Where Hope Is Found

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,

set your hearts on things above, where Christ is,

seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

(from Colossians 3:1-4)

Every once in a while, I’ll ponder the desire to purchase a new laptop which mans I’ll go to Consumer Reports for their evaluations.

Then I discover laptops of all types with all sorts of internal data I know nothing about ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to a few thousands.

At this point my thrifty inner self says, “Do you really need that?” You have a good computer and smartphone.

Life in the “earthly things”, our secular age, is about looking to our concrete, material accomplishments for satisfaction, without expecting God to be part of their lives.

Sooner or later, it seems, we’ll be asking “what’s the point?”

So, I have the latest, newest, or best laptop, is it as meaningful as I’d hoped?

If it’s not, what significance is there in our daily routine, relationships, and even our lives?

Where’s the hope?

What I understand Paul to be saying is when you “Set your minds on things above” you are trusting in God’s promises.

Hope is in God promise that when we are striving but failing to find meaning in our efforts, God is there.

Hope is when God is with us as we blunder through the “things below” and then using them for some greater good.

Hope means it doesn’t matter how deep the pain or suffering; no tear shed, no frustration, hurt, or loss, no tragedy –is ignored or unnoticed by God.

Paul says that this kind of hope does not disappoint.

Babel's Tower and the Lord

The Lord came down to see

the city and the tower,

which mortals had built.

(from Genesis 11:1-9) 

The High Point Monument in New Jersey stands of 220 feet tall with exceptional views of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

At night floodlights engulf the monument as it points toward the heavens, giving it a hallowed appearance visible from up to 40 miles away.

It is extremely magnificent.

The monument calls to mind the primeval history of the Creator, the Tower of Babel, and human desire to be at one with God.

 As the story goes, the people decided to build a city with a tower reaching to the heavens, give themselves a name, therefore, not be scattered all over the earth.

This plan is doomed to failure since no one is able to get to heaven using their own power.

This, however wasn’t God’s purpose which was to be “fruitful and fill the earth.”

First, God’s purpose commands unity for humankind to be in covenant with him relying on him as a source of life.

Second, God’s purpose commands humankind be scattered in order to care for Creation and spread the Good News of God everywhere.

Since building a tower is not according to God’s plan, God comes down to see what’s going on.

This is the Good News of God.

God came down to see the tower.

In Christ, God came down.

At Jesus baptism, the Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came down.

At communion, God comes down.

God is a God who comes down lifting us up from whatever our suffering and ultimately takes us heavenward.

Basketball & Mutual Affection

 “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil;

hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection;

 outdo one another in showing honor”

 From Romans12:9-21

 

At one time in my teaching experience, I coached basketball.

However, I never played basketball.

The team gathered for practice,

Before a game the team huddled then cheered “Kowa Bunga!!”

We lost every game we played.

Knowing this, the wrestling team challenged them to a game assuming an easy defeat.

That would be the ultimate humiliation.

The game got underway; the basketball team surged ahead defeating the wrestlers.

“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)!”

 

I believe we live in a secular age.

By that I mean we focus on the material things around us: to the imminent, to the concrete which leads to a loss of hope about the meaning of our lives.

What importance is there in our everyday living and relationships even have?

In this secular age, God isn’t expected to be part of our lives.

 

Paul, however, talks about the promises of God, being with us in our suffering and using it to redeem our suffering by joining it with Christ’s

God is present in our suffering meaning there is no tear, hurt, or tragedy is unnoticed by God.

Love is the nature of God.

In this passage from Romans, Paul provides guidance for living out God’s love and in doing so reject the secular age.

Our calling is to live out God’s love as best as we can and leave vengeance to the Lord.