It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name
of the city from that day shall be Jehovah Shammah!
Ezek.48:35
The last statement made in the passage above means "The
Lord is there." An interesting designation indicating that where they
were, the Lord was already there and had given them hope. Paul wrote, “Now
may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Rom. 15:13)
“Is there hope?” That’s a
fundamental question of life, that many ask in different ways everyday. You can
go forty days without food and three days without water. You can go eight
minutes without air. But you can’t go a single second without
hope. It’s
an essential part of life. When hope is gone, life is over. Prov.23:12 states, "Hope deferred makes
the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is like a tree of life."
Because hope is in such short supply in our society today,
people fall for all kinds of scams. Even government sets people up in false
hopes, and television promotes psychic hotlines, palm readings, astrology, fake
healers, and quack cures. Inevitably, nothing disappoints worse than false
hope. Again, Proverbs states, "Do not let your heart envy
sinners; but rather fear the LORD all the day long. Indeed surely there is a
future hope, and your hope will not be cut off. (Prov.2:17,18)" God is the only source of hope that will never disappoint. When we place our faith in him, he provides joy, peace, and
hope that overflows. We all need that kind of hope.
Remember “Jehovah Shammah?” In Hebrew that means, “I am
the God who is always there.” God is always there. He’s
in your past, in your present, and in your future. He’s in
the good places. He’s with you when you are in the evil places. He is
everywhere. And you are never, ever alone. And where God is, hope is.
Are you looking for hope? Have you looked toward heaven?
Jim
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