Living Hope

1  Peter 1:3b, “…he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…”

The hope to which we have been born again to is a living, active and powerful reality. Living hope is dynamic, energizing and produces a strong confidence in the God of all hope. It has life in itself, gives life, and looks for life as its object.

Max Lucado, in his book, God Came Near, writes, “Hope is not what you expect; it is what you would never dream.  It is a wild, improbable tale with a pinch me I am dreaming ending. It is Abraham adjusting his bifocals so he can see not his grandson, but his son.  It is Moses standing in the Promised Land not with Aaron or Miriam at his side, but with Elijah and the transfigured Christ.  It is Zechariah left speechless at the sight of his wife Elizabeth, gray headed and pregnant.  And it is the two Emmaus bound pilgrims reaching out to take a piece of bread only to see that the hands from which it is offered are pierced.  Hope is not a granted wish or a favor performed; no, it is far greater than that.  It is a zany, unpredictable dependence on a God who loves to surprise us out of our socks and be there in the flesh to see our reaction.”

A number of years ago a speaker stepped to the platform at Southwestern Assemblies of God Bible College. Since the school had chapel every morning, it had become rather routine and sometimes boring, so many of the students were half asleep when it came time to introduce the speaker. Being 84  years old and standing only 5′ 6″ and weighing maybe 110 pounds, he didn’t look too great or all that interesting. He was a congressman from Georgia named William Upshaw. Having been a politician for over forty years, he recognized his audience’s inattentiveness, and so he came to the pulpit and didn’t say a word for quite some time.  He simply stood there and stared at the students. This got their attention.  As the old man finally began to speak he said something that the students there that day say they have never forgotten.  He said, “I was a cripple all of my life.”  By this time the speaker was moving all over the platform.  He was a picture of health and energy.  He continued on, “They never saw me come into congress except on a rolling cot, in a wheelchair, or on crutches.”  Then he reared his head back and screamed as loud as he could, “NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!”

He went on to explain that only two years before, while sitting crippled in a revival service, the preacher said to him, “Congressman, God now gives you the faith to be healed.”  Willie then told that “for the first time in my life, I stood to my feet and walked — 68 years I was a cripple.”  And then he reared back his head, and shouted once more, “NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!  GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE AND HE STILL HAS AN ANSWER FOR YOU.”

William Upshaw retained the full use of his legs for the remainder of his life, and he traveled across the country testifying of his healing. Shortly before his death at age 86, he published his testimony in a tract which he sent to every Senator and member of the House of Representatives, President Truman, Winston Churchill, and King George VI. He died November 21, 1952 and was buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Friends, I echo the words of the congressman.  God wants Biblically based, Holy Spirit empowered hope to rise to the ascendency in your heart today!  Quit quitting!  NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, GIVE UP ON GOD! Today may be the day when He shows up and shows off the greatness of Living Hope in your life!