Hope-(Even Following Last Night's Election)-Part 2

I am bursting! I have struggled so much with this second part of "HOPE", because there are so many scripture references, and I have been trying to condense it all . Well, I think I have put everything into a nutshell, but I must do so with the disclaimer, that there is nothing, absolutely nothing I can write in one post that can replace your own exploration of the Bible. And to try to condense it would only create a poor substitute for God's inspired word. So this is only a nutshell of what God is teaching me...nothing more. With that said, let's dig in.

**2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. "

Let's focus on the fact that Christians are called. Called meaning beckoned and called meaning named-"CHRISTians". Jesus Christ beckoned us to Himself, and He put His glorious name on us!

The thing is, that in light of the recent election, we as Christians have a major responsibility. We can feel very outnumbered and downcast in a country that selected a leader who does not seem to uphold the name under which our country was founded. But as Christians, do we? I know that I have sat in front of my T.V. being entertained by the same sinful agenda that disgusts me about the majority of the American mindset. And that's just a start. Out of absolute fear and dread I have followed the instructions of this verse. Many of you have as well. But let's not stop now, when HOPE seems more frail than ever before.

**Psalm 43:3-4 says, "Send forth your light and truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Then will I go to the altar of God, my joy and my delight.

God is the one that sends guidance and brings us to Himself. We could not draw to Him on our own, because our flesh had no awareness of our need and no desire to have it met. He brought us to Himself and this is the HOPE we have.

**Psalm 51:12 says, "Restore unto me the joy of your salvation (again, it is His to give) and grant a willing spirit to sustain me.

Though we do have HOPE, we will certainly need to be sustained during this next season, as our nation faces "change". The following verses clench it for me.

**Isaiah 40:28-31 says, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding, no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who HOPE in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

This is not prophesy, so please do not read into it, but indulge me while I expand on a few facts I found about our national symbol: The bald eagle.
1.) The bald eagle got it's name, not because it is bald, but because it's head and the very tip of its' tail is white. (The parallel as I see it is of God, in His purity, being the beginning and the end.)
2.)The body of the bald eagle is dark brown. (The parallel to me is that this season of time, when we have turned from God as a nation, is full of darkness. There will be consequences. There will be sorrow.)
3.)The bald eagle was chosen because of its' rarity, and it is becoming extinct. However, provisions have been made to protect this bird and preserve it from extinction. (The parallel here is pretty obvious. As a christian people, we are becoming weak and greatly outnumbered. But God has made provision to strengthen and preserve us.)
4.)The wingspan of the bald eagle is 80 inches. (So, I know a guy that is 6'9" and I am trying to picture him stretched out sideways in the sky. Minus one inch, and that would be it. Pretty stinkin' powerful! Amazing actually!)

If that doesn't excite you or at least give you HOPE, consider the following verses.

**Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

**Isaiah 40:23 says, "He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing."

There are countless verses about hope and joy and peace. There are also, tons and tons of verses which instruct us in "doing good". Let us not give up Hope! Let us not grow weary! And let us not be conformed to the ways of this world! Take heart!!! God is in control-today, November 5, 2008, just as He always has been and always will be!