I'm not especially emotional, but I have been affected by what is going on in Iran. I watched a video of a young man, 26, with all his life before him. He said that if you are watching, he was no longer with us. He asked that someone take care of his dog. Muslims are discouraged from owning dogs and Iranians are not allowed to take them out in public.
Why did this young man take his own life? He had lost hope. Many Iranians have put their hope in a promise from Mr Trump. He told them to keep protesting and that help is on the way. So far, nothing. It is better to say nothing and act than to make promises and not keep them. This is not a business deal where promises are a negotiating tactic. These are real people who are suffering unspeakable crimes at the hands of the government that is supposed to protect them.
Proverbs 13:12
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life." Sadly, the young man was sick at heart and it was too much for him to bear. If only he had trusted in Jesus instead of man.
It helps to know what is meant by hope. It is not wishful thinking. True hope is based on God's promises and on His integrity. We need hope in order to have faith. We can say that we have faith, but in what? I knew someone who would just say, "Keep the faith". He could not explain what he meant. Faith is only a concept until we have something in which to place our faith. And that is God and His Word.
Now many Iranians are turning to Jesus in these dark days for Iran. They have placed their hope in the right place instead of a fallible man.
"Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him."
"Some boast in chariots, others in horses; but we will boast in the name of the LORD our God."
We live in an age where we do not expect anything but lies from politicians. We live in an age where cynicism abounds because we have been lied to so much. Christians have God and His word to be our hope. Lord Jesus is Faithful and True. What He has promised, He will do. Even if it does not happen immediately, it will come to pass.
God waited until Abraham was no longer capable of fathering a child. The strong Abraham could only produce Ishmael, who went on to become Israel's enemy and is still. God's promise was made real in Abraham's experience when Abraham could no longer "help" God to bring His promise to pass.
In a world that is losing hope in human institutions, in leaders who promise much and deliver little; even in Christian leaders who sin and cover it up, we have a certain hope that God is faithful who has promised.
Why did this young man take his own life? He had lost hope. Many Iranians have put their hope in a promise from Mr Trump. He told them to keep protesting and that help is on the way. So far, nothing. It is better to say nothing and act than to make promises and not keep them. This is not a business deal where promises are a negotiating tactic. These are real people who are suffering unspeakable crimes at the hands of the government that is supposed to protect them.
Proverbs 13:12
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life." Sadly, the young man was sick at heart and it was too much for him to bear. If only he had trusted in Jesus instead of man.
It helps to know what is meant by hope. It is not wishful thinking. True hope is based on God's promises and on His integrity. We need hope in order to have faith. We can say that we have faith, but in what? I knew someone who would just say, "Keep the faith". He could not explain what he meant. Faith is only a concept until we have something in which to place our faith. And that is God and His Word.
Now many Iranians are turning to Jesus in these dark days for Iran. They have placed their hope in the right place instead of a fallible man.
"Look now, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him."
"Some boast in chariots, others in horses; but we will boast in the name of the LORD our God."
We live in an age where we do not expect anything but lies from politicians. We live in an age where cynicism abounds because we have been lied to so much. Christians have God and His word to be our hope. Lord Jesus is Faithful and True. What He has promised, He will do. Even if it does not happen immediately, it will come to pass.
God waited until Abraham was no longer capable of fathering a child. The strong Abraham could only produce Ishmael, who went on to become Israel's enemy and is still. God's promise was made real in Abraham's experience when Abraham could no longer "help" God to bring His promise to pass.
In a world that is losing hope in human institutions, in leaders who promise much and deliver little; even in Christian leaders who sin and cover it up, we have a certain hope that God is faithful who has promised.
