One particular day I witnessed this twice as two customers were in front of me in line. The first was an older gentleman who dropped his cash on scratch off lottery tickets and walked off to the back to uncover his winnings. Within seconds he was trudging back up the isle to leave heralding to everyone within earshot how this is yet another day of wasted money on these tickets. His own history and others as well tell that he will be back tomorrow. As I processed what I had just seen the lady in line in front of me had a small child (couldn't have been more than 5) tugging on her with two dollar bills in his hand, pleading with his mother to let him buy a lottery ticket. Thankfully she said no but I still left the store that day with another visual affirmation of the power of hope.
Hope is an interesting thing. Outside of love, it is one of the most powerful human emotions. It helps people carry on in tough times. The hope of one's capacity to change spurs us on in relationships with family, friends and significant others. People of all ages, sizes and races seek hope to keep them going. Hope is powerful! In fact, it seems as though we are designed to look for it. It doesn't take a genius to realize that something has gone severely wrong in this world and we hope for brighter days to come. We hope to make sense of everything we see.
But here is the trouble with hope: with all it's power over the human heart and will the OBJECT of one's hope is the deal breaker. What you put your hope in is what ultimately determines whether your hope is able to truly bring you the deepest desires of your heart.
The definition of hope is different depending on your perspective. For the majority of people hope is referring to a deep-rooted wish or desire in their heart that they wish with everything within them comes true someday. And if it comes true then their happiness and life will be fulfilled. Conversely, the Scriptures use the word hope differently. In the original language of Scripture hope means more of an expectation and confidence in a future event. And it lends itself that this expectation will bring pleasure to the one who hopes. This is not a wish but is a CONFIDENCE.
So, as I see these individuals that pour there money into inanimate lottery cards as their functional savior hoping that they will win and be able to make a "better life" for themselves I am broken over their condition. For their hope doesn't need to be in a card, or a girlfriend, boyfriend, spouse, their children, career, friendships, sports team, lake house, (you fill in the blank). Rather their HOPE needs to be put in one person: Jesus. He is the only one who turns Hope into REALITY. Not just a limited quick fix but a REALITY that is everlasting in this life and the next. A joy unexplainable. A peace unimaginable. Believers in Christ, we must see the world around us through our faith and see their need and search for hope and present to them the one whose loving-kindness and mercy brings restoration and life.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13
"O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. " Psalm 130:7
3 comments:
So as a kid who suffered through a dad's gambling addiction, do I accept the lottery scholarship when my son graduates? Or do I leave it on the table? Vehemently opposed to any form of gambling.
Great blog Nath!
Cassie, that a great question. Maybe accepting it would be a way of redemption for all the money your dad lost. I don't know. That is a decision you leave at the feet of our Great King.
Kristen, thanks sis!!
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