HOPE FOR ALL CREATION!

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 29 April 2012

Hi all,

For a change, a couple of “Jimmets”; my style sonnets.  They follow the same style as Shakespeare. Not in his league but fun to write.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Time with Jesus – Sunday, 29 April 2012
INTRODUCTION	DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	HOPE FOR ALL CREATION!
The Scriptures today focus on hope. Have you heard anyone preach on the subject of hope? I think that I can count the number of times on the fingers of one hand. But what exactly is hope? My first “Jimmet” looks at this. For most of us :”hope” is nothing more than a vague possibility for the future. “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow”. Is a good example. There is a 99.9% certainty that tomorrow is sure to come. What the weather will be like tomorrow is a bit of a guess. I’d like it to be fine and sunny. Not too hot and not too cold. We plan on visiting friends for a braai. So we say we hope it doesn’t rain. It’s a nice “wish” for tomorrow. But we have no control whatsoever over the weather. There is no certainty in the wish. The weather will do what it wants and we submit to whatever happens. In most ways “hope” is regarded as little more than wishful thinking. There is no measure of certainty at all. We say we hope to win the Lotto. That’s a possibility. Phyllida and I don’t buy Lotto tickets, so for us to say we hope to win the Lotto is nonsense! Biblical hope is not like that at all. Hope in Scripture has a predicted outcome. The only question is when it will take place. Paul’s letter to Titus in the God’s Word Translation shows this clearly.13 At the same time we can expect what we hope for-the appearance of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13 GW. We know He is coming back. The only question is when? We can all truthfully say that we “hope” to die. It’s not something we look forward too, so it sounds a bit negative. But it’s the truth. To say I hope I won’t die is nonsense. It is a certainty. The only question is the date. The second “Jimmet” speaks of a hope of a different kind. This one looks at the fall of man from creation’s point of view. We forget that Adam’s sin didn’t just affect him and Eve. It had a “Tsunami” effect that rolled over all of creation. It distorted the plants and animals and has given us a world which thrives on death. To think of a world without death is almost impossible. Scripture tells us that the groans of creation resemble the groans of a woman in labour. Our ears are not attuned to the “voice” of creation so we, as a rule, don’t hear its sounds. The closest we get is listening to the noises geologists detect as the tectonic plates rub against each other. Most of us never hear them. What is certain is the appearing of Jesus Christ when He returns. It’s described as our “blessed hope” It’s an absolute certainty. Jim & Phyllida Strickland	13 Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:13-14 ESV	HOPE Have we every   realised the fact, Christianity is based on hope? Faith is pointless if it isn’t backed, By a certainty. We do not grope, For that which we really can’t believe! Hope can’t be just possibility! It’s assurance that we will receive, That which we are certain we will see. Hope’s an anchor, not a lucky draw; Never a mere rolling of the dice. If it’s only that and nothing more, All of it could vanish in a trice! Hope is never something which might be; But assurance it is what we’ll see! Written 29th April 2012 CREATION GROANS Scripture tells us, all creation groans; Waiting For the coming of the Lord! Listen and you’ll hear it as it moans, Longing for what was, to be restored. Adams’s fall affected everything. Death impacted more than human life. All the evil Satan chose to bring, Ushered in this time of sin and strife. Adam was the one we all should blame; But Creation was under his control. Nothing therefore, could remain the same. Touching one would also touch the whole! But a new Creation we will see! Jesus will return and set all free! Written 29th April 2012 Jim Strickland
	19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. 20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:19-20 NLT
	19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and He will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. 21 For He must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through His holy prophets. Acts 3:19-21 NLT
	10 This will happen on that day when he comes to be honoured among all his holy people and admired by all who have believed in him. This includes you because you believed the testimony we gave you. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 GW
	22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. Romans 8:22-23 NLT
	2 Dear friends, we are already God's children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is. 1 John 3:2 NLT
	4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:4 ESV
	20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20 ESV