Have you ever celebrated something that brought you hope? I have. Have you ever observed a celebration for something that destroys hope? Unfortunately, I must admit I probably have. What things bring you hope when you celebrate them? What things do you celebrate, or do you see celebrated, that destroy hope? Let me share with you what I have learned about celebration.
There are many things I celebrate which bring me hope. For example, the birth of a child to a friend or relative, someone’s marriage, a birthday or wedding anniversary, answers to prayer, a person becoming a believer in Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, and mostly, God Himself. Psalms 150:1-2, 6, is a great example of celebrating God Himself. It says, “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (ESV)
Things that I believe bring hope when celebrated are all the good gifts that God has given to me and everyone else. On the other hand, I see the world around me celebrating things that I believe destroy hope. I believe when the world celebrates things that are not from God, hope is destroyed. In Romans 1:21-22 it says, “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” (ESV) So, when the world turns away from the God and does not honor Him bad things happen. The world becomes lost and hopeless.
I believe as the world turns away from God, God pours out His wrath, as Romans 1:18, 21-22, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” (ESV) I believe God’s disposition of His wrath shows up three times in Romans 1 it says that God gives me up to my sinful desires Romans 1:24, 26 and 28. The only way this cycle is stopped is when I accept Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. This I believe is true because when I accept Jesus I am changed. As Paul says and I can say likewise, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’” Romans 1:16-17
But what is even more frightening to me for the world I live in is what Romans 1:32 says, “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” (ESV emphasis added) We live in a world that no longer calls sin what God calls a sin. Because of that the world celebrates sin this month, which destroys hope, and I will mourn for the world and not celebrate with them. I will pray for their salvation and their repentance.
Join me in celebrating God and all the blessings which God has pour out on His creation. Join me also in examining everything which we celebrate so that we do not celebrate that which destroys hope. Chose to follow what the Bible teaches us and know that when we celebrate the wrong things that the death of Jesus on the cross has taken away the sins of mankind. All you need to do is accept Jesus. It is by far the greatest choice you will ever make. Understanding that you will live eternally knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ and this what brings the greatest hope all because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfying the penalty for sins. His payment satisfies all my sins from the past, in the present and in the future. My penalty and yours was satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because holiness shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.
If you have not read my previous blogs, you can find them here.
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
eBook or Audiobook versions can be found at Westbow Press or Christianbook.com at Amazonor Google
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
