Have you ever really, really hoped for or looked forward to something only to have those hopes disappointed? For example, suppose you were really looking forward to being promoted at work. You worked really hard, you went through the continuing education to qualify yourself for the position. You went above and beyond to demonstrate your loyalty to the company. And then, just when the promotion seemed to be within your grasp, there was a consolidation and downsizing and your position was eliminated altogether. Not only didn’t you receive the promotion, the job you had is gone.
As another example, suppose that you’ve really been looking forward to having a house of your own. You’re tired of renting and want a place that you can arrange the way you want it. You’ve scrimped and saved. You’ve denied yourself a lot of things that you would have liked to have for the goal of buying your dream house. But houses just keep getting more expensive. Inflation keeps reducing the value of your savings. It seems like the house is forever just beyond your reach.
When we go through things like that it can be pretty discouraging. You’ve done all the right things, but it seems like you just can’t get ahead. For you, the American dream is just that – a dream that never comes true.
We can experience the same kind of disappointment in spiritual things too. We repent and turn away from our old lifestyle. We surrender our hearts to Christ. We make a sincere effort to live a holy life. But then, it seems like the harder we try to do what’s right, the more trouble comes our way. People make fun of our moral choices. They even go so far as to accuse us of hating others because we won’t endorse their sinful behavior. We lose friends.
When things like this happen it can be very discouraging. We came to Christ hoping He’d solve our problems, and it looks like our problems are getting worse. (Of course, they’re different problems than we had before, but they are problems all the same.) The opposition we face can become so painful and stressful that we can be tempted to leave the Lord.
When those feelings come, we need to remind ourselves that God’s promises are still true, even though they might not be fulfilled as soon as we’d like. The book of Hebrews was written to people who were suffering for their faith in Christ. Some of them were asking whether it was worth it. They were tempted to go back to the Jewish faith to avoid the problems and troubles that came to them while they were trying to live for Jesus. In chapter 10, verses 32 through 39 it says, “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” (Hebrews 10:32-39 NIV)
The writer says that the reason we should hold onto our faith and not lose our confidence, in spite of trouble, is that Jesus is going to return. We know from other Scriptures that when Jesus returns, He is going to make things right. He is going to reward those who follow Him with a new heaven and earth – the home of righteousness. In other words, all the troubles and hassles we face now, will be done away
One of the reasons we come together each week is to remember that promise. Jesus is coming back! We remember by partaking of the Lord’s Supper. The bread and juice remind us of Jesus’ suffering. But though He suffered, the suffering led to His being exalted. In the same way, we might have to be disappointed here, or even have to suffer. But after the suffering, comes our reward.
So, as we eat this bread and drink the juice, let’s renew our confidence. Jesus said to do this until He comes. That’s a promise that He is coming. And, His coming puts all of our troubles into perspective. As the Apostle Paul said, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NIV)
