arrives it dissipates darkness.
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
We Christians, along with Christ, are the wellsprings of that light. We are not in a situation looking for that hope. We are the hope in the situation. We are part of the solution. We water others and the land.
Our new covenant, abiding in mindset is that we do not have to wait for the rain. We turn on the tap, we are switched and we can release and provide.
Be seen as a visible tree of hope. Our light confronts the darkness wherever we are.
We know what the promise is and have faith in it.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
What we don’t receive in this life this side of the veil we know we will continue to receive in eternity as we become part of the cloud of witnesses.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
It is better to die in faith than live in death.
In Christ death is not a defeat but a graduation to our eternal reward.
“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
We are the hope that Christ will become known in the lives of others to bring forth their wellspring and hope of eternity.
The illustration shows the parched wilderness land with wellsprings of light bringing revelation of Christ to emanate light and push back the darkness.
Seven Scriptures that come to mind:
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12 ESV
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 ESV
“He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” Luke 19:40 ESV
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19 ESV
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 ESV
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV
“Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8 ESV
The song The Christ The King. Katie and Bryan Torwalt
Lessisgreater 