My theme for 2022

 

Hope is on my mind for 2022.  Not my theme, but on my mind.

I don't have hope that those who 'not only commit the sin, but approve of it in others' will dry up and blow away.  That was erased soon after my first keystrokes of the new year.

I don't have hope that people I don't want to die will stop dying.  That came soon after.

I don't have hope that any level of any government will suddenly think, "You know, I would feel better trying to serve the people well rather than gathering power for myself and my rich supporters."  Scrolled past too much evidence without stopping to read.

I don't have any hope in my sports teams in the coming year.  Even those who had success last year are currently watching players jumping off like they just hit an iceberg.

I don't have hope that the spend-side of the economy will slow down for the earn side.  Frankly, I'm beginning to wonder if I shouldn't pray for someone to invent low-salt ramen before 2023.

My health?  Did you see how I ate on my Christmas vacation?

No, but I do have hope in one thing, that's my theme.  That theme is, "promise."

Someone pointed out today that the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, ended with a BUNCH of promises...

Mal 4:1  "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
Mal 4:2  But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
Mal 4:3  And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the LORD of hosts.
Mal 4:4  "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
Mal 4:5  "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
Mal 4:6  And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction." 

 

Look at all the promises:

-the end of evildoers

- Jesus will heal those who fear His name, and bring rejoicing

- a day will come when our enemies will become roadkill

-fathers and children will be reunited in spirit

Now, look what follows in the start of the NT, aka Matthew:

Mat 1:1  The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Mat 1:2  Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,
Mat 1:3  and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,
Mat 1:4  and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon...

You get the point- a boring genealogy.  But is that ALL it is?  Heck no!  It's a promise as well, a promise that started almost 4,000 years ago with Abram of Ur, and look where it ends up...

Mat 1:16  ...and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

It ends with Jesus- a promise still delivering 2,000 years later!

Think about it:  If you put your life savings in the Bank of Ur 6,000 years ago, how much would you have now? 
NOTHING!  Whatever still existed would be in a drawer in the British Museum now.

On the other hand...

Mat 6:19  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,
Mat 6:20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
Mat 6:21  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I don't know how much I have laid up, or whether it is gold, jewels, or gift cards to the New Jerusalem Costco.  But I know its safe.  It's a promise.   And believe me, I hope that I'm smart enough that, when I go to do my 'end of the year' post this coming December, that half of the pageviews are me re-reading this to remind myself.