Have you ever rebelled against someone or something? I have. Was it successful or did it fail? When it failed what happened to your hope? Did you lose all hope? Was it ever restored? If so, how was it restored? Let me share with you what I’ve learned about rebellion and hope.
My objective is to gently discuss this very difficult concept of rebellion and how it relates to hope. I have found that rebellion does not always crush hope, this is particularly true if the rebellion is successful. For example, the American Revolution was a rebellion that most would say was successful. Hope was not lost, in fact hope increased because most people thought life was going to be better.
However, Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, talks about a different kind of rebellion, rebellion against God. I would suggest you read the whole book of Jude. For now I am going to focus on verses 4-7 which say, “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (ESV)
I notice here how Jude points out three different rebellions. The Israelites who were freed from bondage in Egypt and were given the hope of a promise land. The angels who sided with Satan and rebelled. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah who rebelled against God’s natural plan for sexuality. Here are the results: Israel wondered in the wilderness for forty years until all that left Egypt died except Joshua and Caleb who did not rebel against God’s perfect plan, the angels are in eternal chains waiting for the Judgement Day and Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns were burned up in an eternal fire. I see that when one rebels against God judgement awaits. I see this as being very unpleasant. Pastor Troy Dobbs preached on this passage a couple of Sundays ago. I highly recommend you listen to the message.
So, are you feeling hopeless because you are rebelling against God’s plans for you? I have good news. I know how your hope can be restored. God has a perfect plan for our restoration of hope. Peter states it clearly in his sermon found in Acts 3:11-26. I would like to point out this portion for consideration. “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.” Acts 3:17-21(ESV) Simply put the restoration of hope requires only one thing which is believing that the Lord Jesus Christ died on a cross to take your sins upon Himself, so that the price for your rebellion would be paid, that He arose from the dead, thus conquering death. For further explanation.
I pray you will repent from your rebellious ways an receive the free gift of eternal life and have your hope restored. I pray you will seek God and trust He will guide you out of your rebellion and bring you hope. Know you can trust the promises of God and realize the same hope that only comes from Jesus. It is through a relationship with God through Jesus that solves the problem of sin and brings us hope in the present and the future. I would also encourage you to seek Jesus for He is the only opportunity there is to have eternal life. This is to me the greatest source of hope. In doing so, I believe we will have hope and joy in our everyday lives. Understanding how Jesus Christ grants us access to eternal life, allows us to live in hope. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” John 17:3 (ESV) At the same time understanding you will live eternally knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ will also bring you the greatest hope. Because of the death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the penalty for sins. His payment satisfies all my sins from the past, 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.
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