Hope that is seen is not hope. Romans 8:24.
Religion is very good at coming up with formulas. One reason is that consistent formulas are supposed to produce inevitable results. Predictability is comforting. It gives us security. A human will look for a pattern where there is none. It calms our senses and grants a measure of control over whatever we are engaged with.
Predictability is our comfort food. It’s why Israel’s first reaction when faced with a new dilemma in the wilderness was to go back to Egypt. It’s why Christians put themselves under law instead of living in the ever expanding universe of grace. It’s why people will keep returning day after day to a job they hate, as long as they get paid on time at an expected rate. Even prisoners will sometimes commit a crime after release for fear of engaging an unpredictable life outside.
It is not your unexpected trials and suffering that cause you to lose hope, rather the choice to subject yourself to unjust systems simply for their predictability. In fact our suffering can bring an eruption of hope if we will believe.
This is where the importance of God’s prophetic message or messenger comes in. Long have we thought that the Old Testament prophets were depressing with their message of doom and gloom, with their lives of suffering and pain. Yet it was they, who because of the great hope within them, one which existed without them ever getting to see it, saw the inevitable judgment and end of the kingdoms built on injustice and exploitation.
The pattern we should have noticed is that unless there is a kingdom that exists outside of what we have already seen and observed, Our fate is an inevitable as every other past empire.
The New Testament prophet has every right to pour mock and scorn on the world, it’s kingdoms and value systems, as they have already come under judgment. Nor should they be labeled as ‘negative’ for doing so. The prophet , like the Old Testament prophet, presents the alternative kingdom, which can only begin to be visible upon exiting the kingdoms of this world. This means that the Old accusation that so and so prophet only gives the problem but never the solution can be invalid. The solution cannot be seen until one exits the darkness of their present world. When Jesus said “follow me” he never indicated where he was going, nor did Elijah the prophet with Elisha. Therefore the prophetic calling is a call to participate in hope that is not seen; come what may.
Prophets may make predictions, but they live unpredictable lives. They live and breathe hope. They do not rise the ranks of the marketplace or kingdoms of this world, they overthrow them with the voice of God. The life of a prophet may be a seeming conundrum of suffering and hope, but he or she is necessary for your deliverance.
The greatest life, however, is experienced by even the least and most insignificant person, who exits the fallen powers of this world and enters the kingdom of God. They will experience and begin to see the consolation of the hope that allowed them to move into the abundance of a life of grace and truth.
If a sparrow can live without labour, or savings, or spinning in circles, how much more will God look after you, who carry his value.
Joshua Kingsley
fierystones.com 