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Mind Shift
A Different Perspective Can Change Your Life!
By Harrison Smith
July 30, 2010
Where In the World Can One Find Hope?
"Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
Source: Emma Lazarus, The Poems of Emma Lazarus, vol.1 (1889), 2
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These immortal words carved at the base of the Statue of Liberty have come to symbolize the hope of millions of people over the years who have come to America looking for a life of endless possibilities. The great melting pot of our nation has seen innumerable success stories of those who were able to latch onto the promise of our land, finding gold in the mantra of "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness." But in case you have been asleep for a very long time now and have just awakened, you may be wondering what has happened to our once splendid and self assured nation. Where is that air of confidence in the knowing that our destiny of greatness was ours for the taking? What has happened to the American Dream and why does it seem that so many of us are struggling to hold on to a life style that our parents before us achieved and maintained with ease? What has happened to the hope that so many immigrants came here for?
The beacon of light symbolized by the Statue (Goddess?) of Liberty is still beckoning to people on distant shores, and indeed the flow of immigrants has not stanched, (though a great many are now coming through the back door)! But there is trouble in the land, a quiet, but un-nerving knowing that all is not well, and life as we know it along with all of our hopes and dreams for tomorrow, is sliding down hill into a large dark abyss with no way of escape. Sometimes, this foreboding is nearly palpable and some have been driven to dangerous states of mind as a result. Again I ask what has happened? Does anyone know or care? Is there hope for a better tomorrow? Though answers to these questions abound, for brevity's sake, I shall not go into them here with the small caveat that from a historical perspective, America is following in the footsteps of all nations/empires. Some say America's ultimate destiny, barring some divine providence, will likely be the same as that of the Roman Empire.
Yes, America appears to be in decline, and many people are beginning to lose hope that a better future can be summoned. But there is still hope if one knows where to look. Let's examine history again.
In the Bible's book of Exodus, there is story told of the infant nation of Israel which was being held in slavery under the Egyptian empire. The people of Israel had been in servitude to Egypt for nearly 400 years when finally, their heart's cry for deliverance was answered by Yahweh God who sent them the great leader Moses. The process of Israel's deliverance involved ten rather extreme judgements or plagues inflicted upon the lands and people of Egypt. And yet, while Egypt was being systematically destroyed by these catastrophic circumstances, the people of Israel, who were dwelling in the land of Goshen, were by and large unaffected. God showed them favor in the midst of continual catastrophes being inflicted upon their masters. Israel's hope was renewed and eventually they were set free from the bondage of Egyptian slavery to begin their journey to their new home "The Promised Land." Not only were they set free, they departed from Egypt as a wealthy nation having taking spoils of much gold and silver and jewelry. Yes, Israel found a well spring of hope, the source of which was the God of their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Their new found hope was in God who was able to sustain them in the midst of great trials and tribulations and deliver them in a most spectacular way.
Today, Americans and people all over the world can tap into that same hope that Israel enjoyed. To achieve this, two things are required. First, we must shift our belief system from thinking that the "American Dream" is the source of all the good things of this life. Instead we must learn to place our complete trust and confidence in the God of the Bible just as Israel did. By doing so, we can begin to appropriate certain blessings promised from the Bible. One of these promises came from Jesus when he said that he came that we might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). This promise is good even in the midst of difficult times.
Secondly, just as Israel had to depart from Egypt, it's place of bondage in order to procure the blessings of "The Promised Land," we too must depart from our own form of Egyptian bondage, specifically, our lifestyle of sin and rebellion against God. Egypt held nothing for Israel but a life of gloom and despair and death. Sin and rebellion against God entails the same for us. But like Israel had Moses as their deliverer, we have Christ Jesus as our deliverer. Jesus willingly gave His life for us in order that we may attain to our Promised Land which is eternal life in His kingdom (John 3:16). It is a never ending kingdom greater than any man-made government could ever dream of being. As Moses beckoned the people of Israel to come, so to does Jesus beckon us....
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
The Bible - Matthew 11:28-30
These words, very similar to those at the base of the Statue of Liberty, were spoken by Jesus Christ over two thousand years ago as an offer to follow Him. Those who accept His offer (then and now) become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of which He is the head. His true Church is not a specific building or denomonintion or ministry, rather it is a collective of individuals whom have truly dedicated their lives to Him and forsaken the ways of this world(Egypt). We (the Church) are likened unto Israel for as Israel was in Egypt but isolated from it's calamities, so too are we in this world protected from modern day calamities. Our source of life and protection, hope and sustenance is God and because of Him all of our needs in the here and now are met in divine abundance (Phillipians 4:19). Furthermore, our hopes and dreams are firmly planted in our "Promised Land," which is the actual physical coming of Christ' kingdom to this world. It will be our new eternal home full of joy and peace, prosperity an righteousness and love. Because of this knowledge our lives are filled with purpose and meaning which displaces all hopelessness and despair (Proverbs 29:18).
Jesus still beckons "Come to Me..." It is an invitation to those who are filled with a sense of foreboding about what the future may hold. We, the Church of God invite you now to find new hope in Christ Jesus and His kingdom. Those who are His are promised in this life to live in peace and lack for nothing even as we eagerly await and prepare for the day of His coming. Choose the protection of Jesus Christ. Find new hope for your life by following Him out of the ways of this world. Come and join the family of God. There's always room for one more.
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