Why Are There So Many Hopeless People In The World?
The answer can be found in the above quote by the renowned Bible Commentator - Adam Clarke.
Actually, as long as a person is alive, there is always hope. But the feeling of so many today is that of desperation, despondency, dejection, and despair. And the reason for this can be explained as we look upon the foundation of people's hope. Nowadays, it is based upon everything but the "goodness and truth of God." Hence, it is "misplaced" and "exercised on wrong or improper objects." The result? Shame, confusion, fear, and despair.
As we look into the Scriptures, we can readily see that a wide distinction is made between the hope of the righteous and the hope of the wicked.
Proverbs 24:14 says - "So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off."
Proverbs 23:17-18 says - "Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off."
Proverbs 10:24 says - "The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted."
Proverbs 10:28 says - "The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish."
- Wherever there is a desire for wisdom or the knowledge of God's Word and ways, there is hope!
- Wherever there is a reverence for the Lord - a Healthy Fear or Dread of displeasing Him in any way - you will find hope!
The Scriptures tell us that it shall go well with the righteous (Isaiah 3:10). He has something to look forward to. He has a confidence that he will realize the fulfillment of his God-given dreams. His hope comes true - it is unmistakably satisfied!
Because he has placed his hope in God, he can expect a "reward"... "an end"...the fulfillment of his "desire"...as well as "gladness," happiness, or great joy.
On the other hand, the wicked man - because he refuses to place his confidence in the Lord alone - meets with frustrated hopes - those which result in endless despair, disappointment, vanity, or deception.
Proverbs 10:28 tells us - "The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish."
Proverbs 11:7 adds - "When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth."
The "righteous" meet with "gladness," while the "wicked" experience dashed hopes and disillusionment - and all because their confidence lies in earthly things rather than in the Lord and His Word.
What better picture can be drawn to describe the sinner's hope than that found in Job 8:13-14 which says - "So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Whose hope shall be cut off, and whose trust shall be a spider's web."
Adam Clarke said - "A hope that is not rationally founded will have its expectation cut off, and then shame and confusion will be the portion of its possessor..."
This is the pathway of all those who "forget God" or are "hypocrites." That which they trust in will prove - in the end - to be as reliable or dependable as a "spider's web."
As we have seen in the Scriptures, the righteous man's "hope" is founded on the "goodness and truth of God." Hence, he has an expectancy for a future glory. With this treasure in his possession, he can never be put to shame, confusion, or humiliation by his enemies...he always triumphs over his difficulties...and he has every reason to be bold, daring, free, and without disguise in this world.
1. Makes Not Ashamed
Romans 5:5 says - "And hope maketh not ashamed..."
The hope of the righteous never results in shame, disappointment, confusion, defeat, or deception. It will come to pass or be fulfilled for it is based on the unchangeable Promises of God.
2. Triumphs Over Difficulties
Romans 4:18 says - "Who against hope believed in hope... according to that which was spoken..."
Against all apparent or usual prospects of something ever coming to pass, the righteous man has a cherished and believing anticipation. Why? Because his hope is founded in the all-sufficiency and never-failing faithfulness of God to fulfill His Promises or make His Word good.
The wicked man bases his hope in arguments of reason, sense, and experience. The saint simply relies on - "according to that which was spoken" to him by the Lord. Therefore, in the end, he comes out the winner each and every time.
3. Is An Encouragement to Bold Speech
2 Corinthians 3:12 says - "Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech."
Have you ever noticed that a man or a woman - who is so filled with the Word of God and is attempting to apply its principles to his daily walk - is very bold, frank, courageous, without reserve or disguise - concealing and holding back nothing?
This person's foundation is secure. His hope is "not misplaced" or "exercised... on wrong or improper objects." Consequently, he has nothing to hide. He does not resort to double-dealing, obscurity, or cleverness. With no reason to be fearful or reluctant, he speaks with candor, openness, and authority.
In Ephesians 2:12, the Apostle Paul described all sinners in this manner -"...without Christ...aliens from the commonwealth of Israel...strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world."
We come back to the question which was asked at the beginning of this message - "Why Are There So Many Hopeless People In The World"?
Paul told us why with these words - "without Christ...having no hope...without God..."
In other words, no Jesus or God - no hope.
What distinguishes the Christian from the evil man is the fact that the believer has "no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3) and his "foundations" in the "goodness and truth of God" are not "destroyed" (Psalm 11:3).
Are you feeling desperate, despondent, or dejected? Then check out your foundations. Wherein lies your confidence? Is it based on the "goodness and truth of God," or is it based on something earthly and fleshly?
Your hope for today and tomorrow is wrapped up in your foundations.
Remember, Psalm 11:3 asks the rhetorical question -"If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
The moment that the Christian...the Church...or any nation steers away from the Truth of God's Word, then they, too, will become hopeless like the man "without God."
Take away the Bible from a people as the foundation of their beliefs and you will take away their hope. They will no longer be a people who experience Miracles... overcome all odds...or unashamedly stand boldly against their enemies. In due time, they will simply blend in with all of the others who are "without God" and "having no hope."
Today is a day to examine the "foundations" of your life.
Just wherein lies your trust and confidence?
Are you full of hope for your future, or are you hopeless?
If hopeless, what are you going to do about it?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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